Today, the club are pleased to announce the return of another familiar face to Telford Tigers as Callum Griffin returns to the Tigers 2 roster.
As a car salesman by day, Griffin or ‘Griff’ as he’s known as, has committed to balancing his work and hockey life for most of his senior hockey career. First appearing in Telford through the junior system, Griffin went on to pull a senior Tigers jersey for over a decade before covid interrupted regular season of play.
Returning to play after covid, Griffin continued to be an integral part of the Tigers 2 set-up
both on and off the ice and will now be returning for his ninth season with Telford Tigers.
Griffin played a key part in the Laidler championship winning team in 2022, followed by the 2023 double league cup and playoff winning title and will be looking to build on that success this season.
We caught up with Griff ahead of his return;
You pulled your first Tigers jersey almost ten years ago now, how does it feel to be back for the 2023/24 season?
“WOW ten years!! Time flies when you’re having fun! It feels great to be back again for
the new season and it is always a privilege to wear a Tigers shirt.”
Can you share any memorable moments or highlights from winning the Laidler League Cup and playoffs double last season?
“It was an unbelievable feeling to win the double and so convincingly, the boys really
grafted and played amazing! Stand out moments for me were the play off final win,
that really kicked us on to win the double”
How will the experience of being part of a winning team shape your approach and mindset in future competitions?
“It will help massively and we have a real winning mentality. In our group have we
improved on and learnt from the hurt of losing the league, which shows the great
character of our group that should put us in good stead for future competitions.”
You’ve been part of the ‘core group’ of players for several seasons now. How does it feel to be back with your fellow team mates?
“It feels great! We are a real tight group and we are good friends away from the rink. It
won’t really feel like we’ve been away as we try to socialise as much as we can as a
group, but I’m really looking forward to seeing the guys and getting back to work.”
How would you describe your style of play?
“Errm, maybe a player that does the basics to a decent standard like chip in and out of zones, staying disciplined in position whether that is in the defence or offensive
zones.”
Are there any particular parts of your game that you are looking to improve on
heading into the season?
“Try to be a good teammate both on and off the ice with positive performances. I would
love to be able to contribute more goals and assists for the team also, but mainly I
want to do my job right and to a good standard”
And finally, is there anything you would like to say to our fans ahead of the season?
“You guys have been amazing and it’s great to see our fan base grow over the last
few years. We are very grateful for your support and we look forward to seeing you all
real soon. UPTHETIGS!”
Tigers 2 Coach Scott McKenzie is delighted to have Callum returning commenting:
“Griff is another player that returns as a stalwart of Telford ice hockey. Callum has a fantastic
shot, good vision and has really worked on his hockey mentality. When fully focussed and determined, Cal is very tough to stop. At times last year we were missing some key players and Cal really stepped up and played a big role for us. He is another important piece of the jigsaw and like many others, we are lucky to keep him here in Telford.”
Callum’s own and loan shirt will be available to order now for £75 (Away). Please see the
Tigers’ Online Shop for details.In the 2023/24 season, Tigers are again offering individual player sponsorship at £500. The package will include a personalised ‘SPECIAL’ exclusive third jersey with a company name or family name patch, announcements on match nights, a small advert or logo in the match night programmes and a signed player photo. The jersey will be worn for cup games and play-off games and will not be available as a replica.
If you are interested or require more information on the individual player sponsorships, contact marketing@telfordtigers.net
Watch out for further details about new signings at Telford Tigers, visit: http://www.telfordtigers.net/news or catch up on Facebook or Twitter.
