ENL Week 10 Round up

LONDON, UK – I have to start this week’s column with a confession. You see I cannot go to the bathroom without some sort of reading material to pass the time. Some call it disgusting; I prefer to think of it as multi tasking and it has been a peculiar habit of mine since I was a child. Like anyone interested in British Hockey, I have bought the Ice Hockey Annual by Stewart Roberts every year religiously since the late eighties. It was these small books that I used to read cover to cover whilst sat on the throne, reading about the many clubs and characters across the British ice hockey leagues. One of the great things about these pre-internet books is that you can see who is still playing now, and who you have played against over the years. Take the Peterborough Islanders outstanding goalie on Sunday, Simon Wren. He was actually playing senior hockey in 1992 for the Norwich and Peterborough Pirates in the old British Premier league when I was playing pee wee hockey for Durham. I have played against the Islanders Ross Mackintosh for the past six years but only when I leafed through the 1998/99 annual did I realise that he was in the Chelmsford team that beat my Billingham team in the play off semi final that season. He was their top scorer that year whereas I was a face caged rookie just pleased to be on the bench for the Teesiders. Despite their age it was clear from our game against the Islanders that both players are a cut above their team mates. Wren was immense in between the pipes and Mackintosh has the skill and poise that many players would love to have. They are from a bygone age and whilst Mackintosh can be a cheap dirty irritant at times, he is a class player who would walk in to most ENL line ups. Streatham should have buried the game early on but with Wren on top form we huffed and puffed to a 3-1 victory. Bearing in mind we were written off as relegation certainties at the start of the season, I will take the two points regardless. The previous night we had taken a weak bench to Cardiff and the hosts rightly took full advantage by spanking us 21-3. The only winners in games like these are those that pad their personal stats and I am afraid the losers are the paying fans who turn up to watch. When Cardiff looked at our team in the warm up, their eyes must have lit up, although that still doesn’t explain why Brent Pope felt the need to fire a puck down the ice towards Roman Culik as the two teams were leaving the ice. Do you really need to intimidate a clearly weak team when you have the skills and experience of Mr Pope? Also playing on Saturday were the Wightlink Raiders hosting Bracknell. The Raiders are seemingly in disarray since the ‘Palacegate’ incident and they desperately needed the two points against a Bracknell side still buoyed after last weekend’s victories over Invicta and Haringey. The Raiders are short up front and this situation was exacerbated by the departure of Kent Johnson earlier in the week. Jeremy Cornish did however bring in defence man Luke Reynolds fresh from a season in the AHL (No, not that one, but the Australian Hockey League), and the coach has also ordered extended training sessions in a bid to turn things around. Sadly the Raiders went down again on home ice with Bracknell’s Craig Tribe getting a hat trick in a 6-3 win for the visitors. I assume Wightlink do have a budget to play with so it will be interesting to see what changes Cornish makes to his squad over the coming days.   Milton Keynes ran Chelmsford close in the Thunderdome, with the visitors hanging on for a 6-4 win. Ross Brears scored two for Chelmsford and Tom Roles got two for the Thunder. Jacob Heron missed a penalty shot to add to the Thunders frustration. On Sunday the Thunder travelled down to Kent to take on Invicta but took a weakened bench. The Dynamos only iced one import in the absence of Johan Stenvall and boy did it show. Only the ten goals for the home side and none for the visitors in a game that saw Andy Smith and Elliott Andrews get two each for the Mo’s. Not to worry though, Kevin Parrish is set to add a new import to his stuttering top of the table team ready for the return leg next week. I read with interest the season review of Invicta in the aforementioned 1998/99 Ice Hockey Annual. Eleven years later the statement would still be relevant and indeed their line up included a much younger looking Elliott Andrews and Kevin Parrish: “The frozen backwaters of Kent once again echoed to the sounds of a noisy and contented arena as a successful team put the Medway towns back on the ice hockey map’ Alexandra Palace is rarely a contented arena; however with the home side 3-1 to the good after the second period, the long suffering Haringey fans must have felt the team were on course for two points. Sadly the Greyhounds hit penalty trouble, allowing the Oxford City Stars a 4-0 third period to seal the game 5-3. Sergei Smollenko must be tearing his hair out as his side took 95 minutes in penalties including a match penalty for Liam Doyle who may need a new stick after taking out his frustration on the Grade two listed building. The most exciting game on Sunday was at the Riverside ice rink where Chelmsford took on Cardiff. In a game that gave the league some much needed credibility after some one-sided affairs, both teams ground out a close fought 2-2 draw. Cardiff’s Alan Armour seemed pretty pleased with his side’s performance: “Although I don’t think either team really hit top gear, I think we will be happier with a point than them. Particularly as we had to kill some big penalties late in the game and if not for some woeful finishing and some great saves by bubbles (Brabon), they could have taken both points. I think we surprised them as I think they assumed they would beat us at their place quite easily, “Both Chieftains goals were on the power play and they do play that very well utilising their big import D man in the middle, but I think 5 on 5 we were the more comfortable team. We certainly play much faster skilled but still physical hockey. Obviously it helps when we don’t take penalties and manage to roll through our 4 lines!” Forget Sheffield Steelers v Nottingham Panthers, as next weekend the real derby of British hockey faces off down at the High Road. South v North in the capital’s only ice hockey derby match featuring Streatham Redskins and Haringey Greyhounds. Past games have seen bench clearances, fans fighting players on the ice and even a rare David Carr goal albeit for the Greyhounds! I will leave you this week with a quote featured in the 98/99 Ice Hockey Annual to show you that ENL Hockey hasn’t progressed too much. This one comes from then Peterborough Islanders coach Elwyn Dawkins: “It was annoying to suddenly find that some players couldn’t make it. It’s no good British players complaining about overseas players coming in and then not showing a full commitment themselves. It’s about making priorities. I have a job and family too, but I have to make time for hockey” Thanks for reading and stay safe. Carrsy Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com