Over 600 people crowded into Telford Ice Rink to celebrate 25 years of ice hockey in the town - and witness a shock result as a team of legends beat this year's Tigers EPL squad 17-8.

Saturday night's anniversary event was held to raise money for a number of good causes, including Help for Heroes, ABF - The Soldiers Charity and the Tiger Tracks Supporters Trust.

And with recent EPL title-winners Ricky Plant, Dwayne Newman, and Gary Clarke all appearing for the legends side, the evening was a success both on and off the ice.

Organiser Paul Thomason said: "It has been such a fantastic evening, especially with the crowd coming out to support the Tigers.

"It has been a great success and I am really proud of everybody who has helped out, from officials to referees and the helpers.

"They have all given their time and I really appreciate it."

Former Telford Tigers player-coach Claude Dumas will be paying a fond farewell to both club and country when he takes part in Saturday's anniversary game to mark 25 years of ice hockey in the town.

The French-Canadian, who played for Telford in two spells between 1996 and 2009, is moving back to Canada in the summer, following a 20-year career in the UK.

Dumas will be part of a Telford legends team that will take on this year's Tigers English Premier League squad, with the Legends adding to their already impressive roster this week Todd Dutiaume, Gary Clarke, Andy Steele, Tom Carlon, Stuart Bates, Mark Hazlehurst and Geoff Lane. 

He said: "I maybe played a little longer than I should have, and I have not skated for a year, so it will be fun just to go on the ice.

"It will be an honour to play in Telford , especially in the game that marks 25 years and I think the fans will like to see some of the older players."

"I left two years ago, so it will be good fun to play here for one last time."

Saturday's event will also include a ladies match at 3pm and exhibition games from the Telford Venom, before the anniversary game faces off 5.30pm and ice time has been donated free of charge by Telford Ice Rink. Proceeds will go to Help for Heroes, ABF - The Soldiers Charity and Tiger Tracks Supporters Trust.

Specially commissioned legends shirt, as designed by Rhino Sports, to be worn at the 25th anniversary game

The famous Telford Tigers 'T' logo - first used in 1985 - is to be brought out of retirement for this month's anniversary game, which will celebrate 25 years of ice hockey in the town.

A team of Telford ice hockey legends, including Kel Land, Mark Budz, Claude Dumas and the Plant brothers Russell and Ricky, will take on this season's Tigers EPL squad in a challenge match on April 16.

Shirts worn by the legends will feature an amended version of the original Tigers logo and sold off to raise money for good causes, including Help for Heroes, ABF - The Soldiers Charity and Tiger Tracks Supporters Trust.

Paul Thomason, who is organising the game, said: "I am very pleased with the way the shirts look and it will be nice to see the old Tigers logo back.

Former Telford Tigers star John Bloomer will be keeping an eye out for the famous 'Bloomer's Corner' when he plays in next month's anniversary game to celebrate 25 years of ice hockey in the town.

Bloomer will be a member of the Telford legends team, which will take on this year's Tigers EPL squad on April 16, alongside Kel Land, Rob Stewart, Karl Creamer and Grant Mitchell.

Proceeds from the game will go to Help for Heroes, ABF - The Soldier's Charity and Tiger Tracks Supporters Trust.

The 44-year-old, who retired from ice hockey in 1995, was famous for a following of fans in the corner stand at Telford, who chanted his name and wore specially-designed John Bloomer t-shirts.

He said: "They might not have the t-shirts any more, but it was a great little corner of about a dozen fans. That was a real highlight for me.

"It was all about the songs they sang and the t-shirts they wore, so if I scored I would always go to that corner and thank them. It was a great buzz.

"If they shout 'ooh ahh Bloomer', then I'll go over and hopefully see them in the bar later for a catch-up."