Article by Peter Ryan / Photos by James Assinder
Hockey, more and more as you move into adult years, for me is an escape, away from home life and work. Whether itโs good or bad, you can count on that wherever you are in the world, thereโs an ice rink with a room full of people looking for a laugh; some people do it in a pub with a pint. I prefer going to the rink with a coffee and then a bit of competition, whatever floats your boat, aha, but I donโt think thereโs anything better than being in the room with the team.
Bailey Hind-Pitcher leaves it all out on the rink whenever he competes, yet it is so much more than a game for the Englishman. It is a way to connect, to flourish, and be oneโs best self. He has a great story, and you can tell his love for the Cardiff Fire burns brightly.
Getting Started
I canโt honestly remember how I got started. My brother and parents were into hockey and skating, so I guess you could say I was forced, and unfortunately for my mum's purse, it took off for my brother and me.
The ice runs in Hind-Pitcherโs blood. He began to sharpen his craft with teams such as the Bracknell Worker Bees; the forward would also compete for the Milton Keynes Thunder, even going on to skate for the Bristol Pitbulls. That season, Hind-Pitcher played 27 games, tallying nine goals and six assists; he also played for the Swindon Wildcats, with two appearances. This all led to the Fire.
The Spark of the Fire
Hind-Pitcher made his first appearances for Cardiff during the 2023/24 season. That year, he also played for the Oxford stars. The following campaign, he truly hit the ground running; in the Welsh capital, he played 34 games, tallying 18 points, 13 goals, and five assists. When you speak to him, you can tell the Fire truly means a lot to him.
The Fire to me is about progression, not so much for myself, as we all have to come to a reality that life gets in the way, but for the younger guys coming through, give them the best experience and opportunity to get to where they want to be, and they give it their all as well.
There is something about game day in the Vindico Arena. The atmosphere is electric when the home side is taking the ice. This steadfast support is what makes a game in Cardiff so special; the crowd's roar helps fuel a sensational, spirited performance. Hind-Pitcher talks about how special game day is.
The home games get better and better since my arrival in Wales; itโs great to see a passion from such a fantastic collective of supporters, and I can assure you from the boys the cheering is appreciated, so keep it coming and hopefully we can get you some results in return.
Hind-Pitcher has played for several impressive teams; he talks about the lessons that he has learnt along the way.
Lessons and the Future
Listening is incredibly important, especially when younger, I was blessed in Bracknell when I was coming into the senior game to have a few old but golds to say the least, so if youโve got an older guy in your team and they're willing, pick their brains because they have seen a lot more than you so far and can read the game better than anyone, speed and skill isnโt always the answer a good hockey sense is just as important and you never know they may tell you an outrageous story from their hay day while theyโre at it as some day in the near future there will be no fun like what me and the boys my age and older have experienced through the game.
It is always important to reflect on the lessons life gives you, but it is also important to look ahead to the future. Hind-Pitcher gives some insight into what that could look like.
I think I speak for a few boys, but I think my time for personal ambition within the sport is nearing its end, but thereโs still time as a collective, and the drive to achieve as a team has never been more important than this year; weโve got ourselves a chance to come out as a new generation of the Fire and fingers crossed in the years to come maybe bring some silverware across the bridge.
Hind-Pitcher is an extremely talented player, and it will be fascinating to see what the future holds for him and the Fire; one thing is for sure: it is bound to be exciting.
