LONDON, UK – Following a journey that started back in September, the league title was won with three games to spare by reigning champions Chelmsford Chieftains.
Smile if you won the league this weekend (Chieftains Photography)
Of course this was not unexpected from a side that had won the quadruple last year but a look back at the pre-season predictions by this very column shows that nothing was to be routine.
Chieftains Coach Dwayne Newman spoke to Pro Hockey News just a few weeks ago stating that the league title race was still on, but in reality the inconsistencies of challengers Invicta and Streatham have been too great over the 30 odd games played so far.
It has been a dogged and defensive campaign from the Chieftains who have won the league in much the same style as Wightlink Raiders did back in 2010/11.
They have ground out results when needed, kept things tight at the back and shown that disciplined hockey will win league titles over the long haul. Newman and his team deserve their success and Pro Hockey News would like to congratulate them on their achievement.
The beauty of hockey however is that Cup’s and Play-Offs give others the chance of glory and Chelmsford will need to make sure their celebrations do not take away their focus for the coming weeks.
You can read just how the Chieftains lifted the first trophy of the NIHL season later in the column, however sources have told us that forward Michael Ranby was apparently in sparkling form during training and has now asked his team mates to refer to him as ‘Magic Man’, following a few seconds of impressive stickhandling.
Mystery goalie for Comic Relief?!
Sorry Mr Ranby, but there is only room for one Magic Man on this earth… as this clip testifies.
The midweek news didn’t stop there, and one of NIHL South’s star goalies put in a great effort for Comic Relief during the week.
Can you guess who it is? Email the usual address with your answer and the winner drawn at random will receive a Ryan Giles branded snow globe*
Streatham were one of the teams that looked likely to give Chelmsford and Invicta a scare at the top this season but now find themselves battling with the resurgent Wightlink Raiders for third place.
“With the squad of players that Warren Rost and Terry England assembled on a tight budget, our aim this year was to improve on fifth in the league and hopefully win a trophy” said GM Graham D’Anger in an interview with the South London Press.
“I would say that so far we are on track for where we aimed to be at the start of the season. Having said that, if we hadn’t of lost the odd games that we should have won this season, we would be in a position to challenge for top spot”
“The crowds at the start on the season were a little down on last season but since December the crowds have been on the increase and are moving in the right direction”
One Direction bricking it now Bracknell Hornets are in town
London Raiders are likely to be one of the team’s looking forward most to the Play-Offs after their terrible start to the season was followed by an upsurge in form and fortune.
The man famously banned for storming on to the ice in flip flops last season, namely Ross Wilkinson, has been in penalty trouble again this year and returned to action last weekend in Invicta.
“I couldn’t wait to get back on the ice after my suspension, but obviously the way I play the game I’m going to get suspended here and there” said with the flame haired Welshman in an interview with the Romford Recorder.
“It drove me crazy watching and keeping up to date with the boys playing, but I’m back now and we’re fighting for that play-off spot”
“With Jeremy Cornish and his well-drilled team up next, we know it’s going to be a tough challenge”
“We had a great result against them last month at their barn and we need to take that forward into that game this Sunday”
The senior GB team were announced by IHUK this week, well the 31 name long list at least and there were a few representatives who have graced NIHL South on their way up the ladder. Chelmsford youngster Josh Batch, former Cardiff junior Ben Davies and former Swindon youngster James Griffin all got the call up. Full team list is available HERE
Dada Oravec ready for duty
For any readers thinking the standard of news so far hasn’t quite been up to scratch then the big news out of Invicta Dynamos this week should prove the perfect pick me up.
Go Pro cameras were rumoured to be attached to every referee in the NIHL this year but it never materialised. Thankfully Invicta’s Slovak sniper Michal Oravec found a much better use for one as he attached a camera to his Doberman Dada for some live dog footage.
Any excuse to get a dog reference into this column is always taken advantage of.
Saturday
Chelmsford needed a win in the Big Blue Tent to seal the league title and they did so in style with a 5-1 win in an ill-tempered clash against Cardiff.
The relegation threatened Devils battled hard but succumbed to two goals from Darren Brown and lone efforts from Martin Piecha, Bailey Chittock and Danny Hammond. Magic Man got an assist and a two minute minor penalty for slashing.
Cardiff’s goal came from Owen Bradshaw in the final minute of the game.
Cardiff’s Giovanni Raffaelli and Chelmsford’s Ryan Giles dropped the gloves to add to the occasion.
City Stars clinging on (Paul Foster)
Cardiff’s relegation rivals Oxford City Stars pulled off an impressive 4-4 tie in Bracknell as they came from behind to seal a vital point at the Hive.
Dax Hedges, James Pentecost, Evan Mackintosh and Josh Oliver scored for Oxford, with Bracknell’s efforts coming courtesy of Danny Hughes with a brace and lone goals for Carl Thompson and Valdemar Pelikovsky.
The match was attended by guest of honour Richard Wojciack who served both clubs well during his time as a player and was always an underrated player in the league.
Sunday
Brace for Nicklin (Claire Stanton Photography)
The biggest game of the evening took place in Milton Keynes as the relegation threatened Cardiff Devils travelled to take on the Thunder.
The Thunders form has been the worst in the league recently but they pulled it back round with an impressive 5-0 win.
Josh Nicklin scored two for MK with Jamie Line, Mathias Rugholm and Martyn Snape all netting. Damien King enjoyed a 19 shot shut out and youngster Spencer Caminsky was given the third period and also turned away 11 shots without conceding.
It all kicked off midway through the second period with MK’s Paul Gore, Tom Castle and Nidal Phillips joining Cardiff’s Giacomo Raffaelli, Owen Bradshaw and Chris Hart in the penalty box for roughing.
The result now means that Cardiff’s clash with Oxford next week is now more important than ever for their survival hopes as they trail the Stars by three points.
Streatham Redskins and Invicta Dynamos played out an unexpected thriller in a dead rubber game with the Londoners skating away with a 7-4 win thanks to three late goals.
Scarbrough snipes for Streatham (Rick Webb)
Two goals each for Sean Scarbrough and Steven Fisher added to efforts from Callum Best, Jakub Klima and Joe Johnston to give Streatham the win.
Michal Oravec scored two for the Mo’s with Andy Smith and Anthony Leone also on target.
Streatham’s Jack Tarczycki had two scraps, first dropping the gloves with Juraj Huska and then obliging Harrison Lillis towards the end of the second period.
The only dampener on the action for the big crowd was the failure of the Zamboni to clean up the blood from the ice and then delay matters even further whilst the poor linesmen attempted to scrape it off with a spade.
Bracknell Hornets earned their first win at the Riverside for a long while as they edged out the champions Chelmsford 2-1.
JJ Pitchley and Danny Hughes gave Bracknell the lead before Cameron Bartlett pulled one back in the dying minutes.
Bartlett had earlier dropped the gloves with Josh Martin to add to the occasion.
The resurgent Wightlink Raiders kept up their charge for third place with an impressive 5-1 road win at London Raiders.
Alex Barker scored two for Wightlink with Ryan Webb, Richard Facey and Jaroslav Cesky all on target.
Ricky Deacon scored for London, with team mate Ross Wilkinson also dropping the gloves with Ben Paynter.
Saturday 14th March 2015
Bracknell Hornets 4-4 Oxford City Stars
Cardiff Devils NL 1-5 Chelmsford Chieftains
Sunday 15th March 2015
London Raiders 1-5 Wightlink Raiders
Streatham Redskins 7-4 Invicta Dynamos
MK Thunder 5-0 Cardiff Devils
Chelmsford Chieftains 1-2 Bracknell Hornets
*The Ryan Giles branded snow globe does not exist and this competition is bogus.
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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