Long time favourite Wainwright was presented with a special award at the Dragons’ home game against Solihull Barons, marking his 400th game for the club.

The popular defenceman is a former Deeside junior player and made his senior debut with Flintshire Freeze in the 2010/11 season.

A veteran of 16 seasons at NIHL level, Wainwright has played pretty much his whole career at Deeside, apart from brief spells at Widnes Wild and Blackburn Hawks.

He was a member of the Dragons team that won the Laidler Division league and play-off double in 2015/16 and has won two Welsh Cups and the Moralee Cup in the post-Covid period. He has scored 64 Deeside goals from his mainly defensive role and contributed 210 assists, as well as picking up 224 penalty minutes.

Dragons’ head coach Mike Clancy said: “Reaching 400 games for one club is a fantastic achievement and something Wainy should be incredibly proud of.

“As head coach, I know how important players like Wainy are to the fabric of this hockey club. Playing 400 games in a Dragons jersey takes commitment, loyalty, resilience and a genuine passion for representing the badge.”