Goals, ghosts and missing Hooters

LONDON, UK – As the NIHL South entered October things began to get a little spooky in the countdown to Halloween.

Cats bag a four point weekend (Nicky Pearce)

The EIHA loaded up their news cannon and fired announcements out at a rate of knots during the week. First up was the news that Coventry would host a finals weekend in early April. The ‘Final Four’ weekend will pit the finalists from the Play-Offs in the South and North against each other for a winner takes all trophy. The quirk being that a team could win the Play-Off final in their region, yet not make the overall Play-Off final.

Coventry has long been the venue of the EPL Play-Offs and geographically is a wise choice in the Midlands. The town, famous for its handily located Wetherspoons and transport museum will no doubt throw down the red carpet for both media, fans and players alike. The countdown is on, and Pro Hockey News is open to offers from all Coventry hotels with a CV1 postcode and minimum 4 star TripAdvisor review rating.

The governing body then followed this up with news that a new Player of the Month award would be starting in all NIHL conferences and then published a disciplinary report (minus the hammer graphic). Missing was the sanction for the unsavoury event that transpired during the game between Telford Tigers and Swindon Wildcats last weekend. It’s probably best just to link to the press reports rather than discuss any further on here – something partisan hockey fans could learn a lesson from on social media. Everyone at Pro Hockey News wishes Toms Rutkis all the best in his recovery after surgery.

Streatham unveil their new signing at Thorpe Park

On a lighter note, Streatham’s players made a midweek trip to Thorpe Park for the annual Fright Night. Coach Jeremy Cornish has been in the market to boost his squad however the new boy looks a little old and a bit small for the new-look NIHL. In other South London news, goalie Matt Colclough gave an interview about the season so far and the club announced that they will be using Pride Tape in their game against MK Thunder on the 8^th October.

Not content with his appearances around town (as reported last week), Swindon Wildcats forward Luc Johnson took over the airwaves of Swindon 105.5 FM with Sam Zajac, Sam Bullas and Aaron Nell. The four played ‘Cool for Cats’, ‘Wild Thing’ and ‘Everyday is like Sunday’ in a medley of poignant tunes all linked to Swindon.

Later that week, Zajac was handed a new Volkswagen by Arval UK, and was allegedly given instructions never to drive over the town’s magic roundabout, or take it home to cruise along Whitley Bay seafront at Christmas. Both are deemed as high risk activities.

Zajacs new wheels

Rumours that Chris Wiggins will be signing for Basingstoke Bison refuse to go away with the former EPL enforcer continuing his ever present spot on the first page of The Hockey Forum despite having not played for almost a year. ‘Wiggins Watch’ last spotted the man himself speeding down the A3 on his new Suzuki bike just past the golf shop near Guildford.

Talking of the Bison, they asked their supporters to help design their Christmas jerseys with an appeal on Social Media. No swear words or rude images are allowed so sadly we are all out of suggestions but if you want to get involved email cat@boostthebison.com with your ideas.

The midweek NIHL podcast was put out during the week by Oxfordshire Sports Online with lots of NIHL content. If you aren’t bored to tears reading this column each week you may be able to stomach listening to an audio version. Click here to listen.

Saturday action review

The day started with the EIHA AGM in Nottingham, where amongst other discussions, the lovely Joy Johnston gave a 75 minute presentation on good governance. The catering consisted of ham rolls which puts paid to the idea that the governing body enjoy a jolly on these occasions. No unlimited wings delivered in from Hooters, no VIP pass for NG1 nor even a team building paintball trip into Sherwood Forest, just ham rolls… now who wants to put themselves up for election? Anybody? Anybody? Bueller… Bueller…

The first puck dropped in Peterborough, where earlier in the afternoon a few of the squad had joined the team mascot Slasher at London Road to wave at football fans before the Posh eventually got pumped 4-1 off Oxford Utd.

Slasher salutes London Road

If the town’s football team didn’t exactly have an easy afternoon, the hockey team did, as the Cardiff Fire showed up with a number of key players missing. The fixture would have been difficult enough at full strength for the Fire and it took just 14 seconds for the Phantoms to score as Nathan Salem scored to set the ball rolling on a 13-1 win.

Ales Padelek filled his boots with a hat trick, Darius Pliskauskas, Leigh Jamieson and Salem all bagged a brace to add to lone goals from Tom Norton, James White, James Ferrara and Will Weldon.

Cardiff’s Swedish defenseman Kalle Allner denied Phantoms back-up Jack Peacock a shut out with a second period goal.

In London, the Raiders entertained Streatham for the third time in the space of three weeks in a Cup match at Lee Valley. The RedHawks made it three wins out of three over their rivals with a 4-3 win, courtesy of goals from Brandon Miles, Aiden Doughty, Adam Carr and James Warman. Raiders’ goals were credited to Marek Nahlik, Jake Sylvester and Matt Turner.

NIHL media outlet 482 Days were in attendance at the game giving out their yellow pin badges, after spending some time before face off sprinkling a handful on the designated cycle path along Lea Bridge Road to “teach the smug tw*ts a lesson”.*

Swindon’s media output may be leading the way in the NIHL, but their matchnight DJ showed there is still room for improvement as he/she failed to have So Solid Crew prepped on the decks as the Wildcats scored with only 21 seconds gone in their game against Invicta Dynamos.

Phil Hill was the man who took the 21 seconds to flow,
He took 21 seconds to go,
The Mo’s didn’t see the danger no, no,
They didn’t see the danger no, no.
Hill didn’t even need a full minute, no, no,
Just 21 seconds t-t-t…

Sorry about that… Chris Jones and Jan Kostal both notched a brace for Swindon with Jordan Kelsall and Max Birbraer scoring one each in a 7-4 win. Dynamos goals came from Callum Fowler, Adam Rehak, Tom Ralph and Scott Bailey.

Bracknell Bees enjoyed their trip to the Bison in the NIHL Cup and skated away with a 5-2 win. Basingstoke hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for many years for the Bees however star import Frankie Bakrlik scored two goals to add to efforts from Jan Bendik, Shaun Thompson and Steve Osman. For Basingstoke Ryan Sutton scored his first competitive goal for the club to add to an effort from Captain Aaron Connolly.

Sunday action review

The Bees continued their good form with a 6-2 win over the Milton Keynes Thunder at the Hive. Shaun Thompson has started the season like a train and bagged a hat trick in the win, to add to a brace from Frantisek Bakrlik and a lone goal from Callum Best. Scorers for the Thunder were Hallden Barnes-Garner and Tom Carlon.

Bees celebrate a four point weekend (Kev Slyfield)

Swindon Wildcats were made to work for their 2-1 win in South London as Streatham were inches away from taking at least a point from the game. Aaron Nell and Sam Bullas scored the goals for the Cats, with Adam Carr on target for Streatham. The Cats winner came just after Ryan Watt had been ejected on a roughing call in controversial circumstances.

Invicta Dynamos fans watched their team take a rare thumping on home ice as London Raiders beat the Mo’s 11-1 in Kent in the NIHL Cup. In a night to forget for the home side, only a lone goal from Adam Rehak raised a smile, and shattered Euan King’s shutout.

Ollie Baldock, Juraj Huska and Marek Nahlik scored two each for the Raiders with Matt Turner, JJ Pitchley, Jake Sylvester and Jack Cooper getting one each. For Cooper it was his first goal for the Raiders apparently which shows just how selfless a defenceman he has been over the years. Pro Hockey News always has solidarity with shot shy D men.

Raiders end weekend in style (London Raiders)

JJ McGrath was ejected after allegedly charging Damien King in the Invicta goal and then answering the bell from Mason Webster for his antics. A penny for the thoughts of King’s brother Euan sat in the Raiders locker room after that game!

We will all forgive the excellent Dynamos TV a week off should they wish not to edit the lowlights of this game. If it’s any consolation to Mo’s fans they have seen decent teams fold at their rink many times in the past and it can happen to anyone.

Cardiff Fire had the pleasure of entertaining Peterborough for the second time in 48 hours and ended up on a similar score line as in Cambridgeshire with a 10-0 defeat. Ales Padelek scored two, as did Owen Griffiths and Darius Pliskauskas to add to goals from Glen Billing, Jack Escott and James White.

One piece of good news for the Fire was the return of Dr Luke Piggott who was a former star with the ENL Devils before stepping up to the Elite League and making medical discoveries.

Up in Yorkshire, Basingstoke Bison beat Sheffield Steeldogs 2-0 thanks to goals from Ivan Antonov and Dan Scott, with Dean Skinns earning a 26 shot shut out.

Results

Saturday 30 September 2017

Peterborough Phantoms 13-1 Cardiff Fire
London Raiders 3-4 Streatham IHC (Cup)
Basingstoke Bison 2-5 Bracknell Bees (Cup)
Swindon Wildcats 7-4 Invicta Dynamos

Sunday 1 October 2017

Bracknell Bees 6-2 MK Thunder
Streatham IHC 1-2 Swindon Wildcats
Cardiff Fire 0-10 Peterborough Phantoms
Sheffield Steeldogs 0-2 Basingstoke Bison (Cup)
Invicta Dynamos 1-11 London Raiders (Cup)