Shot Left Playing career Weight 78 kg | Height 1.8 m | |
EPL teamFormer teams Milton Keynes LightningOkanagan Hockey Academy UK U16Slough JetsBracknell BeesSwindon WildcatsGreat Britain U20Great Britain U18Paisley Cherokees | ||
Peter "Pete" Russell (born 20 June 1974 in Ayr, Scotland, United Kingdom) is a retired British ice hockey player. He is currently the head coach of the Milton Keynes Lightning and Team GB. Pete is Great Britain's most successful junior coach.
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Playing career
He made his playing career with Ayr Raiders during 1990 in the BHL League, In 1992 Pete moved to the BD1 League playing for the Medway Bears, Dumfries Border Vikings, Blackburn Hawks, Slough Jets and the Paisley Pirates. 1996 brought a new challenge playing in the NPIHL for Castlereagh Knights followed by the Paisley Pirates again before ending his playing career in BISL with the Nottingham Panthers.
Coaching career
Pete’s managerial and coaching career began in his native Scotland and includes experience with Bracknell Bees, Cardiff Devils, Slough Jets, Swindon Wildcats and most recently the Okanagan Ice Hockey Academy. After taking the reins at Slough, the Jets won the EPL playoff title at the first attempt, his U18’s team at Okanagan Ice Hockey Academy recently enjoyed a shutout victory over the Coventry Blaze U18’s to take the National Plate Final. He also guided the GB under 20s to gold and promotion at the World Championships and most recently as Head Coach of the GB senior programme, secured a Silver medal at the World Championships in Eindhoven, Holland.
Team GB
Pete is Great Britain's most successful junior coach, having won four gold, one silver and two bronze medals in 11 tournaments whilst in charge of the U20s and U18s and was named Great Britain men's ice hockey head coach after Doug Christiansen resigned.
Milton Keynes Lightning
On 22 April 2015, Russell was announced as the head coach of the Milton Keynes Lightning for the 2015–16 season replacing the previous long-term coach Nick Poole