New start, new league, new team

RYDE, U.K- Wightlink Raiders have struggled for a number of seasons in the EPL with them finishing bottom for the last two seasons. Finances are always a problem for the club who are the only English side to not play their games on the mainland. Not only is money a problem but attracting players to a team where you have to be reliant on the ferry to get to the rink. Enough was enough for the teams management at the end of this past season and, like the Chelmsford Chieftains the summer before and the Solihull Barons the year before, it was time to drop out of the EPL and join the ENL. Naturally problems arose as the Island’s second team, Vectis Tigers, were already playing in the ENL and had failed to gain promotion to division 1 in this past season. The precedent was set last summer at the EIHA AGM that any new team would start in division 2, however this would mean teams making potentially four trips a season to the Island and the fans of the Island’s teams travelling back and forth over the Solent every week as one team would have to be away every week of the season. Common sense prevailed though and the league allowed Wightlink to join division 1 straight away, with the blessing of the Chelmsford organisation who had been the cause of the precedents being set, with a bit of manoeuvring of teams around. This was the start of the new era on the Island at the affectionately known ‘Ice Cube’ for the sheer smallness of the ice pad. A simple dumping of the puck into the neutral zone at any other rink would be classed as a shot on goal at the Cube it is that tiny! Well it’s not THAT small, but you get the idea. The Raiders were given an assurance by Elite league star and tough guy Jeremy Cornish that he would join the Raiders in the EPL. However Cornish showed something that a lot of people seem to lack in ice hockey and that is loyalty. The former London Racer, Basingstoke Bison, Sheffield Steeler and Newcastle Viper stood by the team even after they announced they were dropping to the ENL, the lowest league in senior English ice hockey. Cornish gave his reasons for joining the Wightlink organisation and staying by them. “I’m attending Winchester University and I emailed all the teams close by and Steve Price and Geoff Underwood (Raiders’ owners) got back to me and asked if I would be interested in the coaching position. It is a drop in standard, but I’m looking forward to the new challenge and coaching is what I have always wanted to do.” The well travelled hard man from Lucan, Ontario, is definitely relishing the challenges ahead both on and off the ice; “I’ll still play the same way I always have. I think the number of fights will cut down a great deal, but I’m sure they will always be a part of my game. A coach who spends a lot of time in the penalty box won’t be a big help to the club, but at the same time I think fighting is a part of the game that is needed once in a while.” Cornish said “I think I’m done at higher level hockey now and I am now looking to start my coaching career while finishing my university course. I’m also looking to help out with the youth development on the Island and hope to have some of the younger players join the senior team in the future.” A lot of fans have questioned the policy of signing players from the Tigers, now renamed Wightlink Tigers after signing a deal with Wightlink Ferries, who finished second in division 2 last year and were beaten in the promotion playoff against MK Thunder who ended the season second bottom of division 1. Cornish commented on this; “The fans need to realise that we have signed the best players that are local and willing to travel to the Island. The players that will be wearing the Raiders shirt want to play here and be a part of the organization. We have signed five Tigers players from last season and Roy Meadows (Tigers manager) and I have agreed on these players as the ones that are ready to play at a higher level. We will play tough every game and I hope the fans like the team we have put together,” Cornish said The players already signed to the Raiders from the Tigers are, Kent Johnson, Kevin Tanner, Alex Murray, David Webb and Steve Gossett. Joining them on the roster is Cornish, Andrew Robinson, Damon Larter, Kieran Annis and net minder Toby Cooley. More announcements are expected in the next few weeks. Cornish had this to say to the fans though about the expectations and aims for the season; “I think the ENL will be very competitive this season. As for toughness and my own game, I’m not sure what it’s going to be like. We are really excited about the upcoming season and I think the first month or so will be the biggest challenge for me personally. Playing against different teams and in different rinks will be very new to me and we need to make sure we start off with some wins,” Cornish said “Our goal is to finish in the top half of the table and win as many games as possible. My goal is to bring back a winning side to the Island and have the fans proud once again.” Contact the author at Pete.lewis@prohockeynews.com