LONDON, UK – The Streatham Redskins ended the 2011/12 season in dramatic fashion as they took on Slough knowing that anything other than a win by two goals or more would signal a humiliating relegation for the historic London club.
The Easter weekend saw thousands of hockey fans from across the UK gather in Nottingham for the Elite League Play-Off weekend. On the Saturday evening, the resident Nottingham Panthers beat the Hull Stingrays 10-3 in front of a packed crowd at the sparkling National Ice Centre to progress through to the final against the Cardiff Devils the following day.
Within the noisy band of Streatham Redskins supporters crammed into the corner of the far less salubrious Slough Ice Rink, were those who remembered the days when Streatham and Nottingham contested a fierce rivalry in the top flight of British ice hockey long before the emergence of the modern day Panthers nemesis Sheffield Steelers.
The contrast in fortunes between the two could not be starker, yet it could be a whole lot worse were it not for the small but resilient hockey community tucked away in the southern part of the UK’s capital city.
Rooted to the bottom of the league for a large percentage of the season, the Redskins have encountered and experienced every emotion imaginable in a season that has seen the team lose their old majestic ice rink to the wrecking ball, endure long losing streaks on the ice and lose quality players to injury or circumstance.
Normally a competitive outfit at English National League level, Streatham’s opening day 6-0 reverse at home to Milton Keynes Thunder implied that summer confidence may well have been misplaced.
Marquee signings of GB international Scott Moody and the iconic Norman Pinnington, had suggested the team could bounce back from losing a hard-core of its local talent to other clubs and overseas adventures. Moody lasted one game before succumbing to long term injury and Pinnington was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly the team looked threadbare, lacking inventiveness not through a lack of effort but simply a lack of depth and quality. Loss after loss sapped the confidence of players and fans alike, and the team provided easy pickings for virtually every club in the league.
The coaching staff were under fire, the crowds began to drop and the heavy defeats continued. Barry Spours, an award winning coach the season previous, looked like the world was on his shoulders as he trudged back and forth to the locker room in period breaks with his assistant Terry England.
Spours himself had stood as a goalie between the pipes for both Streatham and Nottingham, and the belligerence of the man showed through, as he ran through carefully prepared training sessions to a handful of kids and inexperienced players despite knowing that the games at the weekend would offer little respite.
Desperate to recruit new blood, Spours finally made a breakthrough on the eve of the momentous final game at the old High Road rink in December. Utility player Stewart Tait, a league title winner with the Wightlink Raiders just a few months before, had been released by the island side, and was soon dressed in a Redskins jersey for the historic game against the Milton Keynes Thunder.
Skins support at Slough
Emotionally charged, and despite only one win in thirteen games, against Oxford, the Redskins came out as if their lives depended on the two points. The 10-3 win was only the team’s second victory of the season, but it proved that come the big occasion, the team could deliver.
A hastily arranged End of Era game saw the legends of Streatham hockey join the present day squad on the ice on the day before the 81 year old facility was closed forever. It was a teary affair, but served to remind Spours and his team, not that it was needed, the magnitude of history attached to the name Streatham, and the jersey’s worn each game day.
The New Year brought big news. Oxford City Stars, a side most definitely struggling alongside Streatham had pulled the plug on their season with the EIHA expunging all results and points.
The league immediately indicated that despite the loss of Oxford from the league, the bottom placed side would still face relegation come the end of the year. It was a tough pill to swallow for the Streatham fans, who had assumed that a lifeline had been secured.
Last game at old rink
Spours kept his silence, and picked up Andy Cox, Sam Cheema, Dax Hedges and a Sports Therapist Kirsty Hopgood from the carcass of the City Stars. This new found depth, plus the regular return of the previously intermittent Pinnington changed the team dynamic to a new level.
Skating out on to the brand new temporary Brixton Ice Rink at the start of 2012, the new look Skins gave league leaders Romford a scare despite going down 7-4 in front of a large expectant crowd.
Any hopes of a quick morale boosting win appeared to be far in the distance as the fixture list cruelly pitted the South London side against all of the stronger sides in the league over the coming weeks.
Another long 12 game winless streak appeared, with Spours battling to hold together his improving yet confidence bashed troops, and despite the additions of Luke Reynolds from Slough and the return of volatile import Tomas Valko.
For every piece of good news there was bad, and Lukas Zilak broke his foot and then ever present team Captain Ed Koral suffered a season ending shoulder injury.
When the breakthrough finally came, it could not have been sweeter for the ever increasing home crowd, who had stuck with the team despite the losses, possibly lured by the shiny new rink. The old enemy Invicta Dynamos felt the full force of a Redskins side, beginning to finally get their rewards after a number of false dawns.
The 4-3 victory was as important to the Redskins morale as it was to the league points it secured. Suddenly the team started to relax and play with more purpose and despite disappointing losses the following weekend in Bristol and Chelmsford, Spours and England finally got the settled lines they had been trying to find all season.
End of era game
The last three games would be a test of nerve. The players and fans knew it and so did the coaching staff. A vital 5-4 win in Milton Keynes meant that Streatham would have to get the better of fellow relegation candidates Slough over the last two games to avoid the drop.
The final home game of the season drew another large crowd to Brixton but the Redskins faltered. A young, quick and talented Slough side punished the nervy Redskins, but a dramatic equaliser from former Slough junior Russ Stevens to make the score 2-2 gave the Londoners hope in the final game of the season in Berkshire.
So whilst the cream of the Elite League enjoyed their play-off weekend in the Midlands, one of the oldest and grandest teams in British Hockey were ready to fight for their lives and stave off a humiliation.
On paper Streatham started as favourites, and as they skated out onto the ice they were welcomed by a rapturous noise from a travelling support not seen for many years. Decked in red and white were regular supporters, mixed with old faces that had come to see a celebration whilst dreading the alternative.
Old players were there, along with neutrals who recognised the importance of the game to a club whose new rink could signal a glorious dawn for Streatham hockey and a re-emergence of one of the sport’s most famous names.
Pavlus signs
It took eight minutes for Streatham to open the scoring, as Dave Carr and Warren Rost combined to release one of the season’s bright spots, Stevie Balmer whose dump on net took a cruel bounce in front of Jets goalie Alec Field and nestled in the back of the goal.
The Redskins fans celebrated all around the rink and it became apparent that support for Streatham was not confined to the mass group by the team bench.
Slough made Streatham work for their lead as the lively Andrew Melachrino and Stuart Mogg, no doubt stars of the future themselves, gave Redskins goalie Will Sanderson a busy time and tested nerves.
The game stayed close as a contest until midway through the second period, with the Redskins leading 3-2 but needing to win by two clear goals to survive on a head to head goal difference.
A Slough powerplay was to prove pivotal but not in typical fashion, as Stevens intercepted a stray pass by the Jets defence to steal in on goal and fire high past Field for a shorthanded goal.
His arms aloft he skated across to the jubilant Redskins support to share the moment.
From that point on, Slough collapsed. Streatham scored goal after goal with players like Valko and Pinnington skating around with aplomb. The locally trained Streatham boys, who had been there all season battling through the hard times, got a chance to throw off the shackles.
* The Rasmussen brothers Liam and Chris, defenseman Casimir Madren-Britton and utility player Dan Botting all playing their part in an 11-2 win that would seal a remarkable escape from relegation.
The final buzzer sounded and the team spilled on to the ice as if a Stanley Cup had been won. Spours and England ran into the scrum, and the club’s backroom staff Graham D’Anger and Don Young joined them along with equipment assistant Sam Smith.
The crowd sang, the team cheered, the photographs were taken to capture the moment. Another story in the history books of Streatham hockey, one that would have a memorable happy ending for everyone that witnessed it.
Further North at the same time, the old adversaries Nottingham celebrated in front of a far larger crowd in much nicer surroundings. Their imported stars and talented British players would go on to win the Elite League Play-Offs the following day, but for Streatham the very survival of the team, and the fact that they will be competing in English National League South next year, means just as much and is as important.
Streatham now have a new rink, increasing crowds and the opportunity to build again. Players will be attracted much more easily and the better facilities will help retain talented juniors, of which there are already some within the ranks of the club.
The future should be bright, and now the team have the chance to make it so.
Streatham Redskins 2011/12
Goalies
Will Sanderson – Emerged as the number one goalie for the team with some game winning performances towards the latter half of the campaign. Played the final two games with a fractured hand through the pain barrier and kept the team up.
Stefan Nubert – Followed up a good 2010/11 with another good solid season between the pipes. Performed miracles at the start of the year when the team were struggling and his physical style of play endeared him to team mates and fans.
Shane Kemp – Suffered from niggly injuries and a lack of game time after a solid 2010/11 season. Highly rated and popular young goalie who will no doubt bounce back in 2012/13.
Defence
Ed Koral – Captain and virtual ever present until injury ruled him out of the final run in. Ed played through the pain barrier in a number of games for the team and never put in less than a 100% as usual.
Casimir Madren-Britton – The deceivingly young Streatham lad matured throughout the season and cut out the mistakes of the previous season. Strong, with great hands and passing, Caz dropped the gloves a couple of times and stood up when he needed too for the team.
Adam Mahoney – One of the finds of the season for Spours, the former Basingstoke youngster brought mobility and composure to the Redskins rear guard. Despite spending a couple of years away from the game, Mahoney slotted onto the first line with ease.
David Carr – A third season with the club and only missed two games all season. A personal best, double figures in points in a Redskins jersey.
Stewart Tait – Started as a forward when he signed, ended up on the blue line, a position he last played in the EPL for Slough. Gritty and another 100%er who never gives up and generated offense from the defensive zone.
Andy Cox – After spending most of his career in an Oxford jersey, Cox took the plunge to travel to London each week and saw more minutes of ice time than he has in a long time. Also used up front in special teams at times, Cox was a versatile asset.
Dan Botting – A year in ENL 2 with Streatham Bruins did nothing to dampen Botting’s spirits and he turned up week in week out despite limited ice time proving to be a real team player. Got his reward with a famous bout with Romford’s JJ McGrath, that featured in Powerplay magazine.
Luke Reynolds – Made an immediate impact on signing, by being ejected for a match high sticking penalty in his second shift on his debut. Reynolds was then used heavily in the final eight games, as he used all his experience on the blue line alongside Tait.
Warren Rost – The veteran utility player spent most of the season anchoring the third line alongside Yufit and Rasmussen. Rost used all his experience and know how to support the team, keeping things positive and taking over the captaincy when Koral was injured.
Lukas Zilak – The Czech defenseman stepped up to the plate in a number of games and was a positive influence in the locker room and at training. Lukas sadly broke his foot blocking a shot against Chelmsford, which typifies his commitment to the team.
Sam Cheema – Signed from Oxford, Cheema combined his time with Streatham and title winning Guildford Under 18’s. Good size and decent hands make teenager Cheema one for the future.
Forwards
* Jerry Pavlus – Slovak signing mid-season when Valko was ruled out. The former Chelmsford sniper had an immediate impact with a number of goals and then settled in on the second line.
Tomas Valko – Another Slovak, who was struggling with a knee injury at the start of the campaign and then took a break before making a remarkable comeback in January using his explosive hard hitting style to good effect.
Russ Stevens – Hardworking and committed to the cause, Russ had another good season in a Redskins shirt and pleased the crowd with his usual never give up style of play. Hit 12 goals for the team by the end of the season.
Chris Fox – Ruled out with injury for much of the campaign, the former Haringey junior slotted in as a centre man when needed for the latter half of the season, and put in a series of good displays.
Stevie Balmer – When Irish international Balmer was signed from Trafford in the summer, many people were wondering why Streatham would pick up a guy with only one goal to his name in 2010/11. 21 goals and 14 assists in a struggling side gave the answer by the end of the year.
* Gennadi Yufit –The former Lee Valley winger played every game for the Redskins and on every line. Composed on the puck and not afraid to go into the corners, Yufit cemented his popular relationship with the fans.
Dax Hedges – Former Oxford player, Dax shared the commute to London with Cox and ended up scoring some vital goals for the team, including one against Invicta. Suffered with a couple of minor injuries but played his part in the team’s escape.
Liam Rasmussen – After a couple of stand-out seasons for the Redskins, Liam found it tough at the start of the season when the team were struggling, but as the weeks went by he was back to his speedy best, effective on the special teams and on line 1,2 or 3.
Chris Rasmussen – Tall, strong and quick, one of the most quiet players in the league never mind the team, Chris turned up week in week out and got on with his job on the wing of the third line, occasionally unleashing his cannon slapshot for the odd goal.
* Norm Pinnington – Known across the league for his in your face style hockey, Pinnington came into his own in the big matches. Intimidated quite a few opposition players and chipped in with goals as well. A firm favourite with the fans especially when he dropped the gloves (and won) in a few games.
Peter Molnar – After two fantastic seasons in a Redskins jersey, Molnar did his best at the start of the season to generate some offense but had little support. A quality player on his day, Molnar gradually lost his place to Valko for the final few games.
Also appeared:
Pete Quiney – A Streatham legend who helped out at the start of the season and belied his years. Rob England – Streatham junior who stepped up on defense when needed. Alan Graichen-Cunningham – Former Slough and Haringey man who gave his all for the cause. Alex Shelkoplyas – 16 year old who featured in a couple of games. Andrew Harrold – Cardiff boy who was formerly with the Bruins. Scott Moody – Big hope got a big injury. Michael Ranby – left for Chelmsford after 4 games. Calum Heath – Made one appearance on loan from Lee Valley.
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
Photos thanks to Iva Dlabkova and Rick Webb
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