LONDON, UK – As 2009 comes to an end here is my review of the season so far:
Invicta Dynamos
Joe Johnston looking for silverware (Photo by David Trevallion)
It is no surprise to see the Dynamos sitting pretty at the top of the table. They have a balanced squad and Kevin Parrish has really covered all areas with his recruitment. Andy Smith and Nicky Lewis have stepped up to the plate with over twenty goals each in the scoring charts. Import Peter Vaisenan has also proved no slouch in front of goal, and has also added his own brand of toughness alongside traditional baddies Grant Baxter and Mark Williams. It seems unlikely that anyone will catch the Dynamos, however they cannot afford to be complacent.
Star man – Peter Vaisenan
Fast becoming a real fans favourite with his high energy North American style of hockey. Vaisenan is probably the most effective Invicta import I have seen in the ENL.
Highlight – The last gasp victory over Chelmsford at the Riverside gave Dynamos fans the excitement they have craved. Andy Smith sealed the win in the first Essex/Kent derby for a number of years.
Lowlight – Losing 4-3 in Bracknell has been the only blot on Invicta’s copy book. The departure of Johan Stenvall shortly afterwards was not directly linked to the result but Kevin Parrish quickly replaced the Swede with Nolan Boike.
Chelmsford Chieftains
Pavlus is a scoring threat (Photo by David Trevallion)
Currently sitting in second place the Chieftains have proved a real success story this season. Dean Birrell has moulded a high tempo hard working side, not dissimilar in style to Cardiff. Danny Hammond hasn’t disappointed in the scoring charts and young Blaho Novak has begun to make a name for himself as a ‘Grade A’ pest. Chieftains much maligned imports Rudi Dzurko and Jerry Pavlus are solid at this level but don’t have the impact of a Vaisenan or Rusic. Chelmsford have tied a number of games including a shock 2-2 result in Streatham. They are unlikely to challenge the Dynamos for the title but they will be a stiff test for anyone.
Star man – Danny Hammond
A youngster with a bright future in the game if he keeps improving. Hammond carries a lot of responsibility on young shoulders and will need fellow forward Aaron Connelly to continue his good form, and provide support if he (Hammond) wants to trouble the top scorers ladder.
Highlight – Holding Invicta to a two all draw in Kent after losing in heartbreaking fashion only a week earlier at the Riverside.
Lowlight – The recent one point weekend where the team lost 4-2 in Bracknell on the Saturday and then followed it up with a disappointing 2-2 draw in Streatham the following day. These results effectively ended Chelmsford’s title hopes.
Cardiff Devils
Cardiff top scorer Steve Fisher (photo by Tim Bowers)
With games in hand over Chelmsford, the Devils have a good chance of securing a runners up spot. I said at the start of the season that Cardiff would be dark horses for the title but they will have to rely on Invicta slipping up, which is looking doubtful. The main worry for Coach Mark Cuddihy will be the recent call ups of some of his star players to the Premier League. Steve Fisher has iced for Basingstoke and a number of players have been guesting for Romford of late. This will increase the risk of injuries and fatigue not to mention the danger of players leaving for higher leagues full time, should they impress.
Star man – Steve Fisher has accumulated another impressive point’s haul for his team and this has not gone unnoticed. Steve Moria called him up to play for Basingstoke Bison in a recent English Premier League game. Can Mark Cuddihy hold onto his star man?
Highlight – Fisher’s sensational winner to seal a 5-4 win against Chelmsford. Both teams have been involved in some bad tempered encounters this year and seem to be developing a good rivalry.
Lowlight – Forfeiting the game against Haringey 5-0 due to an administrative error, despite beating the Londoners 10-4 on the ice. This result had repercussions at both ends of the table.
Bracknell Hornets
James Galazzi adds toughness as well as goals (photo by Tim Bowers)
Despite losing last season’s top scorer Dan Davies to Slough Jets of the English Premier League, the Hornets have started the season strongly. Alex Barker and Ben Duggan have weighed in with the goals and Brad Watchorn has weighed in with the punches, as the Hornets prove to be a difficult foe. Goalie David Wride has started to show his value to the team with some strong displays of late in between the pipes. Gary Cox’s side are now on a 9 game winning streak as they enter the second half of the season but they will have to show consistency against the top teams if they want to climb up the standings.
Star man – Ben Duggan
The former Guildford Flame is gaining valuable ice time at this level after failing to secure regular ice on an EPL roster. With over 30 points already, Duggan will be hoping that his good form continues and his chances with the EPL Bees increase.
Highlight – It doesn’t get any better than beating the league leaders in front of your own supporters. Bracknell may have got a fortunate winner through Matt Ovenden but they won’t care too much.
Lowlight – A disappointing 6-2 loss to Cardiff on the opening day of the season set the season off on the wrong note. The other setbacks have included two losses to the Oxford Stars.
Oxford City Stars
Richard Wojciack vital to Stars hopes (photo by Tim Bowers)
Oxford have been in good form recently but defeats earlier in the season have put them out of the title race. Simon Anderson has assembled a talented team with an emphasis on speed and skill over brawn. Juraj Rusic, Andrew Shurmer and Alan Green have been shrewd mid season acquisitions for the Stars who are improving with every game. After struggling to beat Peterborough and Haringey, the Stars are now showing increasing ruthlessness, and this showed in their demolition of Streatham and Milton Keynes recently. With good strength in depth now the Stars will be hoping they can continue their recent good form and then make an impact in the play offs.
Star man – Juraj Rusic
His month loan at Swindon disrupted his Stars career, however much will be expected of Rusic in the second half of the season. With the likes of Shannon Taylor and Darren Elliott supporting him, he has a good chance of making an impact.
Highlight – Putting their Bracknell hoodoo behind them with a great 3-1 win on the road. The Stars rarely win in Berkshire and this game showed that the Stars have the composure and cutting edge to challenge this year.
Lowlight – Early season thrashings in Kent against the Dynamos. The Stars should be giving Invicta more of a challenge, and I am confident that they will push the Dynamos much harder at Oxpens road in the two fixtures next year.
Wightlink Raiders
Alex Murray amongst the goals (photo by Tim Bowers)
The season’s biggest disappointment lies in sixth place at the time of writing. Coach Jeremy Cornish has struggled to build a roster to challenge the top teams and he will be disappointed with how things have developed. The Raiders have some talented players in Alex Murray, Dan Scott and Dan Hughes but the team haven’t travelled well. In addition to the issues on the ice, the Raiders have been hampered by bizarre errors off the ice. Firstly their kit went missing en route to Haringey denying the team of two pretty much guaranteed points, and then a game sheet error meant that the Reynolds brothers had to leave the ice, in the first period, after travelling all the way to Peterborough. For the sake of the loyal band of supporters on the Island, Cornish will be hoping his team can turn things around in the New Year.
Star man – Jeremy Cornish
The Player-Coach is on a steep learning curve as he adapts to the ENL. Easily the toughest player in the league, Cornish has had to sacrifice his greatest asset for the good of the team and he has shown that he can hit the back of the net with a number of goals.
Highlight – A fine 5-0 win over Cardiff seems a long way away now for the Raiders. Alex Murray’s performances after switching from defence to forward have also given the Raiders a boost.
Lowlight – Losing two points after their kit went to Crystal Palace instead of Alexandra Palace. The team waited and waited, but in the end the game was awarded to Haringey 5-0.
Streatham Redskins
Slovakian Peter Molnar makes things happen (photo by Dave West)
The aim at the start of the season was one of survival for the South London club, and barring a catastrophe, this has already been achieved. This is great news for Coach Barry Spours and the supporters of the team, but it does mean that the second half of the season could be a frustrating affair. With the play offs a very big ask, and relegation no longer an issue, the mid table Redskins will need to keep motivated and continue to entertain their fans. Will Sanderson has proved an able replacement for previous goalie Shane Kemp, and Louis Lockwood has stepped up to the plate to fill some of the gap left by the departed Joe Johnston.
Star man – Peter Molnar
Assured on the puck and the glue that binds the Redskins first line together, Molnar has proved a touch of class for the Redskins contributing both goals and service to his team mates.
Highlight – Securing a 2-2 draw at home to Chelmsford in a game that the Redskins nearly won. Former Streatham Coach Dean Birrell could only stand and watch as his former charges put in a committed display to give their fans an early Christmas present.
Lowlight – Getting annihilated 21-2 in Cardiff with a short bench won’t go down as many Streatham fans favourite road trips. The Redskins were missing first choice goalie Will Sanderson along with several other players and the Welsh side showed no mercy.
Haringey Greyhounds
Ryan Payne patrolling blue line (photo by Dave West)
Never a dull moment at Alexandra Palace, with changes in ownership, coaching and players, all happening in the first four months of the season. After snatching Perry Richardson and Owen Murphy from Streatham, hopes were high amongst fans that last season’s debacle could be avoided. Unfortunately the Hounds lost Coach Lee Mercer and suffered some heavy defeats early in the season. Richardson and Murphy decided to return to Streatham and the team then failed to travel to Bracknell and Invicta, forfeiting both games 5-0. Nick Rothwell took over the helm from Chairman Jan Bestic and Sergei Smollenko took over on the bench. The Greyhounds have gained 4 points due to other teams off-ice errors and seem to be avoiding relegation without actually winning.
Star man – Michael Ranby
The former Lee Valley Lion has managed to score ten goals this season which is no mean feat in a team that struggles to find the net. He has also managed to reduce his penalty minutes unlike team mate Dave Richards who already has 138 minutes so far this year.
Highlight – An early season 5-3 win in Peterborough, which was sealed by a shorthanded Gareth O’Flaherty goal in the last minute. Sadly O’Flaherty transferred to Nottingham Lions shortly after.
Lowlight – The weekend when the team failed to show for games against Bracknell and Invicta was the main lowlight for the team. The opening day 18-1 hiding off Chelmsford is not far behind.
Milton Keynes Thunder
Goalie Mark Woolf solid as ever (photo by Tim Bowers)
A very disappointing start to the season by the Thunder who find themselves facing relegation unless they turn around their form. Despite assembling a decent looking roster, the Thunder have failed to perform with Coaches Lewis Clifford and Darryl Morvan bemoaning the team’s lack of firepower. Lee Featherstone and Tom Roles have recently returned to the team, but they really need summer recruits Clint Herring and Jamie Holland to start firing up front.
Star man – Mike Knights
Experienced and composed in defence. Knights has a good pedigree and has put in some solid performances on the blue line this year.
Highlight – Winning 6-4 in Peterborough in a bad tempered affair against their arch rivals. Jamie Holland scored past his old club but Clint Herring didn’t have such a good time as he was thrown out for a check to the head by referee Joy Tottman.
Lowlight – The twelve game losing streak that was only broken by a disappointing 5-5 draw at home to fellow strugglers Haringey Greyhounds.
Peterborough Islanders
Veteran Scot takes over coaching (photo by Tim Bowers)
I predicted a season of struggle for the Islanders at the start of the season and sadly they have proven me correct. Head coach Richard Wheatley stepped down after losing streak and long serving player Ross Mackintosh stepped in. The Islanders have lost their last fifteen games but have boosted the squad recently with the signings of Steve Maile, Dan Needham and Fraser Hendry. Simon Wren is an experienced goalie but he has seen a lot of rubber, and the Islanders may have to call on unproven goalies Ryan Bainborough and Rob Mcgregor before the season is out. With the teams above them not only ahead on points, but also holding games in hand, it will take a miracle for the Islanders to escape the drop.
Star man – Ross Mackintosh
The veteran forward still has the legs and ability to cause any team problems. His 12 goals so far make him the Islanders highest scorer by a long way. The challenge will be to see how he combines playing with his additional coaching ability.
Highlight – An early season 6-3 win at Haringey is the Islanders only victory of the season so far.
Lowlight – Deducted two points for icing an illegible player and also losing five consecutive home games by double figures. Poor Simon Wren must be the busiest goalie in the country.
So as 2009 ends we look to 2010 and ask the following questions:
– Will Oxford persist with their bright green kit?
– Will Peterborough’s Simon Wren get new leg pads for xmas?
– Can Cardiff’s Alan Armour afford the Severn Bridge toll for the rest of the season?
– Will Haringey be travelling by coach to any more games?
– Will Invicta’s Andy Smith last through the play offs?
– Will Streatham’s Jay Richards get his hair cut?
– Can Haringey’s Dave Richards keep his mouth shut?
– Can anyone take on Wightlink’s Jeremy Cornish and win?
– Will I ever get away a decent shot from the point?
Good luck to everyone next year.
Thanks for reading and stay safe.
Carrsy
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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