Durham City Wasps were formed during the summer of 1995 after the sale and subsequent relocation of Durham Wasps from Durham Ice Rink announced in May of that year. The "City Slickers" as they were to become known were pulled together by manager Brian Cooper, father of former Wasps Ian and Stephen Cooper. The team, which played in the English Division 1 (North) was made up primarily of former Wasps, players from Durham's under-19 squad and recreational players. The team first took to the ice at Sheffield's Queen's Road Ice Rink against the Sheffield Scimitars on 10 September 1995.