GILLINGHAM, UK – With a new head coach, rebranded logo and a major squad reshuffle over the summer, hopes are high on the Medway Riviera that the Invicta Dynamos can bounce back to prominence this season.
Dynamos ready to roll
On the back of two disappointing campaigns, albeit against a higher standard of opposition, there is quiet optimism that the foundations are now in place to challenge in the revamped Britton Conference.
Long-time coach and figurehead Kevin Parrish has moved upstairs as team owner alongside wife Sarah, with experienced forward Anthony Leone taking charge of on-ice matters as Player Coach.
The 36 year old moved quickly to add firepower to a team whose top goal scorer last year lit the lamp just seven times. New arrivals Slovak duo Juraj Huska and Filip Sedivy fired in 33 goals between them at a higher level last year and appear to be key signings to address the shortcomings in last year’s squad.
Leone’s other high profile move has been to hand the captaincy to blue liner Ryan Giles, an experienced head who is a local boy with a strong knowledge of the league following spells at Romford, Chelmsford and Streatham in recent years. Giles is well placed to comment on his old team mate’s prospects in the hot seat and believes Leone has what it takes to bring back the good times to Gillingham.
“Leone is one of those guys who was born a leader” explains the 29 year old.
“He’s been a great team mate and captain that will also be a great coach. He’s got all the tools to succeed in the role. He’s passionate, hardworking, leads by example and sets his expectations high from his players. He expects full commitment from every guy on the team as well as the right attitude and work ethic, these are absolutely non-negotiable.
“I know he’ll be a tough coach and will drive an ethos of success. I’m here because he is, so that says a lot about my respect for him and his reputation.”
Leone tipped for success (David Trevallion)
Giles has worn the ‘A’ and the ‘C’ at times for a number of clubs but this will be the first time he skates out with a ‘C’ on his jersey full-time. In truth, it’s a role he should be well suited to, sharing a passion for the club and also with more experience than the vast majority of the Mo’s youthful looking squad totalling an average age of 24 years.
“I’m lucky that the club has had some great captains over the years, many of whom are my friends” admits Giles, who first appeared for the Mo’s as a teenager in 2006.
“I’ve spoken to the likes of Kev Lake, Grant Baxter and Karl Lennon – who were all great captains. Not forgetting the coach, who was captain last year. They’ve all given me their advice and their backing, which is great.
“I watched the Dynamos as a kid and came through the junior system, so it’s literally a childhood dream for me to captain the Dynamos.
“I think every captain is different and I’ll make the role my own, however the one common theme I’ve valued from other captains is taking the overall responsibility to galvanise the team and make sure we are a close unit – as this leads to success.
“Being a captain is about leading the team by example and getting the most out of every player. I’ll use my experience help the team perform as a unit while helping the younger guys develop to be the best they can be. I’ll speak up, offer advice and make sure everyone is pulling in the right direction.”
Aside from the aforementioned Huska and Sedivy, Leone has had a busy summer bringing in no less than twelve new faces, while losing nine in the process. Departed long-time star defenseman Ondrej Zosiak will be big skates to fill, as will the experience of blue liners Andy Munroe and Matt Foord, who racked up a lot of minutes last year. First choice netminder Conor Morris also left the team to be replaced by former stopper John Dibble from Oxford City Stars.
The quality is in the ranks to challenge any team on any given night, giving Mo’s fans hope that it will be an enjoyable campaign.
“We have the right mix of experience and youth while also having a good contingent of local players” says Maidstone native Giles.
“We have three goalies who are solid competitors that will help us compete. We have a healthy squad of players that has depth, so we will be able to roll our forward and defence lines. We will be fit, hardworking and will battle every week. This is a well-balanced team that has everything we need to succeed.
“The aim is to compete every single week and see where that takes us. We have a squad who are capable of winning games and competing is what will be a competitive and entertaining league.”
“We have started to link up with the juniors and the Mustangs (NIHL 2 team) more in order to help develop our young local players. We’ve attended junior trials and committed to develop the top performers in the U18 team by having players train with us.
“We also have Owen Rider and Kieran Jones on two-ways with the U18 A team, so they will be with the team whenever they don’t have a junior game. It’s really about thinking long term to make sure this club is successful as it can be in 2,5 and 10 years – as well as now.”
Success on the ice should, in theory lead to success off it, and the club have made strides over the summer to cast away the gloom of the last two years by rebranding the team. A new logo, jersey and a catchy “Dark horse dynasty” theme – that could be a blend of 80’s TV favourites Black Beauty and Dynasty but sadly for fans of both, isn’t, has brought a new energy to the club and attempted to draw a line in the sand on the recent past.
It was warmly received by fans, club officials and players at a recent meet the players BBQ and the new captain believes the timing is crucial.
Dark horse by Katy Perry? I don’t know the words
“The re-branding is great” continues Giles.
“I think the club have done a top job. We’ve got new owners and a new coach – these are both huge changes for the club as these roles haven’t changed for the last 15 years.
“Sometimes change is good, that isn’t a reflection on anyone personally but things can stagnate without new ideas. Kev and Sarah are working really hard as the new owners and the re-brand makes the club their own.
“The club has had a dodgy couple of years, so it is the right time for change and the re-brand fits this well. It genuinely is a ‘new era’ for the club. It’s a statement that the club needs to be back where it should be, competing at the top.
No analysis of the Dynamos future is complete without reference to the new owners and it came as somewhat of a surprise earlier this year when long time custodians Jackie and Andy Mason announced they’d be stepping down after decades of service.
As a long-time coach of the team, Kev Parrish saw unrivalled success on the Mo’s bench during the 2000’s and it’s only natural to assume there may be a temptation to get back involved in the coaching side, despite the onerous responsibilities and workload of ownership he now has. For his part, Giles believes that the current set up stands to give the team every chance of success.
“With Parrish moving upstairs it’s a big culture change for everyone at the club – but one that is working well so far” he explains.
“I love that everyone cares about the club and is working together. Kev and Sarah know the club inside out and also understand exactly what is like to be the head coach. They have given Leone free reign in regards to the team, which is important. I trust the owners and the coach, so working together and all moving in the same direction – we’ll have a good season.”
Invicta take to the ice this weekend with a challenge game against Slough Jets, with everyone connected with the team hoping that dark horse dynasty is ready to gallop to good times again.
Contact the author: davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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