A major change to the league structure saw the Northern League effectively merge with the Southern League to form a truly national competition ahead of the 1982-83 season. Despite the league being split into three separate divisions, Whitley ended up playing all 14 teams and still faced their old Northern League adversaries: Ayr Bruins, Dundee Rockets, Fife Flyers, Glasgow Dynamos and Murrayfield Racers. After just one season the format was changed again, with 1983 being recognised as the rebirth of British ice hockey, ushering in what became known as the ‘Modern Era’ of the sport.
The country’s top nine sides were invited to join the Heineken Premier League for the 1983-84 season with Whitley pitted alongside their former Northern League rivals Dundee, Ayr, Murrayfield and Fife from north of the border, local rivals Durham Wasps and Cleveland Bombers, as well as Nottingham Panthers and Streatham Redskins, who were traditionally in the Southern League.
Dundee Rockets were the team to beat as the Northern League came to an end and continued that success as the Heineken Era began. Led by Canadian import Roy Halpin and his 193 points in 36 games, the Tayside outfit were a formidable force and the Warriors had to settle for a 6th place finish first time out. Although making the playoffs, their interest in the competition ended at the group stage, finishing behind both Durham and Ayr.
Having missed out on the post season for the next three seasons, Whitley hit back in style for 1987-88, as imports Mike Babcock, Scott Morrison and Luc Chabot spearheaded an unexpected title challenge. However, they would eventually fall short by just four points to the Tony Hand-led Murrayfield Racers. Further disappointment was found during the playoffs at Wembley where the Fife Flyers shocked the league runners up at the semi-final stage and so the season ended without any silverware.
After another competitive campaign the following year, Whitley fell on much harder times during the 1989-90 season. Now coached by Alfie Miller, the team struggled throughout, but they were still able to make headlines on both the front and back pages of local newspapers the Journal and Evening Chronicle.
For those that were there, Sunday 19th November 1989 will forever be remembered as ‘The Battle of The Bay’, when Whitley’s game with Ayr Raiders was sensationally abandoned with just 21 seconds remaining, after a full-scale brawl that involved both players and spectators broke out.
With the Raiders leading 9-4 at the time, Whitley’s import Wayne Crawford and Ayr’s Frank Morris (a Canadian player who nearly joined the Warriors two years earlier), were sent to the box for roughing. As Morris made his way off the ice he threw a punch at Whitley’s Finnish defenseman Marko Ronkko. This then led to the most amazing scenes with players from both sides trading blows. The mood turned ugly as spectators, upset at seeing two more Ayr imports Tommy Searle and Danny Shea, attacking youngster Richard Markham in the penalty box, became involved in the fracas.
Visiting coach Rocky Saganiuk then decided to clear his bench, causing the rink to erupt into an orgy of violence, as the Raiders players jumped into the crowd and started fighting with the spectators in the stands and corridors of the rink. The visiting team were eventually cornered outside their dressing room by several hundred angry Warriors fans. Many of those spectators suffered minor injuries as the Ayr players lashed out with their sticks.
When order was finally restored and the Ayr players were locked in the safety of the dressing room, referee Kim Lawley handed out a total of 371 penalty minutes with 267 accrued by Ayr alone, setting a new Heineken League Premier Division record for most penalty minutes in a game. All of the Ayr players, apart from captain John Kidd and back-up goalie Scott O’Connor were assessed match penalties for fighting with the crowd.
Local MP Neville Trotter, whose Tynemouth constituency included the Hillheads rink, even got in on the action, warning the BIHA that the sport could face a Government crackdown should there be a repeat of the mass brawl.
By 1992 Whitley were competitive again and with the likes of Hilton Ruggles, Claude Dumas and Mike Rowe in their line-up, a chance to finally land some silverware wasn’t far away. Following the demise of senior hockey in Dundee, Tayside Tigers pulled out the league. leaving the Scottish Cup with just three sides: Murrayfield Racers, Fife Flyers and Ayr Raiders. Being the one side closest to the Scottish Border, Whitley were invited to ‘make up the numbers’ for a four team tournament. However, they forgot to read the script and John Iredale’s overtime winner knocked out hosts Murrayfield 9-8 and booked a spot in the following day’s final against Ayr in what was a surprise final.
Simon Leach had given Whitley the lead 3 minutes in before Paul Hand equalised from brother Tony’s feed soon after. Kyle McDonough and Scott Neil then spotted the holders a 3-1 lead but a fired-up Warriors team turned things around in the second session. Mike Rowe pulled one back before Claude Dumas levelled on the power play. Hilton Ruggles then gave the visitors the lead off a rebound before scoring again soon after. Defenceman Terry Ord made it 6-3 but McDonough completed his hat trick with two further strikes to make it a one goal game.
A Terry Ord check to halt the advancing Tony Hand was harshly rewarded with a penalty shot, which McDonough duly dispatched to draw the sides back level. But Ruggles then put Whitley back in front with his own hat trick marker with 5 minutes to go. Dumas, who had a chance to seal victory, was brought down on a breakaway by Paul Pentland moments later. But with no penalty called, home captain Scott Neil equalised with 51 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. Whitley needed just 65 seconds of bonus hockey to win it. Iredale turned and shot through traffic in front of the net to send Murrayfield crashing to their first defeat in the competition since 1986.
Most expected it to be a Murrayfield v Fife finale but the two outsiders had other ideas, Warriors eventually claiming a first trophy in 14 years when beating the Raiders 7-4. Having made a flying start with goals from Dumas and Alfie Miller, Whitley held a comfortable two goal advantage heading into the first break. Terry McLean pulled one back for the Raiders before Leach scored twice to make it 4-1. Tommy Plommer grabbed another for Ayr, before Ruggles and John Kidd exchanged goals at the start of the third period to make it 5-3. However, further strikes from Rob Abel and Dumas made the game safe and a first piece of silverware since the mid-1970s was on its way to Tyneside.
As Scottish Cup holders, Whitley got a bye to the 1993 final. But having seen off the Flyers in the semi-final, Murrayfield exacted their revenge with an 8-7 win.