LONDON, UK – With the UK’s departure from the EU just a few days away, the Pro Hockey News newsroom was somewhat surprised to receive a notification that the “EIHA” had opened a new office in Brussels.
The Fire re-ignite (James Assinder)
Swirling thoughts of Media Officer Craig Simpson bashing out a press release on the Grand Place while scoffing a waffle, or chairman Ken Taggart slipping a mini blazer on the Manneken Pis were sadly soon popped. Thankfully, the EIHA referenced was in fact the European Industrial Hemp Association and not the English Ice Hockey Association.
The fact the press release was published on the Hemp Today website should have been a giveaway but you never know with these things. Google alerts get the blame!
In any case, the non-Brussels based EIHA had enough on its plate to deal with.
They laid the smack down not once but twice during the week as they published some disciplinary decisions and then fired shots at online keyboard warriors for good measure.
On Friday it was announced that Raiders’ Vilius Krakauskas and MK Thunder’s Antti Kohvakka had received a four and six game bans respectively for on ice misdemeanours.
Then came the broadside on the keyboard warriors although the online incidents were not detailed specifically:
Innocent days of league social media… now gone?
“There have been several incidents over the last few weeks where the language has become unacceptable and is leading to distress. Players must endeavour to be professional, on and off the ice, courteous in their thoughts and comments, and a role model for the sport of ice hockey.”
The vagueness left readers wondering exactly what had gone on. Were there nudes on snapchat? Fracas on Facey? Terrors on Twitter and Tik Tok? Icy atmospheres on Insta?
Would you expect the league’s number 1 media outlet to trawl through the megabytes of online patter that hockey players, fans and officials churn out each day to get to the bottom of the EIHA’s ire? Think again!
In a real statement of intent, title chasers Solent Devils swooped for Bracknell Hornets forward and league merchandise supplier Steven Osman, announcing his signing prior to the weekend fixtures. Long-time observers of the NIHL could rightly see this transfer as a bit of a surprise given the traditional currents of player movements in the NIHL, yet whatever the back story, the signing of Osman appears (on the face of it) to be a real coup for Devils Coach Alex Murray.
Will Murray be wearing branded Devils sweats on his TV interviews before the end of the season? That is the real question.
There were two departures from the Oxford City Stars as import Ryan Widmar and goalie Milan Ronai were announced as leaving the club. On the moves, Head Coach Simon Anderson said:
Muray: “I’ve ordered some sweats, flip flops and a Devils tea towel”
“Unfortunately we can’t maintain three netminders budget wise. Milan has suffered with injury and Ross (Miller) has come in and done a fantastic job.
“Widmar suffered a serious illness last year and has not recovered and has returned home to the US.”
Naturally everyone at PHN wishes Ryan all the best on his recovery.
In other news, the President of the KHL Dmitry Chernyshenko announced that he hopes to add a British franchise to his global brand. Chernyshenko told the PA news agency:
“There are so many rumours (about expansion) like a club coming from United Arab Emirates or a second club from China or from Japan or Great Britain.
“If we find in Great Britain a real sponsor who will support the club, we will be delighted to have the club. It is the most developed sport market in Europe. In the world outside the USA, the most developed sports market is Great Britain.
“To watch the game you should see some relevant stars and so far we don’t have many British players but Great Britain has great potential because you’re an English speaking country and can attract players from Canada and America who can play at a high level and for reasonable money can play with a great team.
“We had two serious potential partners from Great Britain over the last few years but we have not yet found a real solution but we are optimistic.”
If in the unlikely event of a KHL hockey team setting up in the UK transpires, let’s hope it brings with it some of its off the wall social media content. Such as this delightfully random rendition of Back in the USSR by players from Severstal.
Saturday review
In the first game of the weekend, Invicta Dynamos recovered from a first period horror show to beat Cardiff Fire 11-5 in South Wales.
The Mo’s bus legs were on another level and suggested Gregg’s had been heavily raided at Newbury services, as they trailed 4-1 after just twenty minutes.
Gadeke makes it 100 games for Thunder(Lucy McGill)
Thankfully for the travelling fans, four goals from Juraj Huska and a hat trick from Tomas Banovsky set the vistors on the way to their fifth win in as many games. Owen Dell also scored two to add to efforts from Anthony Leone and Ryan Giles. The Mo’s Captain was also first in the shower as he was ejected on a slashing call.
Ruslan Cernych, Jordan Powell, Dr Chris Fox, Josh Haslam and Carter-Jaice Lloyd all netted for the Fire, while Iwan Davies dropped the gloves with Brandon Webster to add to the storyline.
It was point night in Milton Keynes for a rampant Chelmsford side, keen to keep up their title challenge. A painful 13 -3 defeat for the Thunder followed as Ross Brears netted four goals, James Ayling and Grant Bartlett three, Matt Turner two and Tom Wilson, Cam Bartlett, Darren Brown and James Ayling one each.
Thunder scorers were Alex Whyte, Sam Chandler and Iain Peters. Netminder Graham Laverick had a busy night between the pipes facing 60 shots in total.
Budweiser nights in Bracknell! (Hannah Kirsti)
There was one thing to smile about in the home camp as Thunder forward Ryan Gadeke made his 100th appearance for the club.
Solent duo Alex Murray and Drew Campbell both posted their 400th point for the club in another impressive road win, this time at Bracknell Hornets.
Steven Osman didn’t dress in the game, however a brace each from Mark Pitts and Campbell, plus efforts from Mitch Murray, Elliot Lewis, Ben Lock and Richard Facey sealed an 8-2 win on the night.
The Hornets scorers were Callum Best with his first of the season and Matt Foord.
Devils Dan Shier dropped the gloves with Kyle Goddard, and later Calumn Perella-Fox did the same with Carl Graham. You can watch the Perella-Fox v Graham bout here.
Sunday review
The big game of the evening took place at a packed Riverside as Vanya Antonov made his final appearance for league leaders Streatham, in the game against Chelmsford Chieftains.
It was a tale of special teams for much of the game with the scores tied at 2-2 into the final stages, before Antonov gave his team mates the perfect goodbye present with his second of the game. Ryan Watt scored the opener for Streatham with Adam Jakopin and Grant Bartlett on target for the Chieftains.
RedHawks keep rolling
The result was particularly important for the RedHawks who have the toughest run of fixtures of the title contenders this month, including a cup final.
Oxford City Stars turned up at Invicta light on numbers and were punished by the Mo’s who bagged their sixth consecutive win thanks to an 11-2 scoreline.
Tomas Banovsky, Conor Redmond and Anthony Leone all scored two each for the Dynamos with Juraj Huska, Jake Stedman, Elliot Farrell, Luke Thirkettle and Owen Dell also on target.
Oxford’s goals came from Jake Williams and Joey Edwards.
With the Dynamos comfortably ahead, Jake Stedman took the opportunity to spear the Bella Italia advertisement and cause a delay to the game while repairs were made.
Repair work after Stedmans rampage
Was Stedman lashing out after being served a lukewarm carbonara last week or was it a clever ruse to get a mention in Pro Hockey News? If anyone spots Stedman posting on Insta enjoying a complimentary Italian banquet this week then we know the answer.
In the final game of the evening, Cardiff Fire posted a surprising 7-2 road win over Bracknell Hornets at the Hive. The Hornets miserable 2020 continued thanks to a brace from Fire’s Lewis Stevens and lone goals from Jay Warren, Kristians Kasjanovs, Josh Haslam, Reed Sayers and Sam Jones.
Michael Stratford and Chris Cooke replied for the Hornets who travel to Solent next weekend.
The two points takes Cardiff to double figures in points, however they still have to make up a ten point gap on Raiders Juniors if they want to make the Play Offs.
Results
Saturday 25 January 2020
Bracknell Hornets 2-8 Solent Devils
Cardiff Fire 5-11 Invicta Dynamos
Milton Keynes Thunder 3-13 Chelmsford Chieftains
Sunday 26 January 2020
Chelmsford Chieftains 2-3 Streatham IHC
Invicta Dynamos 11-2 Oxford City Stars
Bracknell Hornets 2-7 Cardiff Fire
Contact the author davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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