OXFORD, UK – Amongst all of the hype and expectation across the league this summer, one club was quietly reorganising itself to ensure the loss of form at the latter end of the previous campaign did not continue into the new one.
After a great start to the 2010/11 season Oxford went into their last regular season game on April 3rd needing a win against Bracknell Hornets to extend their season into the knockout stage. In a performance symptomatic of their form at the time, the Stars battled back from behind but could not do enough to stop the Hornets from walking out of the building with a 5-4 win.
Douglas on form (Tim Bowers)
A silent Oxpens Road rink sat stunned as Player Coach Ken Forshee skated slowly round the rink to applaud the remaining fans alongside his team mates, knowing that their season had ended prematurely.
The disappointment was compounded in the summer when local rivals Bristol Pitbulls snapped up half of the Stars defence with Nick Eden, Yousif Abu-Saada and Andrew Shurmer all heading west to the shock of the Stars faithful.
Just when things seemed like they couldn’t get any worse, Star forward and primary goal threat Alan Green opted to sign for Chelmsford in a move that had some Stars fans fearing the worst ahead of the new season.
Behind the scenes however, big changes were afoot and positive ones at that. A new consortium formed by three local business people; Russ Fray, John Harrison and Elaine Sutcliffe set up Oxford Stars Ltd with a view to restructuring the club from the senior side down to the juniors.
For long serving team Manager Gary Dent, a man who had for so long kept the Stars going alongside a group of committed volunteers the relief was palpable.
“It’s great to see new backers come in to secure the future of the club whilst maintaining the ethos of the organisation” he said at the time the consortium was announced.
Andy Cox (Tim Bowers)
“Since 2000 it has been run as a standalone, self-financed (subsidised) team playing in an amateur league. The sport is moving on and competition is getting stronger year by year and we now find ourselves competing against semi-pro teams who have joined from other leagues”
Indeed, that increased competition in the form of Wightlink Raiders, Romford Raiders and Chelmsford Chieftains was what Forshee described in the season post mortem as “A wake up call for the organisation”.
So with the off-ice structure revamped and a new website to try and increase the air of professionalism around the club, many fans were still nervous as to how Forshee could ensure the on-ice package could develop from last year.
A defensive crisis was resolved with the additions of Paul Gore and Lee Featherstone from Milton Keynes however the real marquee signing came in the form of goalie Chris Douglas as a free agent.
After a shock loss in Slough on opening night, the City Stars sent shockwaves across the league with a 1-1 tie against league title favourites Chelmsford Chieftains. Results have been mixed but the most important aspect is that the Stars look to be a competitive outfit this term.
“I am happy with the way we have played so far” admitted Forshee.
“We have blown some leads late in games that have led to our draws and we need to get better at protecting those leads, but I think we have a team that will get better as the season progresses”
“We have got younger and guys are learning as they go. We play a lot of young guys in key situations now and this will make us better for both the short and long term”
The most notable aspect of the Stars results is their defensive record and Douglas has proven to be a real influence on whether the Stars pick up points or not. The former Swindon and Romford stopper was highly rated in the EPL but found himself dropping a league this summer to join Oxford.
“Dougie has been unbelievable for us and he has been our best player” explained Forshee.
“Most importantly he has been a leader. He is always helping the younger guys, letting them know the importance of being in shape and taking care of themselves. His own workout program is second to none and the way he prepares for a game is as professional as you can get”
“He has not lost any of his competitiveness by dropping down a league. In fact he is playing as if he has a bit of a chip on his shoulder and he wants to show people that he is still in the prime of his playing days”
Last season Oxford drafted in a Swedish goalie in the form of the excellent Robin Lindva, but opted to release him midway through the season and sign Damien Matla, a utility player who lasted only a couple of games leaving Canadian Forshee as the team’s only non-British trained player for the remainder of the campaign.
Oxford take to the ice (Hockey Lossnitzer)
Import restrictions (currently one on the ice at any one time) can be a headache for teams like Oxford but undeterred Forshee has opted towards some out the box thinking again this year with the signing of South African international Cameron Birrell and a New Zealander Martin Lee.
This also means that Forshee will have to decide who to leave out on game days as only two of the Stars imports can dress.
“Dividing ice time between the three imports will be very, very simple” conceded Forshee.
“I get none and Martin and Cameron play because I want to just concentrate on coaching. It’s the best thing for me right now. I found it very difficult playing this year. My body was basically telling me enough is enough”
“These two guys are young, energetic, and great skaters. They are a perfect fit for our team as I want to continue to see us get younger, faster, and be the hardest working team in the league”
The Oxford accent is unique in itself but after adding two players from the Southern Hemisphere, the locker room has an unusual twang for someone like Forshee who hails from hockey’s heartland.
“Yes it is a bit different having imports with those accents but I think it drives them to show people that it doesn’t matter where they are from but they want to prove themselves” said the Canadian, who has scored two goals and five assists in his eight appearances this season.
“Not forgetting of course they want to represent their country proudly and prove that their country can develop hockey players”
The Stars find themselves in seventh position in the league with eight points from their opening nine games. Douglas has undoubtedly been the star of the show in most games, however experienced forward Gareth Endicott has found his goal touch and the likes of Dax Hedges and Darren Elliott still provide a goal threat.
Off the ice the Stars have managed to get the rink bar operating again and attendances are increasing. The whole game night experience is something that the Stars have long struggled with through no fault of their own, but those issues appear to be easing.
Forshee is not only Player Coach for the senior team but under the new structure he also heads up the junior’s which provides a streamlined link between the two.
“The new committee has been very helpful and really wants the best for hockey in Oxford” admitted Forshee.
“Oxford is now being run like a proper organisation starting with the Stars and right down through the juniors. I would love to see more local guys graduate into the senior team and I know that this is what the committee want too”
“We all share common goals and are already seeing great improvements in many different ways”
Dale White (Tim Bowers)
Oxford received further good news this week when one of the departures from the summer, Andrew Shurmer decided to return to the club after just two months in Bristol.
The return of Shurmer came as a surprise to many Stars fans however Forshee could not be happier and has not ruled out further additions to his squad along the way.
“Of course I am very pleased to get Shurmer back. He should really help our transition game and our power play. I feel he is a very underrated player in our league and he is very smart and calm on the puck”
“I am always looking for ways to improve the team. Although I must say the attitude on the team right now is fantastic. The guys all get along and love playing for each other. They have been pushing each other in training and all want to have a good season”
“When we did blow leads in three of our draws the guys were mad that we didn’t win instead of being happy with a point. And as the coach that is exactly the type of attitude I want to see”
Oxford face a tough weekend as Wightlink Raiders visit Oxpens Road however Forshee and his Stars will be quietly confident of pulling off a win against Jeremy Cornish and his men.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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