LONDON, UK – The Britton Conference continues to take shape as the contenders and also-rans maintain their form.
PHN coverage of the league took a break again last week but thankfully the EIHA had it covered, albeit without the in-jokes, photos and snide comments you all enjoy on here. Last weekend’s action is rounded up here.
So what else has happened since we last published? Well…
In Streatham, Vanya Antonov won league player of the month after a number of eye catching performances for the RedHawks, and also Bracknell in the league above.
Interestingly (or not depending on your threshold for supplementary information) he still wears his red Streatham helmet when playing for the black helmeted Bees, and stands out like a Tour de France leader, or the kid who eventually purchased the shiny gold Jofa helmet from Skate Attack back in the early 2000s.
The helmet that sat in the window for at least 3 years and was pushed upon anyone who walked through the door. “Need a helmet?” Nope… “Well that gold one over there is available at a great price.” I said nope… “You can wear it for anything; hockey, aggressive rollerblading, construction or anything really, please buy it.”
In Slough, a crowdfunder for star forward Sean Norris raised funds after a concussion he suffered against Oxford. This followed him winning league player of the month for September and is a real shame given the start he had made to the campaign. Sadly we are unable to locate the link currently.
Eyebrows were raised by Invicta as they lured Mark Williams out of retirement at the ripe old age of 42. Willy was and is a highly respected player and as tough as they come so a welcome addition to the Mo’s and the league.
“I’m already enjoying being back with the club and I’m looking forward to helping where I can” he said on his announcement.
“I’m hoping to be a positive influence on the younger guys in the team and assist them with their development. There’s plenty of potential on this roster and I’d like to help Player-Coach Leone in nurturing that.”
High flying Solent Devils got in on the signing action too, as they picked up Billingham utility player Scott Cooper after he switched from parmos to Portsmouth.
“Scott is a great lad who comes with really positive recommendation from coaches from the north” said Devils head coach, Alex Murray.
Blue Cooke
“The move south for Scott has happened at a great time for us, as we are light on players, so this signing will booster our small squad.”
Bracknell Hornets chiselled blueliner Chris Cooke had the arnica cream out, after he blocked a one timer from Oxford’s Joey Edwards and turned his arm blue as a result. Keep your bruises coming to the address below.
Other news included the departure of Chelmsford’s John Connolly and Will Polston who both decided to take a break for the rest of the season or retired – we will wait to see on that front.
Finally, Cardiff Fire got their first win of the season after a 3-2 win over MK Thunder. Fire Coach Mark Cuddihy had stated before the game last weekend that it was a must win game and his team did the business. Congratulations to the Fire and hopefully the Thunder notch their first win soon.
Saturday review
Silence fell before all NIHL games in respect of Remembrance Day, but once the puck dropped the atmosphere was far from peaceful.
In Solent, the unbeaten Devils edged out Oxford City Stars 5-4 to continue their unbeaten streak. The Devils had won at Invicta for the first time ever the week prior but almost slipped up on home ice.
Mitch Murray and Ralfs Circenis bagged a brace each for the Devils, with Richard Facey also on target to seal the points. For the Stars it was Josh Oliver, Josh Florey and Olly Shone with the goals.
Murray and Oliver also dropped the gloves, as did Circenis and David Manning later in the game.
Devils Head Coach Alex Murray (image above) gave a positive post-game interview that began with the interviewer possibly clearing the airwaves after a hot dog from the café.
The game of the night on paper was in South London as the unbeaten Streatham IHC hosted old rivals Invicta for league points.
In somewhat of a surprise score line the RedHawks steamrollered the Mo’s 13-3 in what is the biggest win Streatham have posted over their rivals – and a role reversal of some games in the mid/late 2000’s.
Hat tricks from Scott Bailey and Adam Carr, plus a brace from Adam Wood and goals from Rupe Quiney, Rhys McCormick, Ziggy Beesley, Brandon Miles and Jonathan Wallius kept the home crowd smiling throughout. Juraj Huska, Brandon Webster and Owen Dell notched for the Mo’s.
Ben Paynter and Ryan Giles dropped the gloves to the delight of the big crowd and adding to the storyline.
There was more wind milling in Essex than Zaanse Schans as Chelmsford beat Cardiff 8-3 in another bad tempered encounter.
Bartlett on fire (David Trevallion)
The Chieftains goals came via a Ross Brears hat trick and lone goals for Grant Bartlett, TJ Fillery, Courtney Grant, Andrew Munroe and James Ayling. For Cardiff Dr Chris Fox bagged two, to add to a second goal of the season for Cameron Basnett.
Fists flew as Darren Brown and Fire Captain Elis Sheppard traded blows and later the Bartlett brothers tangled with Cedric Racine and Sheppard again.
Fire’s Sam Bryant and the Chieftains Brown both were sent for an early shower for separate incidents.
Bracknell Hornets beat Raiders Junior 8-4 on home ice in a game marred by an injury to the visitors Ewan Hill. The youngster was taken to hospital then later discharged but not before his kit was cut up by the paramedics to assess his injury.
A brace each for David Millner and Tamas Elias added to lone goals Matt Foord, Connor Hutchinson, Bailey Hind-Pitcher and Steve Osman to seal the win for Mark Saunders’ men. Raiders were missing the influential Alan Lack again for the game and their scorers were Jan Macilis with two goals and one each for Sam Roberts and Donald Campbell.
Ben Ealey-Newman and Sam Austin dropped the gloves, and Hornet’s blueliner Carl Graham was ejected on a late hitting call.
Sunday review
Invicta managed to avoid a heavy defeat on home ice in their second game of the weekend against Streatham. The Cup game ended 5-1 in favour of the Londoners with Michael Farn, Adam Carr, Danny Ingoldsby, Scott Bailey and Adam Wood on target. The Dynamos consolation came courtesy of Owen Dell.
To add to the drama, Jordan Gregory dropped the gloves with Brandon Webster in a bout you can see here.
The secret Rollover revealed by Vanya
Chelmsford avoided a yellow Oxford shaped banana skin as they skated away with an 8-4 win from Oxpens road. Five goal hero Grant Bartlett grabbed the headlines for the Chieftains who also notched through TJ Fillery, Cameron Bartlett and Matt Turner.
For the Stars Josh Oliver, Joe Edwards, Darren Elliott and Mike Whillock scored their goals.
The night got worse for Simon Anderson’s men when David Manning earned a match penalty on a high sticking call and will be suspended as a result.
A Sam Talbot hat trick helped Slough Jets beat Raiders Junior 8-2 in Essex. Lukas Smital’s team earned the two points thanks to further goals from Harry Hatfield, Lewis English, Juha Lindgren, Dan Rose and Ryan Handisides.
For the Raiders Jan Marcilis made it a four goal weekend with two more to his name. Before the game a collection was made and over £200 raised to help Ewan Hill replace the kit the NHS snipped to smithereens the night prior.
Fire score (James Assinder)
Bracknell Hornets made it a four point weekend as they dispatched Cardiff 7-3 in South Wales.
A Ben Ealey-Newman hat trick did the bulk of the damage added to efforts from Matt Foord, Tamas Elias, David Millner and Bailey Hind-Pitcher. For Cardiff Kristians Kasjanovs scored two and Lewis Stevens got one.
Connor Hutchison and Iwan Davies dropped the gloves to sign off a pretty aggressive weekend all-round for the Britton Conference.
The results leave Streatham top of the league with Solent and Chelmsford breathing heavily down their necks in the title race.
Results
Saturday 9 November
Solent Devils 5-4 Oxford City Stars
Streatham IHC 13-3 Invicta Dynamos
Chelmsford Chieftains 8-3 Cardiff Fire
Bracknell Hornets 8-4 Raiders Junior
Sunday 10 November
Oxford City Stars 4-8 Chelmsford Chieftains
Cardiff Fire 3-7 Bracknell Hornets
Raiders Junior 2-8 Slough Jets
Invicta Dynamos 1-5 Streatham IHC
Contact the author: davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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