Meet the teams of English National League South

LONDON, UK – This weekend heralds the start of the 2011/12 English National League South season. Meet the players, the teams and find out more about their prospects and aspirations in the Prohockeynews season preview.
 
The clouds of summer are gradually breaking and that can only mean one thing… Hockey is back in the English National League South. Every team is previewed highlighting strengths, weaknesses, arrivals, departures and a light hearted look at the facilities they will be playing out of.
 
Ready? Here we go..
 
Bracknell Hornets
Hughes steps up to the plate for another revamped squad
 
Just over fifteen months ago Bracknell were celebrating a famous Play-Off win against Wightlink Raiders in front of one of their biggest crowds at the Hive. It was a team almost immediately decimated and consigned to history as the EPL Bees ransacked the roster of their second string as finances tightened at the Berkshire outfit.
 
Last season started poorly but improved slowly as the Hornets sneaked into the play-offs courtesy of some solid results and partly aided by the disastrous post January form of Oxford City Stars.
 
This season the team have sadly lost more top talent as the bigger budget teams plunder the Hive. Highly rated goalie David Wride, a key figure in the Play-Off win of 2009/10 and an effective barrier to high scoring defeats last season has departed to Chelmsford. Heading to Essex also is the unassuming defenseman Tom Avery who makes up for a lack of size with a composed style on the blue line that also brings goals.

 
To make matters worse, the smooth skating scorer Grant Rounding has been picked up by league champions Wightlink Raiders and exciting prospect JJ Pitchley has switched back to Romford to ice for the Raiders.
 
Before any Hornets fan starts planning to slit their wrists or ski parallel from top to bottom of the artificial ski slope outside the rink head first into a wall, it’s not all bad news. Head Coach Lukas Smital is now closer to home following his move from Guildford and the appointment of Danny Hughes as Player – Assistant Coach could be a shrewd move assuming he can handle the dual responsibility. Hughes knows this league very well and he is no slouch on the ice so he will be a key figure in any success the team have.
 
Goals may be a problem for the team but the likes of Tony Barclay, Alan Lack, Tom Fisher and Tom Carroll showed potential last season and will get the chance to step up further this season.
 
In between the pipes, Adam Marashi returns after a few seasons with the Bees and he will need to get into the groove of being a starting goalie again. That is assuming that he gets the nod ahead of former Guildford Junior Matt Passmore who has also signed for the team.
 
Key man – Danny Hughes
 
Lots of responsibility on and off the ice for the former Wightlink man. He will have the assistance of Bill Webb running the bench on game days but with the team likely to find this season tougher than last, Hughes will need every ounce of positive energy to keep both himself and his team mates going.
 
Bad Boy – Alan Lack
 
If ever there was a man who looked unlikely to rack up over 100 minutes in penalties thanks to his boyish looks it is Mr Lack. Despite his appearance Lack gets stuck in and gives 100% during games which can lead to some confrontations, which to his credit he does not shy away from.
 
The Barn – When TV’s Alan Partridge described the inside of his freshly microwaved apple pie as ‘Hotter than the Sun’ he could also have been referring to Bracknell Ice Rink. Most sides don’t even need a warm up such is the heat inside the rink but with great sightlines and a large ice it makes for a great venue to watch hockey even if the atmosphere is a bit lacking.
 
Last Year’s Position – 8th with 31 pts and a minus 31 goal average.
 
Forecast – There is no two ways about it, this will be a tough season for the Hornets. They have lost key guys from last year and other teams have improved. They do however have some quality hockey players and are a club that drills players well. They will aim for the play-offs and cause a few upsets on home ice, but they will also take a few beatings. Like a number of teams in the league, how these defeats affect the team morale will determine how they do overall.
 
 
 
Bristol Pitbulls
Amidst the joking, Bristol start to get serious
 
After consolidating their status in ENL 1 last season, the Pitbulls are aiming to step it up a gear after some eyebrow raising summer transfers. There has rarely been a dull moment since the Hargreaves brothers (Mike and Richie) flung open the doors of Frogmore Street to hockey again, however amongst the fun their appears to be a steely side appearing within the organisation.
 
The branded smart car, the logo emblazoned flip flops and the jerseys swamped with sponsors are a clear sign that despite their less than glamorous surroundings, Bristol are deadly serious about progressing hockey in the city.
 
For all the off- ice promotions, it is the addition of Lithuanian international forward (and commentators nightmare) Egidijus Bauba and to a lesser extent Cardiff sniper Steven Fisher that has made the team an attractive proposition on the ice. These signings made the headlines but the solid additions of Jamie Newton and Sam Feeney add much needed depth and youth to the experience of Alan Armour, Mike Smith and indeed Richie Hargreaves.
 
Bristol conceded a whopping 270 goals in 40 games last season which was over a hundred more than the two teams placed directly above them in the league. To address this issue Hargreaves has persuaded former Oxford trio Nick Eden, Yousif Abu-Saada and Andrew Shurmer to sign up along with a new face in James Warman from Telford.
Hargreaves is also sticking with goalies John Dibble and Michael Crisp with the hope that they will be a little more experienced and wiser following their experience in the league last year.
 
Key Man – Egidijus Bauba
 
A strong forward with a top pedigree and the ability to become a stand out player in the league. Bauba put up decent points with Swindon last year in the EPL and if Hargreaves can get the lines correct then not many defences in the league will look forward to facing him.
 
Bad Boy – Richie Hargreaves
 
Whilst he may look respectable off the ice visiting sick kids in hospital with his Pitbulls sweater and spectacles on, it would be fair to say that whilst scoring a fair number of goals, Richie enjoys a ruck and has a fuse shorter than most. 170 minutes in penalties last year was amongst the highest in the league.
 
The Barn – Flying in the face of the classic phrase ‘you cannot polish a turd’, the Pitbulls have proved that with a bit of extra effort and some out the box thinking you can do just that. The rink may not be the best but they make the most of it and usually attract a decent crowd to Frogmore Street.
 
Last Year’s Position – 9th with 16 points and a minus 133 goal average.
 
Forecast – Fifth place should be the target for the Pitbulls with the goal scorers they have now added to their squad. The goalies should face a lot less shots than last season and will have to come up big in the games against the similar placed teams, otherwise the games involving the Pitbulls could be high scoring affairs. Bristol have an interesting mix of players and could be the most entertaining side in the league so the fans will definitely get their money’s worth.
 
 
 
Cardiff ENL Devils
Cuddihy confident after busy summer of recruitment
 
Just when you think Cardiff are in trouble they manage to bring in suitable replacements and arguably more. Head Coach Mark Cuddihy has been a busy man this summer recruiting a host of new faces, no doubt aided by the success of his side in providing a step up to the Elite league side at Cardiff.
 
The latest Elite league graduate from the ENL side is Tim Burrows, however the more unexpected departures were that of young forward Chris Hart who opted to spend 2011/12 playing in Germany, and sniper Steven Fisher heading across the River Severn to play for Bristol.
 
Undeterred, Cuddihy has brought in Streatham Redskins star Louis Lockwood, Swindon’s Jamie Hayes (who originally started his career at the club) and most notably a former Devil from the Superleague era Jason Stone. Grant Richardson joins from the ENL Wildcats and youngsters Adam Harding and James Preece will lace them up for the team after spells across the pond.
 
The goalies and defense remain largely unchanged and the team still has its core with the likes of Gareth Dixon, Ricky Deacon, Phil Manny and David James all signing up for another season with the club.
 
Cuddihy has also made Stone his assistant so the loss of the experienced Brent Pope from the fold should not be too much of a miss, although Pope is still involved with the club as a whole.
 
Key Man – Jason Stone
 
Let’s be honest, you don’t play for Cardiff Devils in the top flight for as long as 38 year old Stone has unless you have something about you. The Welsh defenseman played for Swindon Wildcats in the EPL last year and was a virtual ever present for the Wiltshire side. Stone has also played for Guildford and Invicta in his long and illustrious career.
 
Bad Boy – Mike Brabon
 
With a nickname like ‘Bubble’s’ you may expect the ENL Devils goalie to be a laid back, even jovial character, but on the ice he is anything but. Comparisons with Ron Hextall may be over egging the point but Brabon is never far from trouble whether it be clubbing a passing forward or skating the full length of the ice to dance with his opposite number.
 
The Barn – It says something about the state of facilities in the UK when a big blue temporary tent can be put up there with the best rinks in the country. With good sightlines, free parking and a nice bar and café there are certainly worse places to come and watch the beautiful game.
 
Last Year’s Position – 6th with 34 points and a plus 2 goal average.
 
Forecast – Cardiff are likely to want to improve on last year’s 6th place finish and if they can rediscover their old ‘Fortress Cardiff’ ethos they may trouble the top 4 assuming one of them slips up. One big advantage they have this year is a number of home fixtures with late face off times on a Sunday night, this could have an impact on some of the low/no budget sides bringing a full bench to the bay.
 
 
 
Chelmsford Chieftains
Owners spend big to ensure momentum stays in Essex
 
What do you do when you have a team that narrowly misses out on a league title and then wins the play off final at a canter in front of packed houses? Chelmsford’s answer appears to be taking no chances and bring in some big names to ensure a continuation of that success.
 
Anything less than a league and play-off double should be a disappointment for the Essex side after landing hotshot EPL star Gary Clarke as player coach and the consummate professional Dwayne Newman as team captain and defensive rock. Speedy Oxford winger Alan Green makes the long switch east and he is joined by Czech forward Jakub Klima and Peterborough prospect Connor Stokes.
 
Even better news for the Chieftains fans is that whilst losing Aaron Connolly, Blaho Novak and Matt Turner, the club have managed to hang on to exciting youngsters James Ayling and Ross Brears along with the likes of Tom Long and Danny Hammond.
In defence, the excellent David Wride will provide goalie Ben Clements with some stiff competition for the starters spot and Tom Avery provides a bit of offense from the blue line.
 
The Mayor Danny Wright may have lost the captaincy but he will still play a big part along with the ever improving Alex Green at the back. With big crowds, a solid team with a few marquee players thrown into the mix surely nothing can go wrong with the Chieftains juggernaut this coming season?
 
Key Man – Gary Clarke
 
This is Clarke’s first experience as a player coach and his latest foray away from Milton Keynes where he has spent most of his career. Clarke has been prolific against defences much stronger than he will face at ENL level and his on ice talent is not in question, but he will need to juggle both roles to make sure the Chieftains grab the silverware.
 
Bad Boy – Tom Long
 
In a largely placid team, Long adds a bit of edge to proceedings with a chippy game that can rile opponents and add a bit of spice to the game. Long is a skilful player without getting involved in trouble and will give 100% to the cause which is what most fans appreciate about the former Basingstoke man.
 
The Barn – The low level seats behind the glass do nothing for the atmosphere on the ice at the Riverside, but after a multi-million pound refurbishment it offers a clean and safe environment to watch the game. A long ramp up to the rink entrance will leave your calf muscles burning and make you feel less guilty about the period break hot dog.
 
Last Year’s Position – 2nd with 64 points and a plus 152 goal average.
 
Forecast – The investment made by the club ensures that the Chieftains start as favourites on paper but in reality Invicta, Wightlink and Romford will have plenty to say about that. Clarke has all the tools to make his first foray into coaching a success but he is a newcomer to the league and both he and Newman may have to deal with issues they wouldn’t have to think of in the EPL.
 
 
 
Milton Keynes Thunder
Howards way will be a tough route
 
A new coach and a host of new faces have freshened up a Thunder side that showed excellent form in the latter half of last season. The wise old head of Simon Howard will be in charge of team affairs alongside former Streatham and Oxford coach Darryl Morvan and they will have a tough time to mould a small squad into play-off contenders.
 
The emergence of giant goalie David Cassidy last season gives Howard one less issue to deal with and ends a long term over reliance on Mark Woolf between the pipes, the team have also boosted their goalie line up by picking up Rob McGregor from Peterborough Islanders.
Despite losing Paul Gore and Lee Featherstone to Oxford, the Thunder have signed import defenseman Pavol Valko to boost the blue line alongside Howard and likes of Matt Roberts and youngster Nidal Phillips.
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Up front the Slovakian sniper Maros Stefanco returns alongside the prolific Ross Bowers and new faces of Joe Edwards, Grant Bignall and Steve Maile who join from Oxford, Invicta and Cardiff respectively.
 
Connor Goode gets another season at ENL level despite rumours he may step up to the Lightning full time and he is joined by his brother Harrison and the underrated yet effective Jamie Randall.
 
The Thunder roster is likely to be influenced by players either being called up or dropped by the EPL Lightning so Howard will have to try and ensure his squad travel with decent numbers on the road to ensure they stay well away from the relegation battle.  
 
Key Man – Ross Bowers
 
Goals win hockey matches and Bowers will always get goals. A tree surgeon by day, Bowers swaps cutting through bark off the ice with cutting up defences on it with electric speed and an eye for goal. Stefanco and Randall will be able supporters and the likes of Maile will offer protection
 
Bad Boy – Matt Roberts
 
With a fuse shorter than the average length of a Milton Keynes cultural city tour, Roberts has been handed the captaincy of the team this season, possibly in a bid to try and keep him on the ice more and out of the box. A mobile defenseman who could have played at a higher level if not for some bad injuries, Roberts will stand up for his team mates but at the same time offer just as much as a solid defenseman.
 
The Barn – Despite some frustratingly placed pillars obscuring sections of the ice from a number of seats, Milton Keynes remains one of the better rinks to play and watch hockey. A large ice pad gives fitter teams a big advantage and for a ‘second team’ the Thunder organisation put a lot of effort in making the place a good arena to watch hockey in.
 
Last Year’s Position – 7th with 32 points and a minus 44 goal average.
 
Forecast – At home the Thunder will be a tough proposition for most teams but it will be their away form that determines how successful the season will be. Howard is new to the role but he is a long servant to the game and a cool calm head. Like a few teams it will be how the Thunder bounce back from the odd heavy defeat to one of the big boys that will be telling. They have shown enough over the last few seasons to suggest that this will not be a problem.
 
 
 
Oxford City Stars
Stars emerge from black hole
 
A new ownership and a fresh start for City Stars coach Ken Forshee has lifted the mood at Oxpens Road following an awful end to last season and an emotional summer following the passing of long time rink manager and team supporter Norman Elliott.
 
A summer raid on the Stars blue line trio of Nick Eden, Yousif Abu-Saada and Andrew Shurmer was tempered by the surprising capture of goalie Chris Douglas from Swindon Wildcats. More good news came with the return of old boys Paul Gore and Lee Featherstone from Milton Keynes and another familiar face back from Swindon in Shannon Taylor.
 
A shortage of goals last season was a big issue for the Stars as they scored less than every team bar the relegated ENL Wildcats and Forshee has brought in Fraser Hendry, formerly of Romford and Peterborough to address this, along with calling Jacob Smith up from the ENL2 side and snapping up Josh Florey from Wightlink.
 
Whether the Stars have enough firepower is debatable but the loss of Alan Green to Chelmsford certainly won’t help matters. Forshee is praying for a goalscoring import forward to darken the doors of Oxpens road but with a few days remaining till the start of the season there has been no announcement of such a player joining.
 
The Stars have some good experienced players in Darren Elliott, Andy Cox, Wayne Fiddes, Gareth Endicott and Richard Wojciack to balance exciting talents like Josh Oliver and Dax Hedges but all will need to stay fit and focused, especially against the big boys.
 
Key Man – Chris Douglas
 
Like Robin Lindva last season, Douglas will be a key man for the City Stars in between the pipes and at times he could face a lot of rubber. Douglas has the pedigree to be one of the best goalies in the league so Stars fans will be hoping he will show commitment to stick around for the whole stretch.
 
Bad Boy – Andy Cox
 
Whilst he may not drop the gloves, Cox is an irritant who can often cause even the most placid hockey player to chase him round the ice trying to rip his head off. Aside from his agitating Cox is a quality hockey player with quick hands and an agility that is just as useful when on the puck as it is when he is evading angry players. A useful player both as a defenseman and a forward Cox will play a big part again in the Stars fortunes.
 
The Barn – Oxpens Road was once a tough place for opposition teams to come and get a result. In recent seasons that has not always been the case but with the new management looking to boost the crowd, a full Oxford rink would do wonders for the team’s confidence and more importantly effect the opposition. Sadly the popular chip machine is no longer resident at the rink.
 
Last Year’s Position – 9th with 31 points and a minus 46 goal average.
 
Forecast – The City Stars will be aiming for fifth position like the rest of the clubs outside the top 4 but play-off qualification has to be the first aim after last season’s disappointment. Forshee is in his third year at the club and this offers the City Stars some much needed stability on recent years. The bar at the rink has finally opened after numerous years of closure so the Green Army will be hoping to toast some victories at Oxpens Road this season.  
 
 
 
Invicta Dynamos
Will the empire strike back ?
 
For so long the big boys of ENL South, the Dynamos swallowed a bitter pill last year as a combination of injuries and dressing room rumblings combined with stronger than normal opposition contributed to a disappointing fourth place finish.
 
Head Coach Kevin Parrish will be pleased in a way, to start the season with a clean slate and an expectation of being challengers rather than out and out favourites and the team everyone wants to beat. The summer has not been without hassle and the long running saga of the Dynamos second goaltending spot would probably earn itself a drama slot on Channel 5.
 
Andy Moffat remains the only recognised starter on the roster after Andrew Dickson flew back to Belfast and replacement Ben Hunt lasted a tad longer than the ink drying on his press release.
 
Despite this minor issue, Parrish has recruited well, bringing in highly rated scorer Robbie Brown and the gritty Richard Bentham from league winners Wightlink Raiders. Exciting prospect Joe Bliss joins from Guildford and the Mo’s have opted to replace both of last season’s imports’ the Borges brothers Dan and Chris with two fellow new faces from across the pond in Justin Noble and Ryan Ellis.
 
If that’s not enough to make the Mo’s fan base smile then what better way to heal the dressing room issue than bring back former hero Grant Baxter from his brief sojourn in Romford.        
 
Key Man – Andy Smith
 
The all-time club top scorer will still be the guy the team rely on for their spark, unless the imports can elevate themselves above Smith’s high standards of play. Smith notched an agonising 99 points last season in the regular season just one shy of the fabled 100 mark and only two points behind league top scorer Danny Marshall.
 
Bad Boy – Corey Watkins
 
The Welshman, who once compared himself with NHL agitator Sean Avery, likes nothing better than to get stuck into the opposition, especially on home ice. This ballsy style of hockey makes him a popular player amongst the Dynamo’s faithful who like nothing more than a guy who will put his body on the line for the team. Watkins will have help from the likes of Anthony Lennon, Tim Smith and Bentham when it comes to the rough stuff.
 
The Barn – With seats on both sides of the rink, the atmosphere can get a bit heated at the newly named Silverblades rink. The visiting bench is placed on the far side of the rink and has spectators on both sides of it which can lead to some interesting exchanges between the locals and the opposition. Many visiting goalies have gone to pieces under the taunts of the partisan crowd and Invicta will need them on side this season to succeed.
 
Last Year’s Position – 4th with 55 points and a plus 102 goal average.
 
Forecast – Write off the Dynamos at your peril. They have the talent, the organisation and the foundations to snatch back the league crown at the first attempt. Head Coach Kev Parrish should have a more cohesive locker room and knows what it takes to succeed at this level. He is also the only coach of the top 4 that does not need to combine coaching with playing and that could be a big advantage in close games.
 
 
 
Romford Raiders
Marshall adds aggression to quality squad
 
Romford missed out on the league title by just three points last season, courtesy of a remarkable run of losing only once in the league in 2011. In fact it was a couple of bizarre games against Streatham that eventually cost them, including a shocking 5-3 reverse to their South London neighbours only seven days after destroying them 10-1.
 
Despite the lack of silverware the Raiders ended up with three players in the Prohockeynews All-Star line-up (as voted by players and coaches across the league), which shows that individually they had some excellent talent on the roster. The good news is that all three are back for more led by player-coach Danny Marshall who re-signed Slovak Juraj Huska and defenseman Julian Smith.
 
New faces include Matt Turner, who returns from Chelmsford and JJ Pitchley who returns to his home club after breaking into senior hockey with the Bracknell Hornets. Two old faces guaranteed to get the crowd going at Rom Valley Way are Andrius ‘Bomber’ Kaminskas and Grant Taylor who both return after time away from the sport.
 
Marshall has stuck with both Michael Gray and Glenn Jackson between the pipes and has managed to retain solid defence men Tyrone Miller and Billy Phillips. The rejuvenated Anthony Leone returns up front along with the reliable Adam Smith and highly rated youngster Frankie Harvey.
 
Key Man – Juraj Huska
 
Top goal scorer last year at Rom Valley Way with an impressive 56 goals in only 29 games, the pressure will be on Huska again to reproduce his form but in tougher circumstances. Playing alongside Marshall and Harvey last season on the first line and also on the power play it will be interesting to see if the three musketeers line up together again or if Marshall will shuffle the pack.  
 
Bad Boy – JJ McGrath
 
Playing on the third line last season alongside Baxter and Tom Davis, McGrath proved that he could do more than simply drop the gloves and play the body. When he did drop the gloves he proved a tough customer for those who faced him, including Wightlink’s Jeremy Cornish and Jack Tarczycki (whilst at Streatham) amongst others.
 
The Barn – A partisan crowd who are able to make plenty of noise thanks to the netting surrounding the ice in place of glass, make Rom Valley Way an unpleasant place for opposition players to play. The addition of Taylor and Kaminskas to an already angry roster should ensure the Raiders faithful have their fires stoked with regards to aggressive hockey this season. Remember to punch in your car license plate into the machine inside the rink or you may get an unwelcome fine and don’t forget … no drums!
 
Last Year’s Position – 3rd with 63 points and a plus 143 goal average.
 
Forecast – Chelmsford’s biggest worry? They could well be champions by the end of the season and no team will be looking forward to a visit to Romford. Marshall’s main concern could be keeping five guys on the ice given the roster he has signed and that will be vital due to the dangerous forwards the other sides have within their ranks. The derby games against Invicta and Chelmsford should be cracking entertainment for all concerned.
 
 
 
Slough ENL Jets
Kozic and gang enter a new challenge
 
Last season’s ENL2 champions must be wondering what they have stepped up into. With some teams flashing the cash, Slough were fully expected to join the party but the reality has turned out differently.
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Adam Greener’s side will be no mugs and have signed some quality players to compliment last year’s roster. Former Basingstoke man Callum Best will be a standout forward alongside team owner and prolific sniper Zoran Kozic. Jamie Milton and Stas Prokofiev should be amongst the goals and defenseman Owen Murphy and Luke Reynolds are experienced at this level.
 
With one eye on development, the highly rated Andrew Melachrino and Sam Godfrey have two way contracts with the EPL Jets but should both play a big part in the ENL team and former Peterborough goalie Ryan Bainborough will be icing for the ENL side unless Gregg Rockman gets injured with the EPL side.
 
Slough have no pressure on them from fans and are simply a development team providing a stepping stone to the EPL side so they really have nothing to lose. They will be aiming for the play-offs and could also benefit from player movements during the season.
 
Key Man – Zoran Kozic
 
The former Haringey and London Racers star is not simply a goal scorer for the team but he is also the club owner. Whilst his deep pockets now fund not one, not two but three senior sides in Slough, it will be interesting to see how much time he devotes to playing for the ENL 1 side this year after scoring 54 goals last year in the league below. Now a real veteran of the game and a successful businessman away from the rink, Kozic will still score goals at this level and be a real threat up front but if he gets singled out by other teams (especially the top ones) he may start to wonder if it is worth the aggravation.
 
Bad Boy – Jamie McIlroy
 
Notching 157 minutes of penalties last season, Scotsman McIlroy makes his bow in ENL 1 and could be a busy boy on a side lacking in size. The former Paisley man is a passionate player and captained the side to glory last season with a league title. This year will be a lot tougher but McIlroy is likely to relish the challenges ahead.
 
The Barn – The Hanger has been rebranded as ‘Absolutely Ice’ which does have a nice ring about it. In a town famous for Mars bars and David Brent the ice rink is a cherished community facility and if you are lucky, they often have Dog Shows in the leisure centre opposite so you can check out a classic long haired daschund whilst having a fag in the period break.
 
Last Year’s Position – 1^st (in ENL 2) with 38 points and a plus 122 goal average.
 
Forecast – Slough will be unfancied by many but they have a chance of making the play-offs if they can put together a bit of form against the teams around them. Kozic is not likely to sit back and watch a team he plays on struggle so the roster could evolve over the season. A lack of size could be a worry against the likes of Romford and Wightlink but Slough’s main concern will be winning games against the lower teams. If they avoid relegation and improve the likes of Melachrino and Godfrey it will be a season worthwhile.
 
 
 
Streatham Redskins
Emotional rollercoaster ahead for Skins
 
Change is the order of the day in South London as the Redskins previously delayed move to their new temporary rink in Brixton finally looks set to happen in January 2012. The Redskins are determined to carry on their season however and Head Coach Barry Spours has made some bold moves to try and consolidate the clubs position as a solid ENL 1 outfit.
 
The iconic ‘Stormin’ Norm Pinnington has joined the Redskins along with former GB international defenseman Scott Moody and Irish international youngster Stevie Balmer.
 
Former Basingstoke defenseman Adam Mahoney adds to last year’s blue line corps but amidst the new arrivals, the departure of Joe Johnston tempers the optimism at the High Road.
 
Spours scooped an All Star award last year as voted by his peers as he guided the Redskins to a commendable fifth place finish. He has kept all three eastern European imports in Peter Molnar, Tomas Valko and Lukas Zilak, but just as importantly secured the return of the three highly rated goalies at the club; Shane Kemp, Stefan Nubert and Will Sanderson.
 
The energetic Michael Ranby and Russ Stevens have committed for another season alongside the Streatham hardcore of Ed Koral, Fred Carnegy, Casimir Madren Britton and the Rasmussen brothers.
 
Key Man – Peter Molnar
 
The 32 year old Slovak is an unassuming yet pivotal figure to the Redskins fortunes. A key playmaker and composed centre man who wins his fair share of face offs, Molnar is one of the leagues most underrated imports, partially because of his lower points tally but make no mistake, if the game is tight and the pressure is on, he will come up big.
 
Bad Boy – Tomas Valko
 
If Molnar is Slovakian’s equivalent to Ryan Giggs (post indiscretions) then Valko is comparable to Joey Barton. Shaven headed and toothless, Valko, when fit, is a complete menace with his bullet of a shot and his on ice antics. Accused last season of kicking an Oxford player in the head and lobbing a water bottle as a missile at the Chelmsford bench, Valko is an entertaining guy and a quality hockey player.
 
The Barn – What can you say about a grand old 80 plus year old facility that has seen more hockey and incident than anyone alive can match. Shabby, cold, and not the sort of place you would willingly enter the WC for a number two, the rink may have its faults but boy we will all miss it when it is gone. The fans create a cracking atmosphere during the games and it is literally history still standing – Don’t miss out on a visit to this London icon.
 
Last Year’s Position – 5th with 39 points and a minus 44 goal average.
 
Forecast – Streatham will have a period of upheaval mid-season and the club will have to deal with it. Spours needs to get the best out of his new signings and ensure last year’s squad continue to punch above their perceived weight. The loss of Johnston is a blow up front but the Skins are going to have to find his goals from somewhere else. Balmer is a candidate to step into those shoes as is Ranby if he can build on his impressive form of last year. Fifth will be the aim but giving the top four a bloody nose at the High Road will also be high on the agenda.
 
 
 
Wightlink Raiders
Champions face big challenge for repeat success
 
Winning the league title may be one thing, but keeping hold of it will be a big ask of Jeremy Cornish and his island side. After an excellent and near flawless league campaign the Raiders crashed badly in the play-off final against Chelmsford as the long season took its toll.
 
During the summer Invicta swooped for top British scorer Robbie Brown and star goalie Matt Colclough got the call up to the Basingstoke Bison in the EPL. The loss of Brad Watchorn to Bracknell Bees also left the team short of a physical presence but Cornish has looked North again and has drafted in defenseman Dan Pye from Newcastle, Arran Strawson from Sutton and Conor Pollard on a two way with Peterborough Phantoms.
Cornish has brought in two unproven goalies in Liam McAllister from Newcastle and Colin McGill from Kilmarnock and he will be hoping they are up to scratch in ENL 1, especially with Ryde’s small ice pad.
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Despite the departures, the spine of the team remains with Steve Gannaway, Dom Hopkins and Damon Larter continuing to be solid objects on the blue line and Richard Facey, Stewart Tait, Nathan Taylor and Alex Murray returning up front.
 
The loss of Brown could well be countered with the signing of the excellent Grant Rounding from Bracknell but he did miss part of last season with a broken collarbone.
 
The main worry for Cornish is the lack of a second import after Canadian Chris Jones changed his mind after initially agreeing to sign.
 
Key Man – Grant Rounding
 
Wightlink have a few unproven quantities up front but in Rounding they have a good scorer at ENL 1 level. The pressure will be on Rounding to deliver until a second import arrives on the island and Cornish will be hoping Pollard and Strawson have goals in them.
 
South African born Rounding briefly broke into the EPL Bees side last season and he will be hoping to stand out this year on the island and attract some interest from the EPL on a two way.  
 
Bad Boy – Jeremy Cornish
 
The Player-Coach may have calmed down in the last couple of seasons as he concentrates on leading the team, but that doesn’t stop the big Canadian getting his nose dirty when he deems it necessary. ‘Only’ 132 minutes for the Prohockeynews.com Coach of the year last season.
 
The Barn – Ryde Arena celebrates its twentieth birthday this season and remains a good place to watch hockey despite its smaller than normal ice pad. The arena was busier last season than for a few years and that is a credit to Cornish and the hard working fans and officials on the island.
 
Last Year’s Position – 1st with 66 points and a plus 133 goal average.
 
Forecast – Wightlink will be up there again this season but Cornish desperately needs an import goal scorer to step into the shoes of last season’s sniper Jason Gorrie. The meanest defence in the league last season will once again be strong but the new goalies will have to get used to the ice pad at Ryde as soon as possible. Wightlink will be entertaining, tough to beat and well backed by their fans on the island.
 

 
 
The ENL South starts this weekend and fixtures can be found here:
 
http://www.eiha.co.uk/SeniorLeagues.aspx
 
Let’s hope for another great season of ENL South Hockey with as few injuries as possible and some great goals, saves and bigger and bigger crowds. Spread the word!
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
 
N.B. A point of note that there will be no weekly round up’s until week 3 as your correspondent will be in Ethiopia and the internet (where found) there is slower than I am on the ice!