LONDON, UK – With a player getting a five year ban from the game and a linesman ejected midway through a match after making obscene gestures to fans, week 13 of the ENL South was certainly unlucky for some.
The universal condemnation of Jack Robinson’s spear to Ali Bands face the previous weekend was acted upon with staggering decisiveness and conviction as the EIHA handed the Milton Keynes Thunder youngster a career ending five year ban from the game – 20 games for the spearing, three years for violent conduct and two years for bringing the game into disrepute.
Whilst it makes all the sense in the world that the EIHA take substantial action in cases like this, the question has to be asked; what about other incidents in the past and indeed in the future? A five year ban is a massive precedent, and failure by the EIHA to act with a similar zeal in future cases (regardless of whom the player is or who he plays for) will tell us some pretty damning home truths about the organisation.
Streatham take nose dive (Iva Dlabkova)
Let us give them the benefit of the doubt for now that they are taking concrete steps to stamping out dangerous and irresponsible behaviour on the ice, something that has been a long time coming in the ENL – the occasional home of the two hand body/head aimed golf swing, butt end antics and not forgetting the classic blindside fist.
To their credit, the Thunder released a statement at the time the ban was announced and had already released the player themselves.
“We cannot condone any such action by any player that brings the game into disrepute” reported a joint press release from Coach Simon Howard and Manager Dave Fairhurst.
“It’s a shame for any young player to be banned, however we believe especially at ENL level where players are either developing or playing for free, we cannot be seeing injuries caused with intent to harm which can affect your everyday life, work or family”
No blame game, no accusations and no passing the buck – did the Thunder not read the UK Hockey Code?
Bristol had bad news at the weekend as it was revealed that free scoring Lithuanian international Eggie Bauba would be ruled out for six weeks with a broken collar bone.
“It is a massive blow for us,” said Pitbulls Coach Richie Hargreaves whilst speaking to the Bristol Evening Post.
“Eggie had really been starting to settle in recent weeks and has been a key player for us. We brought him in because we know he is someone that will score two or three goals in a game, even if he’s not having the best of days”
“It takes a bit of an edge off our attack, but I’m confident the other guys will now step up and rise to the challenge. A lot of outsiders look at us and say that Eggie is our team, but we know that there is more to us than just one player. We’ve got the chance to go and show it now”
London hosted an NHL Networking Event at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce during the week with representatives from Nottingham Panthers, Belfast Giants and the Braehead Clan in attendance for a reception and panel debate.
Ipad 2 baby! (Dave Trevallion)
In amongst the movers and shakers of British hockey was Streatham Redskins Head Coach Barry Spours, who actually played for the Nottingham Panthers in the days when Bananarama were firing up the charts and Timmy Mallet was sticking Elastoplast’s on kids’ faces.
Non-members of the Chamber could pay £20 to attend as a guest, however despite my enthusiasm for the game, your London based Pro Hockey News columnist was unable to attend as I had to urgently walk my Daschund and Jack Russell around the local woodland.
Apparently the food was nothing to write home about, so I don’t really have any regrets about missing out, but a quick glance at another ice related story reported in the London Evening Standard did catch my eye.
The scene was the iconic Somerset House outdoor rink in Central London, the skates were certainly not of the ‘death welly’ hire variety and the rear was unmistakable. Not only was the sublime Pippa Middleton enjoying a skating session under the twinkling lights of the city, but she was doing so as an antidote for her recent break up with her boyfriend.
‘Pippa made her skating debut wearing skinny black jeans and a white princess-ish coat’ remarked the Guardian’s fashion reporter.
‘It was a nod to the Russian look, but without the hat’
A quick glance through the Guardian’s fashion blog makes me wonder what they would make of the Redskins clothing styles in a review.
‘Carr strode in wearing a vintage pair of three stripe tracksuit bottoms and a coat that looked like it had been retrieved from the skip at the back of the ice rink’
‘It was a nod towards the chav bin man look, but without the staffy’
Stars thumped (Tim Bowers)
Invicta launched a novel approach to player motivation as they announced that their Player of the Year this season will be given a week long holiday for two in Paphos, Greece. The voting will be based on the player that collects the most player of the month awards over the season.
Following this announcement the club also invited supporters to join a Christmas raffle with the first prize being an Apple Ipad 2. What happened to traditional ice hockey raffles where the prize was a joint of beef? Or was that just up North?
Invicta seem to be on the crest of a wave both on and off the ice lately and they announced a new Business Development Director in the shape of Glen Thompson.
“We have a solid management structure at the club and a very solid business plan to move the organisation forward” said Thompson upon his announcement.
“I think we have the best fans in the league and they deserve to be entertained and watch their team climb the league. We have had a couple of sponsors back us over the past couple of weeks and are talking to other sponsors for next year”
Unrelated to the ENL but definitely worth a minute of your time is the promotional video for new shaving company The Bluebeards Revenge filmed with the MK Lightning hockey team and a not unattractive blonde in her underwear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJFZBJz4sJA
I can only imagine the reaction of the Redskins if a woman like that strode into the locker room, as the place nearly exploded when a new physio was introduced last year. Strangely she never returned after that first night!
Saturday
Wightlink Coach Jeremy Cornish appealed on the club website for fans to turn out in numbers for the crunch home league game with Romford at the Ryde Arena.
All smiles in Cardiff
Unfortunately the rallying cry wasn’t enough to stop his side slipping to a 3-2 defeat despite leading 2-0 with 17 minutes left to play. The game was full of incident thanks to the ejection of Romford’s Matt Turner for high sticks and then amazingly the dismissal of linesman Rory Beavis for making obscene gestures to the Romford fans.
By all accounts Beavis lost the plot and was taken away by security in a story that will baffle most who read about it.
A brace from JJ McGrath and a Juraj Huska were the markers for Romford with Cornish and Joe Rand on target for Wightlink.
Cardiff and Oxford have played out some pretty close battles in recent years however the clash between them this time was a one sided battering with the Welsh side in full control throughout.
The 11-0 final scoreline just highlights the form both sides are in at present. Cardiff scorers were Luke Piggott with four goals, Jamie Hayes with a hat trick and lone goals for Ricky Deacon, Jordan Powell, Chris Jones and Robert Sedlak.
A bottom of the table clash at the Hive took place between Bracknell Hornets and Streatham Redskins in the first of back to back games between the clubs over the weekend. Bracknell had won their previous two home games and made it three thanks to a 5-2 win despite being 2-0 down after the first.
Streatham gave 16 year old Alex Shelkoplyas a second start and he was forced on to the first line due to a lack of numbers as the ‘Saturday problem’ raised its head again.
Bracknell fully deserved to win in the end with goals from Danny Hughes with two, and one each for Tony Barclay, Alan Lack and Ryan Webb. Streatham scorers were Stevie Balmer and Jerry Pavlus.
The only other notable event was a fight between Lack and Redskins defenseman Adam Mahoney after the feisty Hornet took exception to a hip check or a knee depending if you are wearing yellow or red glasses.
Top of the shop (Tim Bowers)
After describing the weekend as ‘massive’ in an interview with the Essex Chronicle in the build up to the game, Chelmsford Player Coach Gary Clarke saw his side brush Bristol aside with a convincing 10-0 win.
A brace each for Michael Ranby, Tom Long and Danny Hammond added to lone goals from Darren Brown, Jakub Klima, Alan Green and Clarke himself made it a happy night at the Riverside.
Sunday
Oxford hosted a Bauba-less Bristol at Oxpens Road and managed to grab a point thanks to a 2-2 tie. Jamie Newton and Mike Smith got the goals for Bristol with Martyn Lee and Gareth Endicott on target for Oxford,
The game of the night was at Chelmsford where the resident Chieftains took on the improving Invicta Dynamos. The majority of the Riverside crowd went home happy though as Danny Hammond, Tom Long, Ross Brears and Alex Green gave them a 4-1 win, with Callum Fowler the Invicta scorer.
The surprise result of the night was in Milton Keynes as the Thunder once again proved to be somewhat of a bogey team for Wightlink Coach Jeremy Cornish.
MK goals came from Mark Turner, David Coffey, Connor Goode and Harrison Goode. Player Coach Simon Howard sealed the points with a brace to add to a pleasing evening for the Thunder. Wightlink scorers were Damon Larter, Steve Gosset, Joe Rand and Jeremy Cornish.
Streatham badly needed a win after losing the previous evening but came unstuck again as Bracknell walked out of the High Road with two points and a 7-2 win.
The scoreline flatters Bracknell a bit but make no mistake they were good value for their win and we find ourselves at the bottom of the league as a result.
Streatham goals came from Stevie Balmer and Jerry Pavlus. Alan Lack hit a hat trick for the Hornets and both Danny Hughes and Tony Barclay got a brace each.
MK shock (icehockeyphotography.co.uk)
We all know what is going wrong at Streatham and people are working hard to fix it but there is a lot of hockey yet to be played and we just need to stick together and ride out the rough patch we are in.
Bracknell are actually a handy little side and appear to be on a decent run of form at the minute. All credit to them for their 4 point weekend.
The final game of the evening promised to be a lively affair between Romford and Cardiff but it turned out to be one sided with the Raiders taking a 10-4 win.
AJ Smith and Andrius Kaminskas both hit hat tricks for the Raiders and there were lone goals for JJ Mcgrath, Tom Davis, Grant Taylor and Billy Phillips. On target for Cardiff were Luke Piggott, Ricky Deacon, Chris Jones and Josh Haslam.
The results leave Streatham stranded at the bottom of the league albeit with games in hand. Chelmsford are still riding high at the top which sets up a lovely top v bottom clash next weekend. Cardiff move up to third thanks to Wightlinks zero point weekend.
Results
Saturday 26 November 2011
Bracknell Hornets 5 – 2 Streatham Redskins
Chelmsford Chieftains 10 – 0 Bristol Pitbulls
Wightlink Raiders 2 – 3 Romford Raiders
Cardiff Devils 11 – 0 Oxford City Stars
Sunday 27 November 2011
Romford Raiders 10 – 4 Cardiff Devils
Oxford City Stars 2 – 2 Bristol Pitbulls
Chelmsford Chieftains 4 – 1 Invicta Dynamos
Milton Keynes Thunder 5 – 4 Wightlink Raiders
Streatham Redskins 2 – 7 Bracknell Hornets
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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