MILTON KEYNES, UK – After an early season slump in form, Milton Keynes Thunder have started to pick up vital points recently, aided partly by some help from Slovakia.
A convincing opening game home win against Bristol Pitbulls had given many within the Thunder organisation much needed optimism following a struggling 2009/10 campaign. The addition of forward players Jamie Line, Ross Bowers and Aram Todd during the off season, had on paper at least, resolved the lack of goals that the team had traditionally struggled with.
The 8-3 triumph over Bristol was subsequently followed by a long run of eleven games without a win, with only a 3-3 tie on the Island against Wightlink Raiders briefly lifting the gloom.
In recent weeks the Thunder have seemingly turned a small corner, by winning three of their last four home games. The fact that two of these victories came over fellow strugglers Swindon ENL Wildcats, means that the Thunder have established a five point gap ahead of the last placed Wiltshire side.
Stefanco shocker (icehockeyphotography.co.uk)
More importantly, the shock victory over current league champions Invicta Dynamos last weekend, gives the Thunder unexpected points and keeps Bristol four points below them in the relegation zone.
The upsurge of form cannot be attributed to one particular player; however it has coincided with the arrival of new signing Maros Stefanco. The 19 year old Slovakian made his debut in the 8-3 win over Swindon but stole the headlines two weeks later with two goals against the Dynamos.
“My team mates had told me that Invicta are a very good team” said Stefanco, who has only been in the UK for three months. “I was full of positive expectations before the game, and when I got on the ice I just worked as hard as I could, and ultimately we got the win and I was very happy that we were successful”
The 3-2 win over the Dynamos sent shockwaves through the league, but ultimately the Thunder will have to follow it up with good displays against Bristol and Oxford in their upcoming fixtures to make sure they keep up momentum and start to climb the league ladder from their current position of 9th.
The arrival of Stefanco adds to the growing numbers of Slovakians in the English National League. Streatham Redskins have two in Tomas Valko and Peter Molnar, Romford have Juraj Huska and Cardiff recently added Dusan Krehlik to their existing Slovak Robert Sedlak. In particular interest to Stefanco, is former team mate Krehlik and the date the two face each other is already etched in his mind.
“The 19th December will be very interesting for me” admitted Stefanco, who followed his father to live in Milton Keynes. “I know Dusan very well and obviously it will be very strange to play against him over here in the UK when we play against Cardiff”
Island nightmare (Nikki Craft)
“The number of Slovakians in the league does not surprise me though, we have so many players in Slovakia and the standard is high, there is always a surplus of players to the number of roster spots available. Also it is an attractive proposition to come to live and play hockey in the UK”
Aside from the two home fixtures against Invicta and Swindon, Stefanco’s other appearance in Thunder colours took place on the Isle of Wight, where his team suffered a 7-2 defeat at the hands of Wightlink Raiders. A first visit to the Island for any import in the ENL can be an eye opener, not to mention a chance for team mates to try the old “Do you have your passport” trick on arrival at the ferry terminal.
“When we got to Portsmouth, Maros asked if we were there and we told him we had to get a boat” revealed a source from the Thunder camp. “Maros started laughing and thought we were joking. His face when he realised it was true, was a picture”
“The boys did their best to scare him at Portsmouth with the passport trick, but to be honest it didn’t work as he didn’t really understand what they were talking about”
The loss in Wightlink may have been predictable; however the Thunder’s poor form on the road is worrying. They have yet to win in nine games away from Milton Keynes and this means that there is extra pressure to get wins on home ice to compensate. Bristol are the visitors this weekend, and coaching team Darryl Morvan and Lewis Clifford will be hoping for a much needed two points.
MK Thunder host Bristol this Sunday 5th December, face-off 18.30 ticket details & information available at: http://www.mkthunder.com/
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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