ENL week 23 Round-up

LONDON, UK –  NHL legend Luc Robitaille was in London this week, although sadly for Haringey, Lee Valley and Streatham fans he was not over to agree terms with one of the capital’s ENL teams. He did put his skates on however, as he took part in a private corporate tournament on the artificial outdoor rink at Canary Wharf. It’s a shame that such talent was only on display to cocktail sipping city boys, but I am afraid that’s the way things are in this world.
 
I suppose to a neutral, the decision was an obvious one. Both myself and two other work colleagues requested annual leave on Saturday, but only two out of the three of us could have it granted.
 
Stacked against a long weekend in Berlin, and a wedding anniversary dinner, my hockey game in Peterborough was never going to look particularly valid and so whilst the Redskins faced the Islanders. I faced a computer screen in a semi deserted office in Westminster.
 
As I cycled home along the river embankment I checked my phone to see that Peter Molnar had scored twice to give us a 2-1 lead at the end of the second. The bars along the river Thames were full of New Zealander’s drunkenly celebrating Waitangi Day, but that couldn’t spoil the beauty of St Paul’s cathedral and the city illuminated in the winter air ahead of me, or so I thought.
 
It was while sat waiting at traffic lights atop of my bike that I was reminded of Freddie Mercury’s legendary lyric; ‘Pain is so close to pleasure’. As the text came through from Spoursy (Streatham coach Barry Spours) informing me of our 3-1 victory, a large Kiwi girl, sat on the adjacent kerb in an ill fitting Wonder woman outfit vomited over my foot. Despite apologies from the steaming drunk super hero, and indeed the good news of our victory, I will admit I was fuming as I rode off.
 
In a worse mood than me however were the Peterborough Islanders who are now officially relegated after that loss. They must have been confident of getting something from the game, especially as the Redskins goalie Will Sanderson and back up Stefan Nubert were unable to play. Streatham called up seventeen year old Samantha Bolwell from Bracknell Queen Bees, who made her full senior debut in the game and did well, as did our latest import Lucas Zilak. Perry Richardson got the other goal for the Redskins and Fraser Hendry got the consolation for the Islanders.
 
Islanders influential forward Steve Maile was philosophical after the game:
 
“Just nothing clicked for us tonight, the forward lines didn’t click and there was sloppy play in the middle of the ice. We didn’t test the goalie at all and what she saw she stopped very well,
 
“Our defence did the job for us tonight and our forwards should of taken advantage more. As for relegation, not too sure what to say – I’m sure the Islanders will be able to give their younger players experience playing in more situations and build from there”
 
Spoursy was more upbeat after a Redskins victory that halts a worrying run of heavy defeats:
 
“I would be lying if I wasn’t slightly concerned at our goal tending situation before the game, but in the end Sam had a great game and the team really rallied around her,
 
“It was fantastic to have Peter (Molnar) back in the line up, as he gives the rest of the guys such confidence with his composure and nous. We have had a tough run of fixtures and this win was vital to give us a buffer from Haringey and Milton Keynes”
 
Wightlink Raiders travelled to Bracknell in a confident mood after their four point weekend over Chelmsford last weekend. I wrote in my last round up that Bracknell look very strong at the minute and I wasn’t surprised to see that they overcame a gritty Raiders side 6-2. Two goals from Tony Barclay and one each from James Galazzi, Craig Tribe, Dominic Hopkins and Jason Falsetta got the win for the Hornets. Alex Murray and Stewart Tait scored the goals for the Raiders.
 
Brad Watchorn became the second man in the ENL to drop the gloves with Jeremy Cornish. Unlike Cardiff’s hired rugby player on skates, Watchorn provided a good test for Cornish although the Wightlink coach got the win in the end. In the same game, Hornet’s Matt Ovenden and Raiders’ Kev Tanner also dropped the gloves.
 
On Sunday the Hornets made the trip to North London to face Haringey Greyhounds. Most ENL observers would have predicted a pasting for the Greyhounds, however the scoreline was surprisingly close, not to mention rather high. Scott Beeson scored a hat trick for Haringey and two goals from Phillipe Mueller and one each from Norm Pinnington and Nick Gallagher gave the Hounds a rare seven goals in a game. Sadly for them, the Hornets scored nine to win the game.
 
Haringey will take this close score line as motivation for next week’s massive game against MK, which could well decide who has to play in the relegation play off at the end of the season.
 
Chelmsford Chieftains hosted the Oxford City Stars, hoping to put on a good display for their fans after losing to Wightlink on home ice last week. Sadly for Dean Birrell’s squad, the Stars took the game 3-2 with goals from Dean Francis, Alan Green and Darren Elliott. Chieftains’ scorers were Darren Brown and Aaron Connolly, and they finished the game in frustrating fashion with BT Williams letting the fists fly in the final minute of the game.
 
A great win for Oxford whose goalie James Skaife seems to be back to his best since Glen Jackson’s departure, as he picked up the man of the match award for the City Stars. My only worry about Oxford is what happens when things get feisty. I saw a disturbing photo during the week from their game against Cardiff last week. In it, was Oxford player Mike Lucas fighting at least four Cardiff players with not one of his team mates in sight (in fact I counted seven Cardiff players in all, but three were watching). Now I am not saying a bench clearance was in order, but the sight of Phil Manny swinging haymakers at the back of Lucas’s head, whilst three other Devils took him from the front, was even worse when you see that there was not one Oxford player in sight to pull the bodies away from their team mate. This is even more of a concern when you take into account the worrying trend of games in the league operating with two young linesmen and no referee. This simply invites certain individuals to take advantage with little worry of punishment.    
 
Chelmsford fans must be slightly worried after two consecutive home defeats, as they are looking the team most out of sorts, of the play off placed teams. Andy Moffat has been missing lately with Ben Clements playing most games for Chelmsford, both are quality goalies however Moffat is supposedly the starter. Has Birrell decided Clements is number one full time now?  
 
MK Thunder went agonisingly close to pulling off a surprise result at home to Cardiff. Without a host of star names, the Devils travelled to Buckinghamshire to find a Milton Keynes side still buzzing from the three point weekend seven days earlier. Jacob Heron continued his great form of late with a goal for the home side, but Cardiff edged past the Thunder 2-1 with goals from the prolific Steve Fisher and skipper David James to take the points. Luke Takel made his bow in goal for the Devils and had an excellent game.
 
Are some of Cardiff’s players saving their bus fares for the play offs? It will be interesting to see how the Welsh side play out the remainder of league fixtures on the road. Aside from this, the main worry for Cardiff Coach Mark Cuddihy is in goal, with Ross Piggott now ruled out for the rest of the season through injury and Mike Brabon not due to return for at least four weeks. Cudd will be hoping new signing Takel continues his promising start in the week’s ahead.
 
With the play off places pretty much sorted, attention switches to the bottom of the league. MK take on Haringey next weekend as I have already mentioned, and I think it could really go either way. Pinnington and Mueller add a touch of skill amongst the hard working Greyhounds however the Thunder currently have Haringey’s number so far this year.
 
So Streatham and Cardiff winning despite goalie issues, Haringey and MK running the big boys close, and Oxford shining brightly we can look back on yet another great weekend of ENL hockey. Who needs NHLers anyway!
 
Thanks for reading and stay safe.
 
Carrsy
 
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com