LONDON, UK – Eight teams hoped to be playing this weekend but only two have made it through to the ENL South Play-Off final. Step forward Chelmsford Chieftains and Wightlink Raiders.
Can Cornish halt Chelmsford%3F Photo Nicky Craft
With the UK ready for a sweltering Easter weekend, it will be within the confines of two chilly ice rinks where the hottest action will be taking place. On Saturday the Wightlink Raiders host the Chelmsford Chieftains and then 24 hours later they will both do battle again, but this time on the mainland in deepest Essex.
The winner over the two legs will be crowned as the ENL South Play-Off champion’s for 2010/11 and will take the trophy from current holders Bracknell Hornets. Both sides have had a long 40 game season and finished in the top two positions in the league, so it is perhaps justified that they should both meet in the final following the knockout stage.
Pro Hockey News checks out both teams and their chances:
Chelmsford Chieftains
A second place finish in the league combined with players earning junior international call ups, a refurbished rink and a mutual deal with Slough Jets of the EPL, have brought exciting times to the Riverside under the tutorage of wily Scot Dean Birrell.
Photo by Nicky Craft
The Essex side have despatched Milton Keynes Thunder and fierce rivals Romford Raiders to reach the play-off final and they will be desperate to lift some silverware to add to their Essex ‘Team of the Year’ award they picked up earlier in the season.
Exciting forwards like Tom Long and Danny Hammond are complimented by the hard working tenacity of Darren Brown and Ross Brears, to give Chelmsford a balance that can perhaps only be matched by Wightlink out of the other sides in the ENL.
On defence, big Slovak Rudi Dzurko has plenty of help courtesy of Alex Green, Danny Wright and Mark Williams amongst others.
Ben Clements continues in goal for the Chieftains after an impressive campaign so far, plus young forward Aaron Connolly returns from international duty with GB under 18’s to take part in both games.
Route to the final:
Quarter Final
9 April 2011 – v Milton Keynes Thunder (A) W 3-2
10 April 2011 – v Milton Keynes Thunder (H) W 6-3
Semi Final
16 April 2011 – v Romford Raiders (A) D 4-4
17 April 2011 – v Romford Raiders (H) W 2-1
Press News
“We’ve got a lot of respect for what Jeremy and his team have achieved this season” admitted Coach Dean Birrell in a club statement released this week.
“They’ve won the league and we were second best. There’s no hiding from that fact, but what we can do now is come back and try and take the play-off title to Essex. They fell short in the final last year and won’t want to make it 2 years in a row”
“We’ll be up for it and we’ll see what happens. I’m not going to get over confident or make any predictions. We’ll go out there and give them everything and we’ll see what happens”
Wightlink Raiders
League champions and Raiders Cup holders, Wightlink Raiders are enjoying their best season in years and will be hoping that they can end it on a high by completing a league and play-off double.
Jeremy Cornish’s side have eliminated Bracknell Hornets and Invicta Dynamos in the knockout stages to reach the final, and have remained unbeaten against the Chieftains throughout the regular season.
Photo by Nicky Craft
Jason Gorrie and Robbie Brown provide the bulk of the firepower for the Raiders however it is the likes of Richard Facey and Brad Watchorn who add the grit needed to make the forward lines tick. Often running with four lines on the bench, Wightlink have plenty of personnel to choose from.
In defence, the man mountain with the bullet slapshot Dominic Hopkins provides a big threat on the powerplay, whilst Steve Gannaway, Dan Scott and Damon Larter provide a solid line along the blue.
Highly rated goalie Matt Colclough is the Raiders starting goalie and was named in the Pro Hockey News All-Star side earlier this week.
Raiders should be pretty much at full strength for this tie and will be hoping to get the jump early on Chelmsford by taking advantage of the home ice in the first leg.
Route to the final:
Quarter Final
9 April 2011 – v Bracknell Hornets (H) W 7-0
10 April 2011 – v Bracknell Hornets (A) W 2-1
Semi Final
16 April 2011 – v Invicta Dynamos (H) W 4-0
17 April 2011 – v Invicta Dynamos (A) L 0-1
Press News:
“They’re a really good team so we can’t take anything away from them,” admitted Coach Jeremy Cornish when speaking to BBC Radio Solent.
“They will turn us over without any problem if we’re not on our game.”
“They’re very well coached and have been playing a lot longer than us, but hopefully we can outmatch them. We’re built for play-off hockey. It’s more physical than league play and it’s tougher going and there’s more at stake, so it’s a testament to the guys really that we made the final”
Regular season fixtures head to head:
2 October 2010 – Wightlink Raiders 4 Chelmsford Chieftains 2
21 November 2010 – Chelmsford Chieftains 2 Wightlink Raiders 2
9 January 2011 – Chelmsford Chieftains 4 Wightlink Raiders 4
15 January 2011 – Wightlink Raiders 8 Chelmsford Chieftains 3
ENL Players Panel:
Numerous ENL players and coaches from across the league put their heads above the parapet and predict who will progress after the weekend’s fixtures. The only rule is no sitting on the fence…
Anthony Lennon – Invicta Dynamos defenseman
I think Chelmsford will win on the aggregate score. I feel Chelmsford have to go into the Isle of Wight with a damage limitation game plan over the first leg. Chelmsford has far better depth to their squad than any other team in the league this year. All 3 lines have the ability to find the back of the net as well as back check and defend as a unit. Isle of Wight are a strong team but i feel we had the better of them over the two games even though score lines would suggest not, they just don’t have the overall skill to win in Chelmsford. If Isle of Wight’s nettie has a blinder it may be closer, but his luck of the bounces has to change at some point and i feel it will be Chelmsford’s time for some deserved silverware.
Joe Johnston – Streatham Redskins forward
* Both teams have had great seasons and both have strength and depth in all areas across the ice so regardless of who the winner is it should be a great weekend of hockey and a great advert for the ENL and how the league has improved this year. Cornish has assembled a good tough outfit on the Island and I can’t see them losing at home. For me that first game is the key – if the Raiders can get a decent lead then I fancy them to grind out the right result in Chelmsford, in the same way they did in last week’s victory over Invicta.
Wightlink are hardworking and have some offensive flair but I think their tight Defence and strong goaltending are their main attributes. Chelmsford are a team that play a free flowing, easy on the eye style of hockey and are arguably the best team offensively in the league. They have someone I know very well in Dean Birrell at the helm and he will like to play the underdog and be nonchalant about their chances but he’ll have the Chieftains going for this weekend, make no bones about that. It’s an intriguing encounter, if you’re holding a gun to my head I’m going to say Wightlink to nick it, but it all depends on Saturday’s game. If Chelmsford can get a draw or better on the island I would expect them to win but I can’t see that happening. It’s so tight it really could be anyone’s but I’ll stick with the Raiders. Either way the correct two teams are fighting it out as the league table doesn’t lie and it’s good to see first playing second for the glory.
Adam Smith – Romford Raiders forward
I think it’s going to be too close to call really with both teams winning at home and I have to say I’d like Chelmsford to win it after the great series we just had with them at the weekend I think they deserve it but if I had to put money on it I think Wightlink will just about edge it over the two legs.
Mark Cuddihy – Cardiff ENL Devils Coach
For me, it looks like Wightlink will lift the cup. But it all depends how they play in Chelmsford. Chelmsford can really turn it on at home and only finished two points behind Wightlink this year. They play the home game first and I can see only one winner on the Island to be honest. It will really depend on the game in Essex.
Wightlink will go there with a lead and shut up shop, if the players are switched on and execute the system correctly Wightlink will win the playoffs, if they don’t execute they will be relying heavily on Saturdays score. My prediction would be Wightlink 5 Chelmsford 2 on the island and Chelmsford 2 Wightlink 1 in Essex. But don’t take that to the bookies, my tips are worse than Robbie Savage’s!
Jamie Thompson – Oxford City Stars goalie
It’s really hard to call it with these two teams. They both have teams full of good players and i think it will end up being very close. The net minders are going to need to be on top form for their teams and I think it will come down to them who wins in the end. I think Chelmsford are a very good side but i think the Wightlink have a very good team bond and togetherness about them that makes them very hard to beat. So I’m going to have to go with the Wightlink.
Mike Lucas – MK Thunder forward
* I think both teams will win in their own barn, but overall my money would be on Wightlink. Cornish has completed a very clever roster this season, as they have strength in every department, plus a massive advantage is down to how physical they can play at home along with their current run of home results. Should be a good final and I am actually going to watch both games. On the Island I predict Wightlink will win 4-2 but in Essex Chelmsford will win 3-2.
Steve Maile – Cardiff ENL Devils forward
* I think Wightlink have enough to win it. Chelmsford might not be playing their best hockey of the year at the moment, Wightlink are a well-oiled machine, getting through their defence is so hard, plus they also have the experience that the Chelmsford younger guys don’t have.
Karl Lennon – Invicta Dynamos forward
Such is the season this is so hard to call. I just have a feeling that Chelmsford will sneak this one. We certainly found them the most difficult team to play. They are solid at the back and forecheck better than any other team in the league. They are strong through all of their lines. So long as they keep it close on the island they are more than capable of winning by a few goals at home. That being said Wightlink have been the most consistent across the season and would probably feel hard done by not winning the tie.
Steve Osman – Bristol Pitbulls forward
* I think that Chelmsford Chieftains will win the play-off final, although I believe both teams will have a huge home ice advantage with Wightlink being very physical in their barn. I feel that it will either be a draw at Wightlink or a one goal advantage to Wightlink. In Chelmsford though I think the home side will be so motivated to bring the play-off title home to the fans that their speed and passing will be too much for Wightlinks physical play and think it will be close but Chelmsford to win by 2 goals at home.
Ken Forshee – Oxford City Stars Player-Coach
I will take Wightlink in a close one. They have been just so solid defensively all year; it’s hard to think that they wouldn’t be able to do it in the final.
Jamie Newton – Swindon ENL Wildcats Player-Coach
I predict a 3-1 Wightlink win on the island and then a 2-2 game in Chelmsford, with Wightlink winning on aggregate. Either way it will be a great match and a fitting end to the season in the ENL South.
The ENL Play-Off Final takes place this weekend (23/24 April 2011) and tickets are available at the respective venues. Please see individual club websites for ticket details and face-off times.
www.wightlinkraiders.com and www.chelmsfordchieftains.co.uk
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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