Nathan Craze
Encyclopedia
Nathan Craze is a professional ice hockey
netminder
currently playing for the Edinburgh Capitals
in the Elite Ice Hockey League
. He has also played for the Great Britain Under-18 and Under-20 national team.
before joining the Belfast Giants in 2005. He had an impressive start with the Belfast Giants in the 2005-06 season, originally called up when both Belfast's goalies became injured. As a replacement goaltender
he proved himself as one of the most promising young British
goaltenders. On his debut for Giants in October 2005, shortly before his 19th birthday, he faced 132 shots in three games but conceded only eleven goals as Giants earned two wins and a draw. Craze played in only 12 games for the Giants in regular season chalking up a save percentage of 92.8.
In the same year he won a gold medal with the Great Britain U-20's in the World Championships Div II Group A in Bucharest
, Romania
, and was also named Netminder of the Tournament.
He received the International Ice Hockey Federation Directorate’s Award of the tournament’s Best Netminder when GB won the gold medal in the 2004 World under-18 Championships (Div II) in Lithuania
, and he equalled the feat by being voted the IIHF’s tournament Best Netminder when GB won the gold medal in the 2006 World under-20 Championships (Div II) in Romania.
In 2006, Craze signed with the Bracknell Bees
as their starting goalie, winning the double- English Premier Ice Hockey League
and Playoff title in his first season.
The 2007-2008 season saw Craze signed with the Swindon Wildcats
of the same league, again serving as their starting goalie.
From 2008-2011, Craze continued to re-sign for the Belfast Giants, backing up fellow Welshman Stevie Lyle
, and Scot
Stephen Murphy
.
Craze was selected as backup goalie for the 2011 Div 1 World Championships in Kiev, coming on in the Estonia game and maintaining a 7-0 shut-out with Stephen Murphy. In the pre championships Craze played in his first full international against the Netherlands winning with a score of 5-2.
In 2011, Craze signed for the Edinburgh Capitals
, earning himself his first starting role in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
netminder
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
currently playing for the Edinburgh Capitals
Edinburgh Capitals
The Edinburgh Capitals are a Scottish ice hockey club, playing in the UK-wide Elite Ice Hockey League.They are based in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh...
in the Elite Ice Hockey League
Elite Ice Hockey League
Several competitions fall under the jurisdiction of the Elite League. In 2006–07, the EIHL ran a total of four competitions: the league, playoffs, Challenge Cup and Knockout Cup. The league consists of a single division, each team playing three home games and three away games against the other...
. He has also played for the Great Britain Under-18 and Under-20 national team.
Playing career
Craze began his career with the Cardiff DevilsCardiff Devils
The Cardiff Devils are a Welsh ice hockey team who play in the British Elite Ice Hockey League. The team currently plays in the temporary Cardiff Arena...
before joining the Belfast Giants in 2005. He had an impressive start with the Belfast Giants in the 2005-06 season, originally called up when both Belfast's goalies became injured. As a replacement goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
he proved himself as one of the most promising young British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
goaltenders. On his debut for Giants in October 2005, shortly before his 19th birthday, he faced 132 shots in three games but conceded only eleven goals as Giants earned two wins and a draw. Craze played in only 12 games for the Giants in regular season chalking up a save percentage of 92.8.
In the same year he won a gold medal with the Great Britain U-20's in the World Championships Div II Group A in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and was also named Netminder of the Tournament.
He received the International Ice Hockey Federation Directorate’s Award of the tournament’s Best Netminder when GB won the gold medal in the 2004 World under-18 Championships (Div II) in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, and he equalled the feat by being voted the IIHF’s tournament Best Netminder when GB won the gold medal in the 2006 World under-20 Championships (Div II) in Romania.
In 2006, Craze signed with the Bracknell Bees
Bracknell Bees
The Bracknell Bees are an ice hockey team from Bracknell, Berkshire, UK.-Early years:The Bracknell Bees were formed in 1987, under the ownership of John Nike OBE. Bees began life in the Heineken League Division Two, under the leadership of former Durham Wasps and Nottingham Panthers forward, Jamie...
as their starting goalie, winning the double- English Premier Ice Hockey League
English Premier Ice Hockey League
The English Premier Ice Hockey League commonly abbreviated to EPIHL, or simply EPL, is a senior ice hockey league in England, and is run and administered by the English Ice Hockey Association...
and Playoff title in his first season.
The 2007-2008 season saw Craze signed with the Swindon Wildcats
Swindon Wildcats
The Swindon Wildcats are a professional ice hockey team based in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. They are member of the English Premier Ice Hockey League . Since their inception, the Wildcats have played their home games at the 2800 capacity Link Centre. The club was founded in 1986, as the Swindon...
of the same league, again serving as their starting goalie.
From 2008-2011, Craze continued to re-sign for the Belfast Giants, backing up fellow Welshman Stevie Lyle
Stevie Lyle
Stevie Lyle is a British professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Cardiff Devils of the Elite Ice Hockey League and the Great Britain national ice hockey team.-Playing career:...
, and Scot
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
Stephen Murphy
Stephen James Murphy
Stephen James Murphy is a professional ice hockey goaltender born in Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom.Murphy began playing ice hockey at the very young age of 5. He made his first professional appearances at the age of 16 with the Paisley Pirates, a team then icing in the BNL...
.
Craze was selected as backup goalie for the 2011 Div 1 World Championships in Kiev, coming on in the Estonia game and maintaining a 7-0 shut-out with Stephen Murphy. In the pre championships Craze played in his first full international against the Netherlands winning with a score of 5-2.
In 2011, Craze signed for the Edinburgh Capitals
Edinburgh Capitals
The Edinburgh Capitals are a Scottish ice hockey club, playing in the UK-wide Elite Ice Hockey League.They are based in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh...
, earning himself his first starting role in the Elite Ice Hockey League.
Awards
- 2003-2004 U18 WJC (D2|B) Gold Medal
- 2005–06 — Vic Batchelder Memorial TrophyVic Batchelder Memorial AwardThe Vic Batchelder Memorial Award award is an annual British ice hockey award made to the young British player of the year as voted for by members of Ice Hockey Journalists UK. The award was first made in 2004....
- 2005-2006 EIHL Champion
- U20 WJC (D2|A) Gold Medal
- 2006-2007 EIHA League Champions
- 2006-2007 EIHA Play-off Champions
- 2008-2009 EIHL Challenge Cup Champion
- 2009-2010 EIHL Playoff Champion
- 2010-2011 World Championship (D1|B) Silver Medal