LONDON, UK – As storm Angus battered the South of England, the clubs of the NIHL did their best to put on a show for the fans who had braved the trip to the local ice rink, and did a good job of it.
Turner and team still top of table (Kev Slyfield)
If the previous week was one full of transfers, the build up to the weekend games this time round was a little more surreal.
Streatham IHC jumped on the Mannequin Challenge bandwagon by releasing their version complete with frozen fighting, rowing, drawing, shooting and saving. Those with a keen eye could also spot H2O consultant Don Young and manager Graham D’Anger in the background taking a rare break from filling water bottles and eating cake respectively.
You can watch the RedHawks Mannequin Challenge by clicking HERE
Streatham freeze on the river
They may have some competition from the Oxford City Stars improved media output this season but Invicta Dynamos continue to sit at the top of the tree and released an amusing video called ‘Team Mates’ featuring Coach Kev Parrish and Mason Webster in one set and duo Elliott Dewey and Arran Strawson on the other, dishing the dirt on the Mo’s squad.
Revelations include Harrison Lillis’s dodgy music taste, Callum Fowler’s excessive white stick tape usage and Strawson’s secret Fanta cup. You can watch it by clicking HERE
Solent Devils were rocked by news that the EIHA had decided to ban their star forward Mitchell Murray for a whopping 15 months following an incident in their recent game against Streatham.
The extended ban is in keeping with the governing body’s tough new clampdown on bad behaviour in the NIHL South.
The length of the ban inevitably raised a lot of online debate and Solent for their part said they would release a statement shortly.
The boys are back in Romford town.
Long-time readers will be aware that there has long been an appetite for lengthy bans to be dished out for dangerous behaviour on and off the ice in the NIHL South and that in recent seasons some appalling behaviour has been allowed to take place without adequate sanction.
The EIHA can only hope that the message these lengthy bans send to other players sinks in and it keeps a check on those who cannot control themselves ordinarily.
If not, the referees and officials have a tough task of being consistent and fair in their reporting of incidents regardless of who the offender is or who they play for.
On a lighter note, London Raiders made a homecoming of sorts as Romford outdoor ice rink opened on Friday evening.
The players were joined by Coach Alan Blyth on the ice and assorted family members at the facility near Romford market. The other big piece of news out of East London was the Raiders signing of veteran defenceman Stewart Tait.
Taity boosts an already decent squad and gives the team more depth on the blue line.
Goodbye hair for Liam Chong
Chelmsford’s Liam Chong finally cut off his long hair for charity after rivalling a number of NIHL South players for the prize of biggest flow. Chong was raising money for the Little Princess Trust and you can still donate using the link HERE
Finally, a video came across our sports desk that warmed our hearts, and no, not the one of injured Bracknell player Kamil Kinkor petting a bearded dragon on his road to recovery.
We have long advocated dogs being allowed at ice hockey matches and this film clip proves what a great time everyone has when the hounds are set free. Watch it HERE
Saturday action
Milton Keynes Thunder were thwarted in their attempt to win two home games on the bounce as Oxford City Stars spoiled new MK coach Nick Chinn’s first game in charge and skated away with a 3-1 road win.
Josh Oliver, Andrew Cox and Ben Paynter got the goals for Oxford, with James Clarke on target for the Thunder.
Good weekend for Oliver (Paul Foster)
City Stars goalie Tom Annetts enjoyed his evening, turning away 37 shots during a commanding display between the pipes.
After the final buzzer the 482 Days media team, who had live tweeted the game, were reportedly sighted in the nearby swanky Jaipur Indian restaurant eating a complimentary lamb bhuna feast and allegedly downing three litres of Cobra each. Nice work if you can get it.
Chelmsford Chieftains showed that their weekend off had done little to dampen their form as they hammered Bracknell Hornets 9-2 at the Hive.
The Essex side were 5-1 up after the first period and never looked back. Danny Hammond and Juraj Huska both scored two for Chelmsford, with Liam Chong, Grant Bartlett, Darren Brown, Anthony Leone and Matt Turner also on target.
Ondrej Pekarik and Conor Redmond both scored for the Hornets.
Invicta Dynamos bounced back from a disappointing weekend seven days earlier to stun the in-form London Raiders on the road at the Lee Valley Ice Centre.
The Mo’s won 4-2 thanks to a brace from Adam Rehak and lone goals from Josh Condren and Ashley Jackson.
The Connolly brothers Ross and John scored a goal each for the Raiders.
No bus door? No problem for the Shooting Stars
The game was notable for the return of Dynamos goalie Damien King returning from a bad injury picked up last month.
Finally we have two transport tales to bring you from Saturday night as NIHL 2 side Wightlink Buccaneers and recreational side Oxford Shooting Stars endured significant transportation failures after their games.
The poor Buccaneers had to spend the night on their team bus in Portsmouth after returning from a win over Haringey Racers in London, to find all the ferry’s had been cancelled due to rough seas. The loudest snorer on the bus was reportedly sports therapist Tori Coles, followed by Nathan Webb and Blair Dubyk.
The Shooting Stars had a slightly better time of it as their mini bus door fell off following a win in Cardiff. Nothing a bit of stick tape can’t fix of course.
Sunday action
At the bottom of the table Bracknell Hornets let a 2-1 lead slip at Gosport Arena and subsequently tied 2-2 with Solent Devils on the South Coast.
Lawday on target (Dave Chapman)
Ben Ealey-Newman and Jordan Gregory scored the goals for the Hornets, but Richard Facey equalised with fifteen minutes left to add to an earlier goal from Matt Lawday.
The game ended in bad blood as Devils Aidan Doughty and Hornets Josh Ealey-Newman clashed in the final minute, and this was followed by Facey taking on Conor Redmond with only three seconds left on the clock.
The result leaves the Hornets bottom of the table and three points behind MK Thunder.
Streatham IHC stunned a packed Oxpens Road with a convincing 7-1 road win over high flying Oxford City Stars. The game was attended by a coach load of Wightlink Raiders fans who packed into the Dan Prachar stand, thanks to a great gesture by Oxford allowing them all free entry.
The Londoners paid no attention to the occasion however and put in their best display of the season with George Norcliffe, Callum Best and Alex Sampford scoring two goals each to add to a lone effort from Sean Scarbrough.
Hat trick for Strawson and his cuddly toy
Oxford’s consolation came from Joe Edwards who denied Streatham goalie Matt Colclough his shut out.
Invicta Dynamos edged a thrilling game at Silverblades with a 7-6 win over MK Thunder.
It took a winner in the final minute from GB field hockey star Ashley Jackson to seal the points for the Mos.
Ginger blueliner Arran Strawson may have confessed to spending little time doing his hair during the week, but when you have a helmet on and you notch a hat trick who really cares?
Adam Rehak, Ondrej Zosiak and Callum Fowler scored the other goals for Invicta.
Nick Chinn scored his first goal in Thunder colours to add to efforts from Jamie Line, Cam Wynn, Tom Mboya, Ross Bowers and Jakub Klima.
The result moved the Dynamos up to third spot in the league although interestingly Damien King did not ice.
Budweiser saves the day for London Raiders
The final game of the evening was a dead rubber Cup game at the Riverside between the hosts and London Raiders that saw Chieftains defenseman Billy Phillips make his return from suspension.
The Raiders grabbed their second win in a row against their rivals this season with an impressive 4-2 victory thanks to goals from Marek Nahlik, JJ Pitchley, Tom Davis and Jacob Ranson.
Juraj Huska and Grant Bartlett got the consolation goals for the Chieftains and both of these sides will meet each other in the semi-finals in February.
Despite the loss, the weekend results leave Chelmsford in pole position at the top of the league.
Results
Saturday 19 November 2016
MK Thunder 1-3 Oxford City Stars
London Raiders 2-4 Invicta Dynamos
Bracknell Hornets 2-9 Chelmsford Chieftains
Sunday 20 November 2016
Oxford City Stars 1-7 Streatham IHC
Invicta Dynamos 7-6 MK Thunder
Solent Devils 2-2 Bracknell Hornets
Chelmsford Chieftains 2-4 London Raiders (Cup)
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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