Chieftains mid-season report

CHELMSFORD,U.K- The season is over half way through now and it’s definitely a case of “It’s ours to lose” for the Chelmsford Chieftains in the ENL2 (South). So far the club have yet to lose a league game and have only lost three ENL cup games. The only points they have dropped in the league was a draw against the Invicta Mustangs back in September. Since then the Chieftains have won every game, by a minimum of three goals and a maximum of seventeen which came in a bizarre game against Basingstoke Buffalo when local rec player Dave Abbott went in goal for the Buffalo to allow the game to go ahead. Top scorers Jaroslaw Pavlus and Danny Hammond both have around 70 points in just 24 games. It’s not all about the big stars though with rising junior stars James Ayling, Ross Brears, Tom Foskett and Kane Bartlett all getting in amongst the points. The online “Predict-a-score” competition is usually a case of ‘by how many’ rather than ‘who will win’. At present the Chieftains are three points clear of second placed Mustangs with seven games in hand over the Kent side. The reason the Chieftains have so many games in hand is due to their participation on the ENL cup, in which they finished second in the southern group behind the Mustangs’ senior side the Dynamos.
The mathematicians at the club are already working out where and when the club can be crowned champions and its looking like it will be early-mid February when the Chieftains will pick up their first piece of silverware since the treble-winning season back in 1999-2000. It is possible after this weekends games that the Chieftains can guarantee at least finishing above their local and bitter rivals the Romford Spitfires.
Not only is the senior Chieftains team doing well, but the junior teams are a major success story too. The under-10s are top of the table with three out of three wins. Moving up an age group, the Under-12a side are fourth with seven wins and three defeats, while the under-12b are sixth with one win and four losses. The Under-14s are fourth in their league. The under-16s though are shining through by being joint top of the Under-16a league with a game in hand over the team they are joint with. In the Under-16b league it’s a mixed bag of results with three wins and three defeats. Finally the Under-18s are third with three wins, one draw and four defeats. Things are looking up for the future of ice hockey in Chelmsford now that everyone is pulling together in the same direction.
Some of this success comes down to the coaching of the teams and the senior team is coached by experienced Scotsman Dean Birrell while the junior coaching is headed up by Chieftains defenseman Sean Easton. I asked Easton what he thought of the season so far.
“I am enjoying coaching the U-16s this season, especially as we are undefeated like the Chieftains, and are sitting pretty in the table, It’s the first time for me and a lot of the players to be in this position so it’s a nice feeling,” Easton said  “There is an amazing team spirit within the team and it shows a good sign of maturity of how they conduct themselves and their attitudes to the games and season, with regards to the Chieftains its no surprise we are where we are. We signed a team for division one hockey and were then placed in division two. We didn’t want to be there, but we are and we are making sure the title is ours.” Easton said 
Easton also commented on how he and Birrell have worked together on a lot of ideas and tactics for the teams.
“Deano and I have always nicked ideas from each other about coaching, which is inevitable having travelled to Streatham and back together for two years, as well as running a hockey school together,” Easton said  “Some of my ideas are not suitable for the seniors, same as some of his are not suitable for the younger players, but where we can we definitely swap ideas and if we don’t we nick them anyway.” Easton said with a grin.
Easton has struggled a bit on the ice this season, never quite hitting top form and some fans are beginning to voice concerns over his future. Easton had this to say in response
“Every player goes on the ice to entertain, we would all love to play a perfect game but it doesn’t happen, we never go out to intentionally make mistakes and reading about them and hearing fans making comments does hurt and I do take it personally, perhaps too personally at times,” Easton said  “It has knocked my confidence and this season I have had times where I knew my game was picking up, yet certain fans never saw that and tried to pick holes in whatever I did, I could play it safe every game and always clear the zone or ice the puck, but that isn’t my nature. I try to make the pass out of defence to my forwards as they are not going to score goals unless they have the puck,” Easton said  “Players could have an outstanding game, but if one or two mistakes lead to goals then the fans will always remember those bits and not the good moments of the game. It’s harder at home games as a lot of the crowd are parents of players I coach and the players themselves and they are my biggest critique, I feel I have to live up to my reputation and every bad moment is relived for weeks after.” Easton said  “When I then try and tell them not to do something in training, some turn around say ‘Well, you did against so and so!’ so it becomes more of ‘Do as I say, not as I do’. I always feel like I have to go out and give that something extra to impress the fans as no matter what some players do, it’s never good enough,” Easton said  “When I was at Streatham I wasn’t coaching their juniors so I was able to relax a bit more and that’s why I played my best hockey in years there.”
Birrell also came to the defence of his defenceman. “Sean is playing some good hockey this year, but the fans always remember and notice the mistakes, never the simple pass or the direct shot that causes a rebound goal etc. Sean has broad shoulders and will take the criticism, but there is always a breaking point,” Birrell said  “I am happy to have him around and don’t feel he deserves anywhere near the criticism he gets. What is also good about the guy is that he is bringing on the juniors and you can see that they are doing very well under his leadership and guidance and that can only be good for the future in Chelmsford.” Contact the author at Pete.lewis@prohockeynews.com