LONDON, UK – The Pro Hockey News NIHL South All-Star votes have now been counted and we can reveal the NIHL South Player of the Season, Coach of the Year and All-Star teams.
It has been another exciting year of National Ice Hockey League South action and our annual awards have been eagerly anticipated. Unlike most awards in British Hockey, the Pro Hockey News awards are voted on by coaches and senior players from every team in the league making them the ultimate accolade of peer to peer recognition.
The rules are simple. No votes can be cast for a member of their own team and there are no restrictions on non-UK trained players. Additionally no representatives from Pro Hockey News are eligible to cast a vote making the process truly independent. In the All-Star team the first line contains the players who received the most votes for their positions, with the second line following. So without further ado, the winners are…
NIHL South Player of the Year 2016/17:
Juraj Huska (Chelmsford Chieftains)
The Slovak becomes the first non-British trained winner of this award since Jakub Klima (then of Streatham) picked it up in 2012/13. The veteran sniper notched an incredible 42 league goals in only 26 appearances for Chelmsford and was a key reason they lifted the league and cup championships this year. Huska was a runaway winner in the voting this season and truly deserves to be named MVP of the league.
Photo by Dave Chapman
NIHL South Coach of the Year 2016/17:
Alex Murray (Solent Devils)
The youngest Coach in the league with arguably the toughest job. The 27 year old Player Coach fended off close competition from title winner Sean Easton for this award, and turned the Devils into a force to be reckoned with in the latter stages of the campaign, especially on home ice. With little budget to play with and a young inexperienced team, Murray did remarkably well to lead them to a 6th place finish and has been recognised as such.
NIHL All-Star team 2016/17 – Line 1
Photo by Dave Chapman
Netminder – Christian Cole (Solent Devils)
The 24 year old Guernsey born stopper enjoyed another good season between the pipes for the Devils, ending up with a 91.6% save average. The former Guildford junior joined the Solent club in 2010 and has been a regular match winner for the team ever since.
Photo by David Trevallion
Defence – Ondrej Zosiak (Invicta Dynamos)
After an impressive first season with the Dynamos in which he was also named on the Pro Hockey News All-Star team, the Slovak has done it again. Composed on the puck, a good hitter and with an excellent shot from the point the 26 year old was made Alternate Captain this year and excelled.
Defence – Ross Green (Milton Keynes Thunder)
The former GB junior international enjoyed an excellent campaign on the blue line despite the Thunder’s inconsistent form. The 25 year old ended the season as the Thunder’s leading play-maker with 20 assists out from the back after signing from the English Premier League MK Lightning side last summer.
Forward – Adam Rehak (Invicta Dynamos)
Sometimes an import joins the league and just clicks and that is exactly what happened with Rehak. The former Czech junior international arrived in Kent with a good pedigree and didn’t disappoint firing in 27 goals in as many games in the league. A player with immense skill who can score, hit and fight.
Forward – Juraj Huska (Chelmsford Chieftains)
A consistent goal machine despite his advancing years. Huska put his cannon of a shot to good use and helped develop his young line mates over the course of the season, most notably Jake Sylvester. Now 35, the Slovak shows no sign of slowing down just yet.
Forward – Ashley Jackson (Invicta Dynamos)
The smiling field hockey GB international brought his stardust to the ice for the Dynamos, especially in the first half of the campaign. A fantastic athlete with seemingly an attitude to match, Jackson galvanised the Dynamos, in incredibly his first full season at this level despite his age of 29.
NIHL All-Star team 2016/17 – Line 2
Photo by John Scott
Netminder – Euan King (London Raiders)
Two clubs in one season didn’t stop King making another appearance in the All-Star team as he edged out Chelmsford pair Ben Clements and Sonny Phillips for his spot this year. The Peterborough based stopper racked up the miles and the saves for the RedHawks and then the Raiders.
Photo by Ice Cold Photography
Defence – Lukas Zatopek (Chelmsford Chieftains)
The veteran Czech has been an ever present in these awards since joining Chelmsford and continues to be a rock on the Chieftains blue line. Positionally brilliant and with a cannon from the point, Zatopek enjoyed another title win with the Essex side.
Defence – Liam Chong (Chelmsford Chieftains)
After starting the season unattached to any club, Chong got the call up just a few weeks into the campaign as Sean Easton persuaded him to replace the suspended Phillips brothers. Chelmsford and Chong didn’t look back and the versatile 24 year old was a class act on the blue line.
Forward – Danny Hammond (Chelmsford Chieftains)
After a few quiet seasons by his high standards, Hammond returned to form for the league champions and ended the season as the top British point’s scorer in the league with 28 goals and 23 assists in 27 games.
Photo by Paul Foster
Forward – Alan Green (Oxford City Stars)
In his final year in an Oxford jersey, Green ended the season as the Stars top scorer thanks to his usual all action style. A match winner for the City Stars for many years, the 32 year old helped his hometown team to a fourth place finish in the league.
Photo by Dave Chapman
Forward – Aidan Doughty (Solent Devils)
The 21 year old put his recent experiences in the USA to good use as he returned back to the NIHL with a bang. An impressive 17 goals and 20 assists will have no doubt alerted other teams to his talents as the former Wightlink Raider used his speed and strength to make an impact.
Thank you to all the Coaching staff and players who voted and thank you to all the fans who make the NIHL South the league it is today.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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