Paul Ditchburn

Infobox Ice Hockey Player
team = Durham Wasps
league = EPIHL


image_size = 155px
position = Defence
shoots = Left
height_ft = 6
height_in = 4
nickname = Ditchy
nationality = UK
birth_date = birth date and age|1976|02|1
birth_place = Co.Durham, UK
former_teams = Durham Wasps
Durham City Wasps
Whitley Warriors
career_start = 1989
career_end = 2000

Paul Ditchburn (born February 1, 1976 in Shotley Bridge, Co.Durham) is a retired English ice hockey defenseman who played in several seasons with the Durham Wasps, Durham City Wasps and the Whitley Warriors. He was generally considered one of the top defensemen in the English league, being particularly noted for his offense and playmaking abilities as well as his huge body checks.

Ditchburn accumulated many individual honors during his career. He has represented England and Great Britain and was a defensemen during the Durham City Wasps' run to the 1996 Play Off Championship Final. He won the player of the tournament for England during the series against Scotland in 1996, his 23 goals that season was a record high for the defensemen. He wore the number 2 jersey throughout his career as he was a huge fan of the New York Rangers defensemen Brian Leetch. Journal

Early life

Although he was born in Shotley Bridge, Co.Durham, his family moved from there a few months after he was born, eventually settling in Durham. This is where the youngster would begin to hone his hockey skills at Durham ice rink within the youth set up. In comprehensive school he excelled in many sports but mainly football, as a goalkeeper. Hockey, however, is where he really excelled. As a minor in the Durham U14 set up, he scored 26 goals and 35 assists in his first season. In 2 seasons with Durham U14's he scored 41 goals and 65 assists in 55 games. These numbers were especially remarkable for a defenseman of such a young age. He had dreams of following in the footsteps of his father Terry and being a policeman or staying with football as his grandfathers wanted, but when it came down to the major decision his love of ice hockey proved too strong.= Playing career =

At U16 level Ditchburn was part of the Durham junior team that won through to the play off final at Wembley arena. This final was watched by a record 10,000 people for a junior game. They eventually lost to the Fife Flames 3-2. This was to be Ditchburns lowest point of his hockey career after he scored in his own net. It would improve however as Ditchburn was part of the Great Britain team that went to the World Championships in Toronto and would gain a lot of experience from it.

As the Durham City Wasps developed into a championship-caliber team, Ditchburn won increasing respect from fans for his offensive-minded play as well as his hard body checks and his all round physical play. He would be prepared to get involved in fights and back any of his team mates up even though it would mean getting into many fights. In 1998 he did what he had wanted to do for many years and signed for theWhitley Warriors and very quickly won the respect of the Warriors fans even though he had signed from Durham. Journal

With Whitley in 1999, Ditchburn remained a fan favorite and team enforcer, fans loving his all round physical game, and the all round play of Ditchburn was at an all time high recording goals and assists. He would always have time to chat to fans after games and made sure autographs were signed for the kids. The next year, however, was marked by an injury to Ditchburn that would force him out of the game he loved so much. He was blindsided and punched shattering the right side of his face. Ditchburn underwent major surgery to reconstruct his jaw and was missing from the line up for several months. He did return later that season but the injury was so severe he had to end his playing days and leave the sport he had dedicated so many years to. Hockey Fanzine

Retirement

Ditchburn still loves the game and will always have a place in his heart for the game of Ice Hockey especially for the Whitley Warriors.

He now lives with his fiancée Layla and his daughter Olivia in North East England.

In the season 1999-2000 we lost a true great player on the ice and a true gentleman off it.