ReTribe has announced that Tony Hand MBE, widely regarded as the greatest British ice hockey player of all time, has become the organisation’s first official ambassador. His involvement marks a significant step in ReTribe’s mission to provide meaningful support and growth opportunities for players at every level of the sport.
ReTribe has been built as a support and growth network for hockey players at all stages of their journey, offering guidance around challenges such as mental health, injury, career transitions, work and insurance issues and the identity shifts that can come during or after a playing career. Its Tough Through Tender programme is designed to help players unblock and unleash their human potential so they can perform with more clarity, resilience and freedom.
Across a playing career that stretched from 1983 to 2015, Hand set records that may never be touched. He became the first British trained player to be drafted to the NHL in 1986, scored more than 4,000 career points, represented Great Britain in multiple World Championships and spent 14 seasons as a successful player coach. His achievements have been recognised with an MBE for services to ice hockey and induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame with the Torriani Award.
Following his retirement as a player, Hand continued to influence the sport. He moved directly into coaching, including serving as the National Development Head Coach for Ice Hockey UK and, more recently, taking on the role of head coach of the Whitley Warriors. His impact on British hockey has extended well beyond his playing days, shaping young talent and contributing to the development of the sport across the country.
ReTribe founder Nick Rothwell has followed Hand’s career closely for decades, having faced him as an opponent and later covered him as a commentator and analyst for Sky Sports.
“Tony made me look really slow when we played against each other. I watched him lead the best of the British night after night during my years covering the game. I interviewed him many times and even had the chance to sit down with him for an intimate chat at Troon Golf Course, which is when I really got to know him. What stood out was that he is a man of his word, stoic, determined and still involved in the sport today. He has seen British hockey evolve from its early days to the modern era.”
Rothwell approached Hand about becoming an ambassador for ReTribe, and Hand took time to understand the organisation’s direction before agreeing to join.
“Tony told me he had been keeping an eye on what we were doing, but he wanted to see the long-term plan before committing,” Rothwell explains. “He went away, looked at it properly and came back saying he believed in the work and was happy to support it.”
Reflecting on the wider landscape of player support in the UK, Hand said:
“Back in the nineties there was the first Ice Hockey UK Players Association. It didn’t last too long and nothing really replaced it after that. The game has changed a lot and society has changed a lot. We need to evolve as well and give players more tools.”
Hand highlighted two key elements of ReTribe’s approach that resonated strongly with him.
“I particularly like the peer to peer support. A lot of former players go on to have great careers and life experience and they can pass that on. They can give players practical advice and support in a way that really lands.”
With his active role in developing players today, Hand sees firsthand what modern players need and what players at all levels are up against.
He also pointed to the partnership with sports psychologist Dr Misia Gervis and the organisation’s Tough Through Tender transformational learning programme.
“That alongside the work you are doing with Dr Misia Gervis gives a good balance,” Hand added. “You have players helping players and you have proper psychological support and tools as well. I think that is something a lot of players will welcome.”
Rothwell says: “We are not just here for the tough moments. We are here to help players grow, build tools, feel anchored in themselves, get the most out of hockey and life, and to finally give players a voice.”
For ReTribe, Hand’s decision to join as an ambassador is both significant and symbolic.
“To have someone widely considered the greatest British player of all time choose to stand alongside us means a great deal,” Rothwell says. “He is not just a legend from a previous era. He is coaching, developing and influencing players right now. He understands what today’s players are up against and what support has been missing. His backing tells players that this is serious work, rooted in real experience and rooted in the game.”
ReTribe will continue expanding its support, development and peer connection network, with Tony Hand MBE serving as its first official ambassador.