Johnny Wookey Defeat for St Andrews Typhoons

St Andrews Typhoons captain Andy Benstead felt confident going into this year’s Johnny Wookey Memorial Match against Edinburgh. With a squad that mixed experienced players and younger talent, he believed his side had a real chance. 

Edinburgh Eagles went into the game in good form, sitting only one place above the Typhoons in the BUIHA table, the British universities’ main ice hockey competition. It was always going to be a tough game.

Around a thousand St Andrews students piled onto buses at half six, Buzzballs in hand and Tennents already disappearing before bag checks. By the time they reached Fife Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy, they were in full voice.

A rendition of Loch Lomond got things going, followed by a moving tribute to Johnny Wookey, a former student and ice hockey player who passed away before graduating in 2012. Even though most people there had never met him, it was clear how much he still means to the club and the university.

In classic university sport fashion, there was a long delay as the referees had been given the wrong start time. The crowd were left to wait about half an hour before the game could begin. People were confused, restless, and making their feelings known. If anything, this added to the atmosphere. There were ironic cheers at puck drop when the match finally got underway. 

The opening ten minutes were cagey, and loud cheers echoed around the arena every time a player smashed into the glass-screen, surrounding the ice. 

Edinburgh were sharp and went 3-0 up in the first period. The Typhoons created chances but lacked the clinical finishing of their opponents. The second period was more promising for St Andrews, who clawed it back to 5-3. 

Cameron Herr looked like the Typhoons’ best player, but most of the crowd seemed more interested in the eight-foot beer snake forming in the stands than their peers' performance on the ice. Edinburgh came out 10-3 winners at full-time.

Despite the result, the atmosphere only improved throughout the match. More singing, more shouting, and even a bit of ‘friendly’ fighting on the ice added to the drama. By the end, the crowd cared less about the score and more about the occasion.

This is a tradition that clearly isn’t going anywhere. Johnny Wookey will be remembered every year, and as Benstead said after the game, the freshers have now had a taste of it, and will want even more next year. I know I’ll be back, and probably shouting even louder.

Photo by Reuben Graves