Saffron Lane MBE (née Allen, born 28 March 1995) is an English ice hockey player and sports therapist. She played for the Solihull Vixens and represented Great Britain for 12 years on the Great Britain women's national ice hockey team. She was captain of the national team from 2019 until her retirement from international level ice hockey in 2023.
| Saffron Lane MBE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
28 March 1995 Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England | ||
| Height | 164 cm (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Weight | 79 kg (174 lb; 12 st 6 lb) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| National team |
 Great Britain | ||
| Playing career | 2005–2024 | ||
Career
editLane became interested in ice hockey by attending Telford Tigers games with her brother.[1] As there no pathway for girls to play ice hockey when she began playing, she played boys ice hockey[2] for the Telford Venom under 16s team.[3] Lane then played for the Telford Wrekin Raiders women's team from when she was aged 11.[4] She graduated to the Great Britain women's national under-18 ice hockey team.[5]
While attending William Brookes School in Shropshire, Lane was an Olympic Games Youth Ambassador and was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch when it passed through Shropshire en route to London for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[5][6] She attended the University of Gloucestershire.[7]
From 2012, Kane played for the Solihull Vixens women's team.[3][8] From 2016 to 2019, she was both a player and an assistant coach for the team.[3] Solihull Vixens won the Women's National Ice Hockey Elite League (WNIHL Elite) championships in 2017,[9] 2020,[9] 2022[10] and 2023.[11]
Alongside her ice hockey career, Lane worked as a self-employed sports therapist.[12]
Great Britain
editIn 2011, Lane made her debut for the Great Britain women's national ice hockey team against Denmark at the IIHF Women’s World Championship Division II in Caen, France.[13] She scored her first senior goal in the tournament, against France.[12]
In November 2012, Lane suffered a serious spinal injury and slipped two discs while playing in an Olympics qualifying tournament in China.[2][14] Through rehab, she recovered back to fitness within 14 months through to play at 2013 Winter Universiade in Pergine Valsugana, Italy, where she scored against the United States and Spain.[14][15] In 2013, she was awarded the British Olympic Association (BOA) Athlete of the Year award for ice hockey.[15]
Lane was named alternate captain in 2016 and became captain in 2019.[16]
In 2022, Lane represented Greet Britain at the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship Division II,[17] where Great Britain won the Group A tournament and were promoted to Division I.[18][19]
Lane retired from international level ice hockey in 2023.[13][2] While a member of the women's national team Lane represented Great Britain in nine World Championships and three Olympic qualifiers, and scored 18 goals with 20 assists for 38 points.[2][13] She continued to play for Solihull Vixens until 2024.[20]
Lane was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her Services to Sport in 2025.[1][16]
References
edit- 1 2 Shuttleworth, Paul (15 June 2025). "Former GB ice hockey captain thanks family for MBE". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Saffron Allen: Great Britain captain 'honoured' after international retirement". BBC Sport. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Saffron Allen". EliteProspects. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Raiders silence Thunder". Shropshire Star. 4 October 2006. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Olympic Games flame for Shropshire ice hockey star". Shropshire Star. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Pell, Laura (19 March 2012). "Two pupils from William Brookes School are given their moment to shine". Shropshire Council Newsroom. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Palmer, Jon (26 February 2018). "Former Gloucestershire student going for gold". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "True character gives Solihull Vixens a deserved win". Solihull Observer. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 "WNIHL Elite". EliteProspects. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Sutcliffe, Aaron (6 May 2022). "ICE HOCKEY – Solihull Vixens crowned league champions". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Sutcliffe, Aaron (13 April 2023). "ICE HOCKEY – Vixens crowned Elite League champions". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 Rackham, Mark (2 January 2023). "Great Britain Captain hangs up her skates". UK Hockey Blog. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Sutcliffe, Aaron (6 January 2023). "ICE HOCKEY – Vixens star and Great Britain captain Allen announces international retirement". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Saffron Allen aims to inspire Great Britain at World Championship after paralysis fears". BBC Sport. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 "BOA Announce Olympic Athletes of the Year 2013 | Team GB". Team GB. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- 1 2 Release, IHUK Press (14 June 2025). "Saffron Lane (Allen) Awarded an MBE". Great Britain Supporters Club - Home of the Fifth Line. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "Saffron Allen handed GB call". Shropshire Star. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Sutcliffe, Aaron (22 April 2022). "ICE HOCKEY – Solihull Vixens players win gold for Team GB ahead of crunch title clash". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Potts, Andy (9 April 2022). "GB women take Div. II gold". IIHF International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ Gordon, James (13 January 2023). "Podcast: GB Captain Saffron Allen on international retirement and Solihull Vixens' race to the top". British Ice Hockey. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
External links
edit- Saffron Allen at EliteProspects
- Saffron Lane on X