Romford crowned league champions

ROMFORD, UK – Romford Raiders were crowned English National League South at the weekend after a campaign spent battling with rivals Chelmsford Chieftains for title glory. Pro Hockey News reviews the key games and players that brought silverware to Romford.
 
When the final buzzer sounded at Rom Valley Way last Sunday a sea of players decked in blue and gold swarmed on to the ice to celebrate a league title win, clinched in clinical style.

 
This enclave of London, or Essex depending on who you are talking to, has long been starved of such success. Granted there have been cup wins and fantastic players gracing the Raiders organisation in recent years but a regular season triumph has evaded the Romford Raiders since 1988 when they won the old British Division 2 thanks largely to the heroics of imports Gord Jeffrey and Marc Chartier.
 
Winning the English National League South may not be seen as much of an achievement for a club that was competing in the English Premier League as recently as 2009/10, but nothing should take away from the fact that this Raiders side has bounced back and learnt from errors made the previous season where they saw rivals Chelmsford win the play-offs and Wightlink secure the league title honours.
 
The fact that Chelmsford were the Raiders closest rivals throughout the competition, and that Wightlink were the opposition for the final game when the title was clinched was somewhat poetic for Danny Marshall’s side this time round.
 
The squad was tweaked from a 2011/12 roster that had lacked a little depth and Marshall brought back former Raiders Matt Turner and JJ Pitchley from Chelmsford and Bracknell respectively, plus the gritty Grant Taylor from semi-retirement.
 
Lithuanian International Andrius Kaminskas took the vacant second import slot as an important utility player, proving that Romford were upping the stakes as far as player recruitment was concerned
 
The Raiders started the season like a runaway train as they hammered everything in their path winning their opening ten league games before defeats against Chelmsford and Invicta rattled them.
 
Not wishing to take a risk from injuries and suspensions further down the track, Marshall subsequently added experienced Peterborough player Shaun Yardley to the squad along with more toughness in the form of Shaun Wallis.
 
It was a shrewd move, as Romford struggled with discipline at times with a raft of suspensions dished out over the campaign, which could perhaps have cost them had Chelmsford not slipped up in a few key games.
 
Despite the propensity to play the game with an edge, it paid dividends for the Raiders, especially against the lower teams, whose thin rosters and lack of size often saw them simply bullied out of games.
 
Against the higher placed teams the Raiders relied on their key guys to step up and earn their keep, with Slovak Juraj Huska a vital scorer on more than one occasion. It was the return of Huska to the club in the summer that would prove to be the ace in the pack for Marshall, and the former Telford sniper hit 41 goals and 51 assists in 36 games to the delight of the Raiders fans.
 
The player coach Marshall enjoyed another points laden season with 28 goals and 44 assists to his name, but it was goalie Michael Gray who stepped up to the plate above all others from the previous season as he scotched pre-season suggestions that goaltending could be a weakness for the side.
 
The former Streatham stopper was in fine form across the whole campaign earning a league leading 92% save average, and cementing the Raiders starting spot as his own from back up Glen Jackson.
 
 
Key games of the campaign
 
25 September v Chelmsford
 
The first real test of the Raiders campaign came at home to play-off champions Chelmsford. Unbeaten in their first four league games, the Raiders welcomed Shaun Wallis to their line-up but it was Captain Anthony Leone who hit the decisive winning goal. Leading 4-1 after the first two periods, Romford survived a comeback from Chelmsford to win 5-4.
 
26 November v Wightlink
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A tricky road game on the Island nearly proved to be the Raiders undoing as they trailed 2-0 at one point to Jeremy Cornish’s side. An obscene gesture by a linesman towards the Romford fans led to the striped official being ejected and hitting the national press courtesy of the Daily Star. The most important part of the game for the Raiders however was the 3-2 score line in their favour at the buzzer thanks to goals from Juraj Huska and a brace for JJ McGrath.
 
24 March v Cardiff
 
After losing in Wales a few weeks earlier, the pressure was on the Raiders to win against a resolute Cardiff side. Anything other than a win would have probably handed the title to Chelmsford, so it was vital that the Raiders took two points from the game. Despite making life difficult for themselves with a familiar string of penalties the Raiders showed great character to pull off a 4-1 win thanks to a hat trick from Huska and a lone goal for Billy Phillips.
 
 
Romford Raiders Squad 2011/12
 
 
Goalies
 
Michael Gray – The Romford goalie, who previously played for Invicta and Streatham had arguably his best season yet between the pipes. Top of the goalie stats and highly rated in the league, Gray even travelled to Australia mid-season and came back as fresh as before.
 
Glen Jackson – Local boy who previously iced with Oxford City Stars and Swindon Wildcats, Jackson had to spend much of the campaign playing second fiddle to Gray, but was solid when called upon.
 
 
Defence
 
Julian Smith – An All-Star last season in the Pro Hockey News select side, Smith continued to be a reliable presence on the Raiders blue line with a solid and dependable campaign.
 
Tyrone Miller – An ever present on the Raiders blue line, Miller clocked up the minutes yet again for his side. Tough and dependable, Miller is one of the best body checkers in the league and this was his twelfth season in blue and gold.
 
Billy Phillips – A full season with the team after a spell with Slough in 2010/11, saw local boy Phillips weigh in with 13 goals from the blue line. With an excellent shot, Phillips is a key guy on the point but his 176 penalty minutes kept him on the side lines at times.
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David Oliver – A popular player in the locker room, Oliver was an ever present in the team and stepped up when needed. The former Invicta blue liner had tasted success in Kent but would have been delighted to lift silverware in his home rink.
 
Andrius Kaminskas – Affectionately known as ‘Bomber’, the Lithuanian International returned after a spell in Bracknell to add his own brand of aggression and skill to the Raiders line up. A stand out import on defence, Kaminskas also moved up front when needed.
 
Jason Buckman – The former Peterborough player is one of the Raiders unsung heroes playing both on the blue line and also as a forward when required. Another ever present campaign showed his worth, and the experienced Buckman was a key cog in the Romford wheel again.
 
Liam Doyle – Now in his second season with the club, Doyle found his ice time limited midway through the campaign and took a sabbatical. The former Haringey Greyhound played 19 times for the team in 2011/12.
 
 
Forwards
 
Danny Marshall – What can be said about the Raiders all-time top scorer that hasn’t been said already. It was another big campaign for DM6 who lead his side on and off the ice to glory. A Pro Hockey News All-Star last season, Marshall will be happy to add more silverware to his name.
 
Juraj Huska – The Slovak sniper had another goal filled campaign with his smooth skating and blistering slap shot proving too much for most opponents at this level. Huska proved to be the key difference in many of the close games Romford were involved in and was a key signing in the summer.
 
Anthony Leone – The passionate captain and heartbeat of the side, Leone had another impressive campaign in blue and gold following his move from Invicta in 2010/11. 24 goals and 17 assists was a good return for the 29 year old Londoner.
 
Adam Smith – Another former Invicta man who quietly goes about his business with great effect. A fluid skater who is a key playmaker for the Raiders, Smith has now won nine league titles in the last ten seasons at this level.
 
Shaun Yardley – A mid-season signing of genuine quality, the former Peterborough Phantoms player helped edge the Raiders over the finishing line and adds an ENL South title to his EPL medals.
 
JJ Pitchley – The son of former long serving Raiders defenseman Ben Pitchley. JJ took the previously retired number 15 jersey following his move from Bracknell and earned a GB under 18 call up at the end of the season.
 
JJ McGrath – The former London and Lee Valley player provided the muscle for the Raiders, dropping the gloves with anyone willing. For the second season running, McGrath proved that there is much more to him than fighting and got some key goals over the year.
 
Tom Davis – The former Milton Keynes Thunder forward slotted alongside McGrath and Grant Taylor on the Raiders checking line and played every game for the side. Davis hit nine goals and twenty three assists in his second season with the club.
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Matt Turner – Fresh from a Play-Off winning campaign in Chelmsford, the highly rated Turner made the move back down the A12 to join the Raiders and looked good on the second line. Twenty six goals and thirty four assists show his worth to the title winning effort.
 
Shaun Wallis – Another former Chelmsford player, Wallis was drafted in as a squad player mid-season and did his bit for the team. Capable of dropping the gloves when needed, Wallis offered Marshall more depth in the games he appeared.
 
Frankie Harvey – A season of frustration for the Raiders wonder kid who had his season ended before it had even started due to a troublesome knee injury that eventually had to be operated on. Harvey was on the ice to celebrate with the team in the last game however he will be looking forward to 2012/13.
 
Max Falzon – The rookie saw limited ice time over the campaign despite playing 16 games for the Raiders.
 
Pro Hockey News would like to congratulate all at the Romford Raiders on their success including the maverick owner Ollie Oliver, Manager Mick Cahill and all the Raiders fans who have turned out at home and on the road to support their team.
 
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com