LONDON, UK – In a week where World War 3 was put on hold for the time being, and the British royal family suffered a walkout, British hockey did its best to get its face in the news headlines.
Would you rather… a clapper or a deke? (Lucy McGill)
A couple that enjoyed a lavish historical tax payer funded wedding, plus multi-million pound house refurb before deciding they didn’t fancy the gig after all, takes some shifting from the headlines. However, EIHA referee Richard Belfitt did his utmost to break the diamond encrusted news ceiling in spectacularly British fashion.
Did the stripey rave under the pre-game spotlights before the Peterborough and Telford game, blowing his whistle like a Creamfields attendee? No.
Did he finally snap after years of zebra taunts and lay out a few players with some upper cuts? No.
He was in fact the focus of a rare hockey story on the noted BBC sport website for… wait for it… forgetting his officiating trousers, thus delaying face off by 15 minutes. You can read the full story here.
The afore-mentioned Royal walkout does bear some similarities to the hockey players who lap up the adulation from fans upon signing for a team, attend the pre-season party, get the tracksuit, the top of the range sticks and pick the best team car. Then get to November and think f*ck it, I’m not going to Cardiff on a Sunday night for a late face off, even if it was on the fixture list when I signed the contract. I’ve had my party, got my car, registered some good stats on my CV and I’ve eaten the free Dominos… trade me right now.
Anyway, back to the NIHL….
GB under 18 and Raiders IHC Coach Sean Easton announced the national squad that will compete in World Championship Division II Group against hosts Estonia, along with Korea, Lithuania, Romania and Serbia.
Britton Conference reps in the team are Invicta’s Owen Dell, Raiders Jnr’s pair Ewan Hill and Tommy Huggett and Slough’s Juha Lindgren.
Games will take place at the Tondiraba Ice Hall in Tallinn between 22nd and 28th March. This columnist has played at this impressive multi pad venue and can heartily recommend the offerings in the café to any supporters heading over. Very easy on the wallet and tasty – a perfect combo.
Owen Dell-ighted to be on the news
Young Invicta Dynamos’ starlet Dell celebrated his call up alongside his sister Ava, who was selected in the England under 16 girls team around the same time. The pair were the talk of the Medway Riviera and subsequently made an appearance on the local BBC South East news bulletin.
Reporter Leanne Lawless asked the questions in the piece, blissfully unaware that a hockey training session can see pucks fly in all directions. She braved the ice to do the interviews in a blue jacket and no helmet – presumably checking that Dynamos Captain Ryan Giles wasn’t practicing his wild slapshots at the time.
One kid who may be working for the BBC in the future is ‘Miles’ who has started doing some very sweet post-match interviews on YouTube with MK Thunder players. The latest took place after the Thunder picked up their first point of the season against Oxford City Stars and featured netminder Graham Laverick.
“Would you rather.. with Miles”
Miles throws in a number of “would you rather” questions that give Laverick plenty to ponder, including whether he’d rather be invisible or able to fly – Laverick chose to be invisible. Any parent with inquisitive children will be familiar with the curveballs kids give you, so give it a watch and enjoy.
Streatham’s Ryan Watt gave an interview with the South London Press in which he referred to team mate Brandon Miles as “Big Brando” and thanked him for giving the team the spark they needed to beat Solent Devils last week.
Highlights of the game, minus “Big Brando’s” tilt with Mitch Murray can be viewed here.
Streatham also announced that Finn Johnathan Wallius had been released, making the RedHawks one of the few teams in the league with only British trained players on the roster.
Saturday review
Cardiff Fire gave out free clap banners ahead of their game against Oxford City Stars at the Viola Arena. The noise did the trick for the Welsh side as they stunned the visitors with a 4-2 win on the night.
Cudd and Sayers say FOUR POINT WEEKEND!
A brace from Reed Sayers and solo goals for Iwan Davies and Jay Warren bagged the points for Cardiff, with Matt Lawday and Josh Oliver on target for Oxford.
Fire Coach Mark Cuddihy hailed the clap banners (and his team) as the difference in a post-match interview alongside two goal hero Sayers that you can see here.
Invicta fans hoping for better times in the second half of the season were warmed by an impressive 5-1 win by the Mo’s in their game at Slough Jets.
Imports Tomas Banovsky and Juraj Huska iced in the same game for the first time with both on the scoresheet alongside TV star Owen Dell, Tom Davis and Elliot Farrell.
Sam Talbot got the consolation for Slough who were outshot by the Mo’s for the first time this season.
Streatham forward Ben Paynter continued his recent scoring streak with a hat trick in the RedHawks 7-3 road win at Bracknell Hornets. Paynter has now scored the same amount of league goals (13) this season, as in the three previous campaigns combined.
Brandon Miles, Adam Carr, Ryan Watt and Danny Ingoldsby got the other goals for the RedHawks with Connor Hutchison, David Millner and Steven Osman getting the goals for Bracknell.
Streatham youngster Conner Smith was ejected on a third man in call midway through the game, made more the surprising as he had not had a single penalty minute all season prior.
Streatham fans salute their team (Fusional)
Solent Devils bounced back from a disappointing weekend last time out, with a thumping 6-0 win over MK Thunder. The Devils recently signed former Haringey, Bracknell, MK, Invicta and Streatham stopper David Wride but he didn’t feature, and it was number 1 Chico Cole who secured a 17 shot shut out.
The evergreen Drew Campbell bagged a hat trick for the Devils, to add to goals from Richard Facey, Alex Trendall and Dan Shier – with his first goal of the season.
Sunday review
Cardiff celebrated their first four point weekend of the season as they beat MK Thunder 5-2 at the Thunderdome. Fire’s Reed Sayers capped off a solid personal weekend with a brace to add to goals from Kristians Kasjanovs, Josh Haslam and Jay Warren (who was later kicked out on a 3rd man in call). For the Thunder it was Ryan Gadeke who bagged both goals.
Tomas Banovsky gave a statement of intent for the Invicta Dynamos as he fired in four goals in an 8-4 win for the hosts against the visiting Raiders Jr. Elliot Farrell, Owen Dell, Anthony Leone and Tom Davis scored the remainder of goals for the Mo’s who capped off a much needed four point weekend in style.
December league player of the month Jan Marcilis scored for the Raiders along with Matt Brown, Sam Roberts and Sam Austin.
Dynamos make it 4 points (David Trevallion)
League leaders Streatham also secured a four point weekend thanks to a hard fought 6-3 win over a plucky Slough side.
The Jets managed to keep pace with the Londoners until late goals finished them off. Ryan Watt scored two for the RedHawks to add to efforts from Ziggy Beesley, Danny Ingoldsby, Rhys McCormick and Vanya Antonov.
Interestingly former Streatham trio Bradley Hildreth (juniors), Stewart Tait and Dan Rose all scored for Slough against their old club.
Chelmsford Chieftains made it a weekend to forget for the Oxford City Stars as they skated away from Oxpens road with an impressive 7-2 win.
Darren Brown bagged a hat trick for the Essex side adding to a brace from Grant Bartlett and lone goals from Ross Brears and James Ayling. For Oxford Josh Oliver scored both goals.
Fists flew later in the game as Elliot Dervish and Dax Hedges dropped the gloves to add to the storyline.
The results leave Streatham top of the table ahead of Solent and Chelmsford, while at the bottom, Cardiff still have to pull back a ten point gap on Raiders Jr to make the playoffs.
Results
Saturday 11 January
Bracknell Hornets 3-7 Streatham IHC
Slough Jets 1-5 Invicta Dynamos
Solent Devils 6-0 MK Thunder
Cardiff Fire 4-2 Oxford City Stars
Sunday 12 January
Streatham IHC 6-3 Slough Jets
Invicta Dynamos 8-4 Raiders Junior
Oxford City Stars 2-7 Chelmsford Chieftains
MK Thunder 2-5 Cardiff Fire
Contact the author: davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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