Chelmsford’s wait is finally over

CHELMSFORD, UK – Chelmsford ice rink finally re-opened this week to the relief of the town’s hockey club and fans. With most teams already up and running, the Chelmsford Chieftains have some catching up to do.
Head Coach Den Birrell and his management team have battled all summer to prepare the Essex side for the 2010/11 season, finding alternatives to their unavailable home ice surface for training.
Whilst the fans have been frustrated at the delayed start to the season, it is the players who have had to endure a tough build up to the first fixture on the ice.

“We have managed to put in a few hours of training on ice at other rinks around the M25” explained Chieftains Captain Danny Wright. “It hasn’t been easy getting eighteen guys together at short notice and at unsociable times”
“Having said that, there have been some good team building sessions at the local gym with circuit training and spinning sessions, and the odd evening get together, so that all helps build team morale as everyone who plays hockey will understand that banter and being together as a group brings good things in to teams”
The delayed refurbishment of the rink also brought into question whether Chelmsford could hold on to the strong team Birrell had assembled at the start of the summer. The team finished last season strongly and finished in fourth position in the regular season before bowing out in the play-offs to Wightlink Raiders.
More importantly was the progress of rising stars Danny Hammond, James Ayling, Blaho Novak, Ross Brears and Aaron Conolly amongst others. Hammond in particular impressed as he finished sixth overall in the league scoring charts with forty two goals and thirty two assists in thirty five appearances. Despite a link up with the EPL Slough Jets, the Chieftains starlets were vulnerable to poaching from rival clubs with every doubt expressed over the teams start to the season.

“Parts of the team have grown up together and are proud to play for their home club” maintained Wright, who also lists Romford Raiders and Haringey Greyhounds amongst his former clubs. “There is enormous spirit and chemistry in the team.  Chelmsford is a great place to live and play, with lots of atmosphere created by the fans and supporters”
“The whole team, management and supporters really can’t wait for the first puck to drop at the Riverside this season and we will be ready to give any team that walks into our rink a real test”
Whilst the Chieftains have managed to maintain the nucleus of last season’s roster Head Coach Birrell acknowledged the roster changes made across the league and brought in some new faces of his own. Tom Long has joined from Basingstoke, Matt Turner and Danny Cox switched from rivals Romford Raiders as did net minder Euan King. All four players appeared in the English Premier League last season and this is indicative of transfers across the league. Also joining the Chieftains camp is the talented Richard Gunn who returns after a three year spell playing overseas.
“The ENL gets stronger every year” admitted Wright. “If anybody had asked me a few years back if I would ever be playing in the ENL with the likes of Romford’s Danny Marshall, Cardiff’s Lee Cowmeadow, Oxford’s Ken Forshee and Isle of Wight’s Jeremy Cornish I wouldn’t have believed it, but that really does tell everyone how the ENL is nowadays”
“Any hockey fans who have not watched an ENL hockey game recently may be quite surprised at how entertaining it can be and I would urge them to get along to a game”
Despite the problems on home ice, Chelmsford finally started their season a fortnight ago with two games on the road. A narrow 4-2 loss on the Isle of Wight against Wightlink Raiders was followed up with a surprise 7-1 thumping of Oxford City Stars at Oxpens Road. The result over the City Stars did raise a few eyebrows across the league, given the fact the Chieftains preparations have been hampered and also the fact that Oxford are a normally a tough proposition on their own ice.

“Wightlink are a tough, no nonsense side” said Wright. “They play to win and take no prisoners so every game there is tough. Although we lost the game we were all buzzing afterwards and this carried into the Oxford game”
“The Stars are also an experienced side who have made some great signings this summer. Forshee has done well there and they are another team who have a chance of silverware”
“We really settled into the game quickly and the lines really gelled. Not many teams will go there and pick up points so to get a convincing win gave the whole team a massive boost. We really wanted to build on that against Streatham the following week but obviously with the ice not being ready, it left us a little frustrated”
When the signing of Wright was announced by the Chieftains during the summer, the local press dubbed the defenseman the Mayor of Chelmsford much to the bemusement of followers of the league. The moniker did not stem from a traditional Essex love of thick gold necklaces, but from a much more normal reason.
“I can thank my old team mates, Mike Timms (Mad Dog) and Euan Forsyth (Brucey) for that” laughed Wright. “I’ve lived in Chelmsford for thirty years of my life and I have played football, hockey and attended school here, also with younger brothers and sisters” 
“On days and evenings in town out and about with Mad Dog and Brucey they were surprised by how many people knew me or I knew. They decided that I was to be the ‘Mayor’ and the name has stuck since then”
So with that mystery solved, the team can now look forward to some hockey action this weekend as the Mayor and his team mates face Milton Keynes Thunder twice in 48 hours. Not only will fans be looking forward to seeing their team in action, but there will also be the opportunity to see how good the refurbishments have been. 
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com