LONDON, UK – Twas the last weekend of hockey before Christmas, and just as before, we have rounded up a load of stats and random stories, to thrill you once more.
Santas Grotto gets bad reviews in the Oxford Mail (Paul Foster)
After weeks of speculation Invicta Dynamos finally announced the return of former hero Callum Fowler to boost their hopes of winning some silverware this season.
Slightly less popular than Robbie, but likely more popular than Mark, Pauline or Arthur, Callum’s move back to Kent is a massive signing for the team. Head Coach Kev Parrish was of course delighted to renew acquaintance with the former NIHL All-Star.
‘Obviously we’re delighted to be bringing Callum back. If we’re honest he’s an EPL standard player so to have him back in the NIHL where he has been so prolific over the last few years is fantastic for us.’
Back in the Mo’s outfit at last (Kev Slyfield)
‘Any club in this league would take a player of Callum’s ability but he has strong ties to the Dynamos and I’ve no doubt the fans will be delighted to see him back in Gillingham.’
Another Callum with a smile on his face was Streatham’s Callum Best as he celebrated getting tickets to Justin Bieber with a Twitter post to all his 795 followers.
The eagle eyed amongst our readers may have noticed a familiar face had they tuned into the recent Toronto Maple Leafs v San Jose Sharks game on TSN.
Former Haringey, Romford, Lee Valley and Chelmsford defender Danny Cox may be missing out on the pulsating action of the NIHL these days, but he seems to be consoling himself living in the land of Tim Hortons with a smoke show Canadian girlfriend and front row seats at the Leafs.
Ok, so the latter isn’t always a fun time but you get our drift.
Coxy enjoying that other league with less letters than ours
Chelmsford Chieftains forward James Ayling has already played over 200 games for the Essex side despite being only 23, yet puck whacking is not his only talent.
Ayling recently starred in action movie ‘The Border’ and you can see the trailer by clicking HERE. You can spot Ayling at 1.03 looking scared.
Talking of movies, Streatham Redskins players were enjoying a midweek Christmas party in London’s swinging Soho when they stumbled across the European Premiere of Star Wars ‘The Force Awakens’.
Streatham Force
Faced with a legion of storm troopers, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Chewbacca and a couple of Ewoks the reserved hockey players played it cool… for all of five seconds, before diving in for selfies and team pics to the undoubted joy of those stood in costume.
With Christmas fast approaching, Oxford City Stars players decided to deliver all of the teddy bears they had collected in the recent ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ to the local hospital.
The John Radcliffe Hospital was invaded by a number of yellow jerseyed hockey players bearing gifts, along with mascot Comet.
Whilst the players were busy putting smiles on the player’s faces, Comet was wheeling the nurses, which does not surprise us here at Pro Hockey News given his past behaviour.
GB u20’s enjoy France
Well done to everyone at the Stars for making such an effort.
A number of NIHL South players past and present celebrated winning a bronze medal with the GB u20’s side in the World Championships in Megeve, France. NIHL fans will be able to see at least three of them in action in the coming weeks upon their return with Ed Knaggs, Glen Billing and Luc Johnson on the roster at MK Thunder.
Well done guys from everyone at Pro Hockey News.
Shoot, pass, fly some ass.. Pentecost the Pilot
Last but certainly not least, any of our readers who fly with Ryanair should know that former Oxford and current Peterborough Islanders star James Pentecost is now flying their planes and could be taking you above the cloud line.
Pentecost was in the NIHL 1 South top ten scorers for the Stars last season and has already fired in six goals in his seven appearances for Peterborough this year.
Scoring ice hockey goals and then flying through the air at over 500 miles per hour during the week. Is he happier than the aforementioned Danny Cox? Who knows.
Saturday’s Hockey
Streatham’s recent run of poor form continued at Lee Valley Ice Centre as they slumped to their fourth consecutive loss, with London Raiders the latest team to beat them with a 10-4 scoreline.
The Raiders were 3-0 up after the first period and never looked back with Marek Nahlik getting sunburn from the goal lamp notching a double hat trick.
Rob Veares, Liam Chong, Tom Davis and Michal Oravec were the other scorers for London, with Nick Chinn, Kamil Kinkor, Joe Johnston and Callum Best on target for Streatham.
Watchorn returns with a goal
Bizarrely Streatham outshot the hosts 41-32 but still couldn’t put a halt to their rut of form. London cemented their 6th position in the league and hit double figures for the first time since their 10-6 win over Cardiff back in September.
Invicta Dynamos travelled to Bracknell with Fowler making his long anticipated return, whilst on the Hornets bench, Brad Watchorn made his first home appearance of the season.
The Mo’s edged out the hosts 4-3 with Conor Redmond, Josh Condren, Steven Osman and Jacob Ranson all scoring.
For Bracknell it was Danny Hughes, Tom Fisher and the afore-mentioned Watchorn with the goals.
The result was Bracknell’s third consecutive loss after looking like turning their season around with a couple of wins in November.
Fortunately for the Hornets, Cardiff failed to close the gap as they were beaten at home 6-2 by the resurgent Milton Keynes Thunder.
It was the Thunder’s fifth win in six games and they took the points back over the border thanks to a brace from Ross Bowers and lone goals for Alex Whyte, Josh Nicklin, Ryan Coffey and Tom Mboya.
Kieran Latchford and Jon Nash scored the goals for Cardiff.
Sunday Hockey
Aside from a well-orchestrated teddy toss there was little festive cheer in the game between Invicta and London at Silverblades.
Invicta won the game 7-1 with yes you guessed it, Mr Fowler getting a hat trick on his home return to add to a brace from Steven Osman, and lone goals for Ondrej Zosiak and Nicky Lewis.
Catch the puck win a prize (John Scott)
London’s scorer was Mason Webster, however the visitors were also furious at the ejection of Liam Chong early on for an elbow on Josh Condren. The usually placid London Raiders Twitter account surged ahead of the occasionally raw Streatham twitter in the NIHL social media anger stakes as a result.
There was even time for a scrap between Webster and Harrison Lillis, followed by London goalie Michael Gray lamping Jack Lee before the final buzzer.
Safe to say no Christmas cards were exchanged after the final buzzer.
Streatham’s miserable four game losing streak finally came to an end with a hard fought 4-2 victory at home to Wightlink Raiders. The island side travelled with just under four lines for this game and were on a good run of form of three consecutive road victories prior to their visit to the capital.
Streatham scorers were Callum Best with two and both Liam Rasmussen and Nicky Chinn with one each. Wightlink scorers were Corey Watkins and Damon Larter.
Streatham fans were on tenterhooks during the game as they competed on Twitter to win a signed Jack Tarczycki stick. The winner was presented with the said Sherwood at the end of the game.
Hedges and Murray trade blows (Paul Foster)
The karma was strong with Oxford as they took on Solent Devils, and no doubt thanks to their good charity work earlier in the week, Buddha granted them an opening goal within 30 seconds.
Alan Green was the lucky man to be touched by the mountain god, and Josh Florey scored the other Oxford goal in a 2-1 victory.
Ralfs Circenis scored for Solent in a game that saw three fights over the sixty minutes. Shane Moore taking on Richard Facey, Dax Hedges dropping them with Alex Murray and finally a few incidents involving Ralf Circenis, Mason Wild and Mike Whillock.
All in all, another match showing very little festive cheer.
Milton Keynes made it an impressive four point weekend as they beat Bracknell Hornets 3-1 at the Thunderdome.
Jamie Line, Josh Nicklin and Ross Bowers scored for the Thunder with Josh Martin the lone scorer for the Hornets.
Thunder back up goalie Spencer Caminsky got the start and rewarded coach Paul Gore with a 96% save average.
So at the end of 2015, Chelmsford sit top of the league, Cardiff are planted at the bottom and the rest of the teams everyone just has a few months left to either turn things around or build up momentum for the play offs.
We are taking a well-earned break next weekend with a festival of pigs in blankets, that’s the food not an innuendo so all that is left to say, is to all our readers… Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Results
Saturday 19th December 2015
London Raiders 10-4 Streatham Redskins
Cardiff Devils NL 2-6 Milton Keynes Thunder
Bracknell Hornets 3-4 Invicta Dynamos
Sunday 20th December 2015
Streatham Redskins 4-2 Wightlink Raiders
Invicta Dynamos 7-1 London Raiders
Mk Thunder 3-1 Bracknell Hornets
Oxford City Stars 2-1 Solent Devils
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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