GILLINGHAM, UK – The Invicta Dynamos 20th anniversary celebration game takes place this coming Sunday with the 2016/17 NIHL South Play-Off winners taking on a legends select side in Kent.
The game rounds off an enjoyable season for players, fans and officials of the Dynamos who will gather together in Gillingham to celebrate two decades of Dynamos hockey.
It was back in 1997 that the Dynamos first took to the ice as they replaced the Medway Bears at the Gillingham Ice Bowl as the competitive league side. They finished top of the league in what was then English Division 1 South ahead of Chelmsford Chieftains and Wightlink Raiders. They would eventually lose in the Play-Offs against the Northern representative, as the big budget Solihull Blaze proved too much.
The wheels were in motion for the following nineteen seasons of trophies, drama and most of all stability – something not to be sniffed at in British hockey. Back in 1997 a young fresh faced defenceman named Kevin Parrish was lacing up the skates, not knowing that almost two decades later he would be Head Coach and the only constant in the team throughout the clubs history.
‘My memories are sketchy as it was a long time ago’ admits the 41 year old, when asked about his Dynamos bow. ‘It was a new organisation with fresh new ideas, new faces and a long term goal to be financially stable. Personally it was a tough year for me breaking into a team with a hell of a lot of talent.’
Hundreds of players have iced in Dynamos colours over their history and the legends squad has five lines at the time of writing with plenty of familiar names signed up.
Fan favourites like the Lennon brothers, Phil Chard, Grant Baxter and Elliott Andrews have signed up, along with former juniors who iced with the team before moving on to bigger things like Dan Scott and Aaron Connolly. The old imports are also involved with Juraj Huska, Alex Shaw and Justin Noble suiting up again in Mo’s colours.
‘It will be great to see everyone again’ said Parrish. ‘It’s been a long time. We’ve had a couple of training sessions now and it’s so good to hear all the old stories and games we remember, the room is buzzing for the game.’
‘Politically it should be a draw, but we all hate to see a draw. I just want a competitive game. Who ends on top, who knows? I think there might be a shock on the cards.’
The game should be a decent spectacle with Dynamos goalie Damien King likely to be already having nightmares about Fife firebrand and former Mo’s stopper Andy Moffat doing his trademark skate to the centre ice for a scrap in legends colours. Fans are also taking bets on old soft paws Kevin Lake going coast to coast and whether Parrish himself will get on the scoresheet.
‘I may get lucky and get one in warm up’ he laughs. ‘I’m sure the goalies will be trying extra hard against me. But if I get one expect a quality celebration*.’
The match is sponsored by DFC Building & Carpentry Ltd – a local firm run by former Dynamo Daniel Fudger that specialises in all aspects of building and carpentry from swinging doors to loft conversions and extensions. For excellent quality, friendly service and a trade you can trust send your enquiries to dan@dfccarpentry.co.uk or visit their Facebook page: clicking here.
Invicta Dynamos Legends squad: Anthony Lennon, Karl Lennon, Kevin Lake, Alex Shaw, AJ Smith, Kevin Parrish, Andy Moffat, Damien Welch, Phil Chard, Tim Smith, Elliot Andrews, Grant Baxter, Justin Noble, Matt Van Der Velden, Peter Korff, Adam Copland, Ryan Giles, Anthony Leone, Stuart Low, Murray Tester, Danny Scott, Peter Carey, Martin Rider, Aaron Connolly and Juraj Huska
Date: Sunday 23rd April 2017
Venue: SilverBlades, Gillingham
Time: Doors open at 4.30pm. Faceoff at 5.15pm.
Price: Adults – £8. Under 16s – £4.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
*Kev didn’t mention any celebration but now we have written this, nothing else than a Kel Land crowd pleaser will suffice.
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