LONDON, UK – After an opening weekend of hockey that only featured one league game, many NIHL fans were probably expecting a quiet news week as the other teams prepared to open their season. However anyone who has watched this league for more than a few months will know that this league rarely does ‘quiet’.
Hockey night in London
Out of all the coaches in the league, Invicta supremo Kevin Parrish always seems to get the roughest ride when it comes to signing imports. But in a week where he celebrated his 40th birthday, old KP had the luxury of watching another team pick up the pieces of a last minute U-turn.
Oxford’s new American signing Andrew Bates flew in to the UK last week to a small fanfare, only to attend a team BBQ and then quit the team before their pre-season friendly against Haringey.
Did they use Tesco economy sausages? Did the beer taste off? Or was Bates left alone with Stars defenceman Andy Cox for too long and got quickly bored by his long winded description of the assist he once got for Edinburgh Capitals in the Elite League?
Bates official explanation of his quick turnaround was published on the 482 days website soon after his release was announced:
“I want to be playing and practising more than what Oxford could offer me unfortunately. The team now has only one practice a week and felt I would have been playing more of a hobby than a professional environment”
Crimes against fashion by Mr Fusco at Lee Valley
If KP was allowing himself a knowing smile after that news, he was probably opening up a bottle of Moet soon after, when Hull Pirates of the EPL announced that Mason Webster and Arran Strawson were leaving the team.
Webster was quickly announced as returning to London Raiders, however former Mo’s favourite Strawson must surely be on his way back to Kent and if he does indeed return then that will go a long way to plugging some experience onto their blueline.
The consolation for both players is that they will not have to wear a hideous Pirates jersey that is close to being the worst looking attire since the Dumfries Border Vikings skated off into their hockey graveyard.
Bracknell Hornets wasted no time in putting together an official team photo shoot, thanks to Pro Hockey News expert photographer Kevin Slyfield.
Most NIHL teams tend to wait a while before organising these things but credit to the Hornets for getting this vital promotional imagery early on.
Some of the players wore gloves in their profile pics, whilst others posed like WWE wrestlers from the early 90’s with bare fists dangling below.
Fojtik ready for a Royal Rumble
Player Coach Danny Hughes opted for the none glove option despite usually rocking a very snazzy pair of black and yellow Pallas efforts. A brand that most hockey players recognise as quite legendary.. well those over thirty anyway.
If Mr Bates found Oxford’s BBQ not to his taste, then god knows what he would have made of Cardiff’s Man v Food challenge evening at their sponsored restaurant Shooters.
Some Devils players faced challenges such as ‘Wings of Fire’ covered in ‘pyscho sauce’, and the ‘Skyscraper’ which was eight burgers: 2 lamb, 2 beef, 2 veggie, 2 chicken served with 3 portions of chips and 15 onion rings.
19 year old forward Giacomo Raffaelli stepped up to the Skyscraper plate (literally) for the team and probably spent the rest of the evening and following two days recovering.
There was no danger of Raffaelli flying to the States after his ordeal, but he may have considered a week long break of colonic irrigation and fruit juice in a Thai health farm – following in the footsteps of Jack Osbourne.
Devil v Skyscraper
Streatham replaced the departed Robbie Brown with 24 year old Czech forward Kamil Kinkor.
Kinkor played junior with former Redskins favourite Jakub Klima and spent last season in Serbia with Beostar Belgrade, where he finished as top scorer and played in the preliminary rounds of the IIHF Continental Cup.
More good news in South London transpired as Streatham managed to take over a large window in the Wandsworth Oasis shop in Tooting Bec. Sadly for the ladies (and gents) it did not feature mannequins based on the players but it did look reasonably impressive none the less.
Shop till you drop Streatham style
One final note of news was the retirement of long term MK Thunder defender Sam Fairhurst. Sam has been a real stalwart for the team through thick and thin showing an unbelievable commitment to the cause over the years.
13 consecutive seasons, and 291 appearances tell you all you need to know about Sam and his contribution to Thunder history.
All here at Pro Hockey News wish him well in whatever he chooses to do in future.
Saturday’s Hockey
Oxford City Stars travelled down to the Isle of Wight in confident mood, to take on a Wightlink Raiders side quietly fancied for success this season.
The Raiders took two points with a 7-2 win in front of a reasonably healthy crowd. Player Coach Jeremy Cornish led from the front with two goals, whilst new signing Alex Sampford also scored two. Raiders other goals came from Craig Tribe, Danny Ingoldsby and Corey Watkins.
Oxford’s goals came from highly rated youngster Ben Ealey-Newman, but the night was a one to forget as goalie Shannon Long was ejected with seven minutes left, after disputing a Blaine Evans call.
Top cheese Line (Kev Slyfield)
The issue allegedly arose as Evans raised his arm, prompting Long to believe a delayed penalty had been called. The goalie then left his goal for the extra skater and Wightlink scored.
Games between London Raiders and Streatham Redskins are rarely dull, yet the first two periods of the season opener were largely forgettable ending at 1-1. The crowd got their monies worth in the final period however as eight goals flew in, with Streatham winning 7-4.
Former Raider Joe Allen scored two with Joe Johnston, Liam Rasmussen, Ryan Giles, Steven Fisher and youngster Daniel Clayton also on target with one each. For London it was Frankie Harvey, Liam Chong and teenager Sebastian Downing with the goals.
For both Clayton and Downing it was their first senior goals for their respective clubs and they celebrated with suitable elation. On the downside for the Raiders this meant two less pucks for the club!
The police were called after the game, not for the first time in East London, but this time rather than the Met it was the fashion police who charged linesman Emilio Fusco with ‘Grievous Bodily Clobber’. Sympathy has to go to referee Tim Pickett who had to drive to the game with Fusco dressed like an extra from a west end show.
First puck for Clayton
The last game of the evening took place between two teams who were evenly matched last season, but MK Thunder showed just how much they have improved with a convincing 6-0 road win at Bracknell Hornets.
The speedy Jamie Line notched a hat trick for the Thunder to add to goals from Josh Nicklin, Ross Bowers and Tom Mboya. Last season’s All-Star goalie Damien King showed that the summer break did him no harm as he enjoyed a shut out.
In true NIHL fashion, Line was suitably rewarded with a crate of Denmark’s finest ale.
Sunday’s Hockey
Oxford City Stars and London Raiders looked to bounce back from the previous evening’s defeats as they faced each other at Oxpens Road. It was an exciting clash that was tied at 7-7 with seven minutes to go before Tom Avery popped up with a late winner to seal the points for Oxford.
Stars other scorers were Ben Ealey-Newman and Darren Elliott with a brace each and lone goals from Mike Whillock, Josh Florey and Josh Oliver.
Oxford get through tough test (Paul Foster)
Sebastian Downing and Liam Chong scored two each for London, with Michal Oravec and Marek Nahlik also on target.
The game exploded into life at the end of the first as London’s Mason Webster and Oxford’s Steven Osman were ejected on third man in calls after Nahlik and Shane Moore had originally clashed.
Streatham and Bracknell faced off in South London in front of a decent crowd, and played out an entertaining game that was edged by the Londoners 5-3.
It was a goalie masterclass from Streatham’s David Wride and Bracknell’s Danny Milton as both stoppers played a blinder and deservedly each won man of the match.
Johnston on target
Streatham scorers were Steven Fisher with two and Chris Wiggins, Joe Johnston and Evander Grinnell with the others. Bracknell’s goals came thanks to a hat trick from Danny Hughes.
Only one team could celebrate a four point weekend on Monday morning as MK Thunder and Wightlink Raiders looked to build on the previous evening’s success.
MK must have been confident of grabbing two points on home ice as they led 3-1 after 23 minutes, but Wightlink fought back to win 4-3 thanks to a game winning goal from Craig Tribe.
Wightlink’s other scorers were Jordan Gregory, Ryan Webb and Alex Sampford. Thunder goals came courtesy of a brace from Harrison Goode and a lone goal from Ross Bowers.
Cardiff may have faced a tough task in Shooters Bar and Grill during the week, but the trip to Gosport proved slightly more enjoyable as they skated off with a hard earned point against Solent Devils.
Last minute glory for Cardiff (Tom Barnett Photo)
Mitchell Murray, Richard Facey and Dominik Hegyi had put Solent in the driving seat, however goals from Thomas Stuart-Dant, Kieran Latchford and a last minute effort from Owen Bradshaw gave Cardiff fans something to cheer about with a 3-3 tie.
Bristol Pitbulls showed good grace to travel all the way to Chelmsford for a pre-season challenge game in the final game of the evening.
The home side showed little mercy to their lower league opponents by thrashing them 14-1 at the Riverside.
Danny Hammond hit a hat trick for the Chieftains, Darren Brown scored two and there were lone goals for Matt Turner, Ross BrearsJake Sylvester, Julian Smith, Grant Bartlett and Cameron Bartlett. Bristol’s consolation came from Zac Dolphin.
So after two weekends it is Wightlink Raiders at the top of the table, and next weekend we get to see Invicta Dynamos for the first time this season, and of course a competitive start for Chelmsford Chieftains.
Results
Saturday 12th September 2015
London Raiders 4-7 Streatham Redskins
Bracknell Hornets 0-6 MK Thunder
Wightlink Raiders 7-2 Oxford City Stars
Sunday 13th September 2015
Oxford City Stars 8-7 London Raiders
MK Thunder 3-4 Wightlink Raiders
Streatham Redskins 5-3 Bracknell Hornets
Solent Devils 3-3 Cardiff Devils
Chelmsford Chieftains 14-1 Bristol Pitbulls (Challenge)
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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