CHELMSFORD, UK – Chelmsford Chieftains new signing Danny Cox is confident that his team can challenge for honours in the English National League this season. After a tough year at Romford Raiders last season, hard hitting defenseman Cox is keen to bounce back albeit with the Raiders nearest and not so dearest rivals at the Riverside.
Chieftains coach Dean Birrell has recruited smartly over the summer to build on last year’s squad that finished in fourth place in ENL South Division 1. A strong showing in the subsequent play-offs has given Chieftains fans hope that this season the team can aim for top spot in the league. Cox is looking forward to the season with justified optimism and says that the opportunity to sign for the Chieftains initially came last summer:
“When Romford’s future fell into doubt, I was speaking to Dean (Birrell) and liked the set up he had put together” said the 24 year old; “Romford were saved at the last minute and obviously I wanted to go back there after a great second half of the previous season”
Photo courtesy of Romfordraiders.co.uk
The opportunity to play for Jesse Hammill in the EPL kept Cox at Rom Valley Way; however the season was one of struggle. With the Raiders battling at the wrong end of the EPL, Cox appeared in 44 games and saw increased ice time compared with previous years. Incidentally, Cox has nothing but praise for his former coach Hammill, who he attributes the improvement in his all round game too. With Romford dropping to the ENL, Cox received another call from Birrell at Chelmsford and decided that this time he would make the move up the A12:
“It was a very difficult year for everyone at Romford and when the club’s future fell in doubt again at the end of last season, I felt it was time for a change and wanted to go somewhere that had a little more stability, so when Dean rang me again, it was the right time for me”
Thankfully Romford have since secured their future and with new player-coach Danny Marshall pulling the strings, the Raiders have already made some impressive signings in JJ McGrath, Anthony Leone and Tyrone Miller. The Raiders will be challenging at the top of the table this coming season and Cox is pleased his old club are now on the right track. In addition, he fully expects a traditional Romford welcome when he faces the team in Chieftains colours:
“I am really happy that Romford have been able to put a team together to compete in the league as the fans there are so passionate. They deserve a decent team to get behind each week and it looks like they will have one,
“Although I have always received a warm reception at Romford over the last two years, I am fully expecting the same treatment that every other opposition player gets when they play at Rom Valley Way, but of course I wouldn’t want it any other way”
Clashes between Chelmsford and Romford always tend to be feisty affairs and with both sides icing a lot of local players in the ENL this is only set to intensify. BT Williams was seen as the Chieftains enforcer last season, but Cox has dropped the gloves on a fair number of occasions in the EPL, so will he be continuing the trend this season?
“I’m not going into the season just looking to fight every other guy who has a bit of a reputation, however if it will change the momentum of a game or if a play happens that warrants a physical response then yeah I will definitely get stuck in”
Photo courtesy of Romfordraiders.co.uk
Cox started his career as a junior in Leyton with Lee Valley before making his senior debut with the Haringey Greyhounds. A born and bred Londoner, the 6ft defender has spent the majority of his senior hockey career inside the M25. So with a move outside these confines, will he try to fit in with the well worn Essex stereotype by investing in a Nova SR (or alternative boy racer motor) and accompanying bleached blonde haired girlfriend?
“Well I am from East London so like everyone else I drive a stolen police car and have a brunette girlfriend who is a rapper. Actually that last part is true” he laughs.
The departure of Cox from Romford does leave a gap for the Raiders and the team will not be alone in trying to sign up some defensive talent before the season starts. The ENL South has a dearth of defenseman and most teams have to fight over the available talent or convert existing forwards to fill those positions on the roster. The reason why so many players prefer the forward role is a question Cox has also pondered and he has his own theories on why this has become an issue in UK hockey:
“I think I was like most defenseman in any sport really when I started playing, I wanted to be a forward too. It’s a hard question to answer but I do think from my experience at a young age, the players with less ability on the puck or the ones who are bigger members of the squad get put into defence, so it needs a different approach from Under 10 upwards to make a change,
“Having said that, it’s hard for coaches to get teams together because as much as the game is improving and growing over here it is still a minority sport, so you have to make the best with what you have”
Chelmsford boasted the best defensive record in the ENL last season, as they conceded the least goals of any side including eventual champions Invicta Dynamos. This was especially impressive given that their initial first choice goalie Andy Moffat missed a large percentage of the season due to injury. The addition of Cox will not only boost the blue line but also add some much needed steel to the line up.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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