DANNY MEYERS

The British defenceman made 59 appearances for his country, winning a World Championships bronze medal with Great Britain in 2009 and a silver in 2011, and playing in three Olympic Qualifying competitions.

Danny was only 16 when he played his first full season of senior hockey in 1999-2000 with Basingstoke Bison in the British National League (BNL). That year, Rick Strachan’s men won the first of two straight Benson & Hedges Plates

He spent six seasons honing his skills in the BNL with the Bison, Milton Keynes, Solihull and Bracknell.  With the Bees, he reached the playoff championship final in 2003-04 and took the league title the next year, along with the Winter Cup.  This led to his recognition by the ice hockey writers who awarded him the Alan Weeks Trophy as the Best British Defenceman and selected him to the league’s first All-Star team.

These accolades persuaded Mark Bernard, the coach and goalie of the Elite League’s Basingstoke Bison, to secure his signature the following year.  The step up was another learning experience, however, and he spent the bulk of the season back with the Bees.

Nevertheless, he was starting to get noticed in the top league.  When Mike Ellis, his coach at Bracknell and team-mate on the Bees and Great Britain teams, was recruited as player-coach with Nottingham Panthers in 2006-07, he brought Danny with him.

The Panthers won the Elite League (EIHL) Play-off Championship in his first term in their line-up and again in 2011-12, as well as helping to fill their trophy cabinet with four Challenge Cups in five attempts.

The 6ft, 3in blueliner competed in the EIHL for eight seasons, six with the Panthers and two with their rivals, Sheffield Steelers.  He completed with his club career with three campaigns in Guildford – near his birth place in Ascot, Berkshire – winning the English Premier League’s Play-offs and Cup in 2015-16.

Meyers made his senior debut for Britain in the 2004 World Championships in Oslo, Norway. His first goal came in the final game of that Division 1A tournament, a 6-0 victory over Belgium. He went on to win 59 caps for GB, scoring 18 points (six goals).

He made 30 appearances for Britain’s junior World Championship teams, at under-18 and under-20 levels, scoring 28 points (15 goals).  In Division II of the under-20s, he was voted his country’s Best Player in 2001-02 and the following year he scored a personal best 11 points (six goals) to help GB earn a silver medal.

Ice Hockey UK general secretary Andy French said: “Danny’s passion for the national team was obvious every time he stepped on the ice.  He led by example at the World Championships and was always a key part of any GB roster.”

Danny works with Guildford’s junior players and was the driving force behind the Ozone rink in Western Road, Bracknell, which he built himself in 2021 and runs with the assistance of 21 staff, many of whom are friends and family.  The rink is ane an official Olympic base for under-16s three-on-three ice hockey.

Daniel Meyers was born on 2 March 1983 in Ascot, Berkshire. He was inducted into the Ice Hockey UK Hall of Fame in 2023.