Things going well for Dynamos

GILLINGHAM, UK – It’s one of those perennial questions that you get at Invicta Dynamos fans quiz nights “Who scored the first ever goal for the club?” Also a pretty easy answer as its the man who is now the Head Coach – Kevin Parrish. “Yes, it is something I am actually quite proud of. It’s a piece of history that you cannot take away and it proves to some of the youngsters that once upon a time I did play” said the man who has the responsibility of keeping Kent’s only ice hockey club at the forefront of the ENL. And it is something he has been doing pretty well as the Gillingham-based club have taken six league titles on the bounce and are currently heading the pack this term. We asked Kevin what he considered the prospects of keeping the trophies on his mantelpiece. “Our league has grown a lot stronger over the last few years. Not only have Chelmsford and the Isle of Wight dropped down into our division but other clubs such as Bracknell and Cardiff have stepped up their game and Oxford are fast improving. This time around it is going to be extremely hard to stay at the top but like every year we just take one step at a time, every game as it comes and not look to far ahead”. In order to meet the growing challenge this term Dynamos have strengthened their roster with the addition of the calibre of players such as Joe Johnston from rivals Streatham Redskins and Mark Williams from the Premier League but there has also been promotion from within their own organisation with the energetic Loyde Fuller called up from the ENL2 Mustangs. Coach Parrish recognises that some other ENL clubs resent Invicta’s seemingly never ending ability to attract the better players but puts it down to simple basics.

“Firstly we are successful but you have to look a whole lot further than that to see just how we have achieved it. It’s important that players respect the club and just as an example that shows in the way that they dress to come to games. Once that happens they realise they are part of a bigger thing, they become part of the team and also feel that they belong. And we look after the little things, stick tape, sharpening edges and the like. If you sort out the detail the rest will happen. There are a whole lot of people at our club who do something tangible every week to keep it going. Some do a lot and others perhaps only a little but we are all pulling the same direction and hopefully it shows. It just makes my job easier when I try to recruit a player”. And with latest signing Massachusetts born Nolan Boike registering two goals on his debut for the Mo’s in an 8-1 thrashing away at MK Thunder, it seems that however much Parrish plays down his roster building ability he also has a very good eye for talent and that can only bode well for the rest of the season. Comment on this story comment@prohockeynews.com