THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

Fryup Whalers were an ice hockey team that played in the British League in the mid-1980s.  Playing their home games at the Fryup Forum, later re-named the Olga Siskin Oval in honour of the infamous local figure skater, the Whalers became renowned for their rough-house tactics, noisy fans known as ‘Harpooners’, and death-metal goal celebrations.  In 1988, the Whalers’ Autumn Cup semi-final against Streatham Redskins had to be abandoned due to repeated incidents of on- and off-ice violence.  Shortly afterwards, they were voted out of the league by their fellow clubs.