Frankie Killen Podcast Interview
from OldTimeHockeyUK Podcast Hosted by Ken Abbott
In this episode, I'm joined by legendary netminder Frankie Killen — better known as "Killer" — who guarded the crease for the Durham Wasps, Nottingham Panthers, Cleveland (Billingham) Bombers and Humberside Seahawks during what many consider the golden age of British ice hockey. Frankie looks back on a career spanning 1980–1994, firmly rooted in the Heineken League era, recalling his rookie season with the Wasps, his very first game in goal, and the unique mindset required to be a netminder. He speaks candidly about life in Durham, where wages were modest but success was measured in championships, not pay packets. A major talking point is his controversial move to the Nottingham Panthers, a transfer that angered Wasps fans so much police escorts were needed when he returned to Durham. In a remarkable twist, Frankie later explains how he was "poached" back to the Wasps following an on-ice collision with former teammate Paul Smith — while both lay injured on the ice. The conversation is packed with classic Heineken-era stories, revisiting unforgettable characters, fierce rivalries, European Cup trips, team initiations, and the strict dressing-room culture that defined the era — where imports who didn't fit were quickly moved on. 👇 A true blast from British hockey's past.
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