Our History
From Humble Beginnings
The Kingston Ice Hockey Junior Programme, formerly known as Humberside, began from humble beginnings in September 1988, when the player/coach of the senior team ran the first practice session for the juniors.
The first junior team to compete was the Under 16s, the Blades. The following year, an Under 12s team, the Humdingers, was formed, followed in 1990 by the Humberside Spitfires, completing the junior group at that time.
As ice hockey continued to grow in Hull, it became clear that a more organised structure was needed to support the different teams and groups playing at the arena.
In 1992, representatives from all the teams came together to discuss the challenges involved in running the club. A working group was formed and tasked with developing proposals that would support the interests of everyone involved in ice hockey at the arena.
At a subsequent meeting, it was agreed that the best way forward was to establish a single club that could look after the interests of all the teams.
On 20 September 1992, the Humberside Junior Ice Hockey Club was officially formed.
Building a Successful Junior Programme
From those early beginnings, the club continued to grow, developing teams across the junior age groups and establishing a pathway for young players to progress through the sport.
Success soon followed.
Over the years, many players from the club have been selected for national and international duty, while our teams have enjoyed success at league, national and European tournament level.
In 1996, the club received an award for the best junior development system in the country. The achievement was repeated in 2002, demonstrating the strength and consistency of the club's junior development programme.
The 2001/02 season brought further success, with the Under 16s winning the National Championship and being recognised by Hull City Council as the Under 16s Sports Team of the City.
The Under 10s then enjoyed an outstanding period of success, becoming National Champions in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
In 2005, the Under 14s finished as national runners-up following a hard-fought final.
The Under 14s returned to the top in 2012/13, when they were crowned National Champions.
Continued Success
The following years saw the clubcontinue to develop successful teams and players.
In 2016/17, the Under 20s won the Northern League for the first time. The Under 18s also enjoyed success in the Northern B League, winning the competition twice within a three-year period.
The Under 15s were crowned champions in 2017/18, earning promotion back to the A League.
In their first season back in the A League in 2018/19, the Under 15s finished second in the league and progressed to the National Finals.
Alongside league competition, tournament hockey became an increasingly important part of the club. Kingston began hosting its own tournaments, welcoming teams from around the country and receiving positive feedback from the clubs taking part.
2020 and a Changing Hockey Structure
In 2020, the Under 13s won the B League, while the club's senior team, Hull Jets, were crowned NIHL 2 League Champions.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the structure of junior hockey changed significantly. The club adapted to the new league structure and continued to provide teams across the different age groups.
Tournament hockey also returned, with the club continuing to host its own events.
2022/23
The 2022/23 season was another highly successful year for the club.
The Under 14s were crowned North East League Champions, while Hull Jets were again crowned NIHL 2 Champions.
The Under 18s added another trophy to the season by winning the club's 2023 tournament.
A New Era for Senior Hockey
The following season marked a major development in the club's senior pathway.
For the first time in the club's history, Hull Jets moved into NIHL 1.
At the same time, a new senior Sharks team was formed to compete in NIHL 2, further strengthening the pathway between junior and senior hockey within the club.
2023/24
The Under 14s continued their success during the 2023/24 season, being crowned North Division 2 Champions.
They progressed to the National Playoffs in Sheffield, where they faced Southern champions Cardiff and came away with the victory.
2024/25
Success continued for the Under 14s in 2024/25, when they were once again crowned North Division 2 Champions.
This earned them another place at the National Playoffs, where they faced Chelmsford.
After a hard-fought game, the Under 14s were victorious, adding another major achievement to an exceptional period for the team.
2025/26
The 2025/26 season brought another outstanding achievement for Kingston.
The Under 19s were crowned North Division 1 Champions, losing just one of their 20 league games during an exceptional campaign.
The team progressed to the National Playoff Final, where they faced Cardiff. In an incredibly close contest, the Under 19s were narrowly defeated in overtime.
They responded brilliantly in the club's own Under 19 Tournament, progressing to the final against Sheffield.
A 1-0 victory saw Kingston lift the tournament trophy and finish another successful season on a high.
The Pathway Continues
Today, Kingston Ice Hockey Club continues to build on nearly four decades of junior ice hockey development.
The club is producing talented young players and providing a clear pathway from junior hockey into the senior game. Players developed within the club are progressing to higher levels of the sport, including opportunities with the Hull Seahawks.
Our aim is to provide every player with the opportunity to develop and progress as far as their ability and ambition can take them, while continuing to grow the game of ice hockey in Hull.
From the Blades, Humdingers and Spitfires of the early years to today's Sharks and Jets, generations of players, coaches, managers, volunteers and families have helped shape the club into what it is today.
The club has changed enormously since that first junior practice in September 1988, but the principle behind it remains the same: to give young players the opportunity to learn, develop, compete and progress in ice hockey.
We are incredibly proud of our history, our players and everyone who has contributed to the club over the years.
And we are even more excited about what comes next.