In this episode, Ken sits down with Nicky Chinn, a true iron man of British ice hockey whose career spans nearly three decades—and counting.
A product of the Cardiff Devils junior system, Nicky made his senior debut at just 16 years old in the 1988–89 season, only two years after first taking up the game. Despite early doubts about starting too late, he proved the critics wrong, becoming a mainstay of British hockey and a fan favourite wherever he played.
Nicky reflects on seven seasons with the Cardiff Devils during their most successful era, including League titles, Wembley Playoff wins, and the iconic 1993 Grand Slam. He charts his evolution into a hard-nosed power forward, known for standing his ground and never backing down.
The conversation also covers his controversial 1995 move to the Sheffield Steelers, the reaction from Devils fans, and another Grand Slam-winning season with a star-studded Steelers roster. From there, Nicky's career took him across the UK as a respected journeyman, pulling on the jerseys of London Knights, Guildford Flames, Bracknell Bees, Slough Jets, Milton Keynes Lightning, Basingstoke Bison, and a short spell with the Nottingham Panthers.
In total, Nicky has played 1,033 regular-season games—and remarkably, he's still playing today. This is an honest, nostalgic and often hard-hitting conversation about resilience, loyalty, and what it really takes to survive in British ice hockey for the long haul.
