LONDON, UK – After the previous week’s drama the NIHL South just needed to get back to business and that’s exactly what happened.
Who enjoys standing in front of Danny Hughes shot? No one..(Kev Slyfield)
After dropping the Redskins name this summer the newly branded Streatham IHC held a launch event at the Canadian High Commission in Central London. A few of the players and management posed in the iconic Canada House, whilst an NBA exhibition took place just outside in Trafalgar Square.
It wasn’t quite the glitzy photoshoot that launched the Superleague in Piccadilly Circus but it was glamourous enough to re-launch Streatham IHC in style.
Pro Hockey News covered the event HERE
What is the missing link between Miley Cyrus and London Raiders? Well it’s Billy Ray Cyrus who penned the 1992 hit ‘Achey Breaky Heart’. Personally, we hated the tune here at Pro Hockey News, but it did launch line dancing into the mainstream culture and is therefore the reason the London Raiders Supporters Club have arranged a Line Dancing Evening in October to raise funds for the club.
Streatham players outside Canada House (Rick Webb)
In another tenuous link, the line dancing capital of the world is Durham. Not the birthplace of your correspondent and home of the once mighty Durham Wasps, but Durham in North Carolina.
Bored yet? Don’t worry we will keep going.
One man who is moving to the USA is former London Raiders blue liner David Oliver who announced that he won’t be icing this season:
‘During the off season an opportunity came up which would see me move across the pond to America for a bit of time, it has come around very quick and is a big step away from home but is something I can’t say no to.’
‘I would like to thanks everyone at the club for all the help over the summer with this going on. I love playing this sport and most of all I love playing.’
Oxford enjoyed an almost record crowd last weekend for their home game against Wightlink with over 700 in attendance. The club seem totally revitalised and Director James Schall celebrated by letting everyone in for half price for the game against Streatham.
‘We were a couple of hundred people above what we were budgeting for’ he said.
‘Ticket revenues broke all records and with merchandise, a third of what was taken in the whole of last season was sold in just one night which is amazing.’
‘Everyone did brilliantly and we were blown away by the support.’
‘We have had great backing by the staff at the rink, and despite the result which unfortunately didn’t go our way, there are so many positives to take.’
‘To say a big thank-you, we are offering 50 per cent off ticket prices for this Sunday’s home game against Streatham – maybe we can break the record.’
Saturday action review
All eyes were on Streatham for their first game of the season as they hosted Chelmsford in a cup game in South London.
It was a close fought game with goalies Ben Clements and Euan King stealing the show and deservedly winning the man of the match awards.
King makes debut against his old club (Rick Webb)
Chelmsford won 2-1 thanks to goals from Andrius Kaminskas and Jake Sylvester. Streatham’s goal came from Callum Best.
The game was overshadowed by a nasty facial injury to experienced referee Blaine Evans. The stripey took a slapshot to the face and looked to have lost a number of teeth and had two bad cuts on his lips.
Everyone at Pro Hockey News and indeed around the league wish Blaine all the very best in his recovery as he is a real character and has such a passion for the game.
Bracknell have had a bad start to the season but bounced back with a 3-3 tie at home to Oxford in the BBO Cup.
In fact the Hornets were leading 3-2 with just 4 seconds to go when the Stars equalised through Ben Ealey-Newman for his second of the night. Oxford’s other goal came from Ondrej Pekarik.
Ryan Handisides hit a brace for Bracknell with Jaroslav Kucej getting the other.
Oxford’s Alan Green and Bracknell’s Luke Reynolds dropped the gloves to add to the talking points.
Sunday action review
Solent Devils nearly pulled off a shock in Chelmsford before going down 4-3. The Devils scored through Richard Facey, Kyle Goddard and Matt Lawday.
Lascenko on target (Steve Sutherland)
Chelmsford scorers were Cameron Bartlett, Olegs Lascenko, Callum Wells and Lukas Zatopek.
Chelmsford were again without star sniper Juraj Huska however he is rumoured to be close to a return to the line-up.
Oxford struggled to beat Streatham last season but came out firing to win 8-5 at Oxpens Road in an open game that kept the decent sized crowd entertained.
Oxford had eight different scorers in the game with Josh Florey, Jake Florey, Josh Oliver, Mike Whillock, Joe Edwards, Ben Nethersall, Ondrej Pekarik and Ben Ealey-Newman all on target.
For Streatham it was Adam Wood, Joe Johnston, Michal Oravec, Sean Scarbrough and Chris Wiggins who scored.
Oxford banish hoodoo (Paul Foster)
Wood was kicked out for a second misconduct to add to the visitors woes.
London Raiders scored with just 47 seconds on the clock in their Cup clash in Invicta thanks to Slovak Marek Nahlik. Unfortunately for the Raiders fans who had travelled to Kent, their team couldn’t push on and lost 4-2 in a hard fought game.
Nahlik scored two on the night against his old team, but it was a brace from Adam Rehak and goals from Nicky Lewis and Haydn Wootton that sealed the win for the Mo’s.
Mo’s blueliner Arran Strawson was kicked out in the second period on a third man in call from referee Jurijs Solovjovs.
In the final game of the night in the BBQ/BBO/BBM Cup, MK Thunder drew 2-2 with a Bracknell side who will be pleased with their efforts over the weekend.
Happy Mo’s (David Trevallion)
Stewart Tait was the Bracknell player to pop up and equalise with a cannon from the point late on after Danny Hughes had scored their first. For MK it was Tom Mboya and Connor Goode with the goals.
So all in all a much needed straightforward week for the league with more hockey, line dancing and badger baiting to come (we made the last bit up).
Results
Saturday 17 September 2016
Streatham IHC 1-2 Chelmsford Chieftains (NIHL Cup)
Bracknell Hornets 3-3 Oxford City Stars (BBO Cup)
Sunday 18 September 2016
Oxford City Stars 8-5 Streatham IHC
MK Thunder 2-2 Bracknell Hornets (BBO Cup)
Invicta Dynamos 4-2 London Raiders (NIHL Cup)
Chelmsford Chieftains 4-3 Solent Devils
Contact the author david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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