LONDON, UK – After the drama of the previous weekend, the fireworks dispersed and NIHL South 1 continued on, with goals, drama and a touch of class.
Bison pay their respects (Face Off Photography)
The spotlight remained on Kent during the week as the Invicta Dynamos released import Edmund Piacka and held a fans Q&A at the rink. EIHA rep Richard Carpenter headed down on the train from his countryside mansion to take questions alongside Head Coach Kevin Parrish with all answers published on the clubs’ Twitter feed.
Parrish also gave a lengthy interview with the recently re-booted British Ice Hockey website where he went into further detail about what the club will do after it surpassed the £5k crowdfunding target with just over £10k raised by fans from Gillingham and beyond. There was sadly no mention of a smoke machine installation or strobe lighting to boost the pre-game entertainment but hats off to everyone for chipping in.
“We definitely want to make the squad a little bit better” explained Parrish. “We need to find an import that can come in, score some goals, help put bums on seats and hopefully pick up some points and get us moving in the right direction.”
No small task at this stage in the season, but players will start to shuffle soon.
Ken rides again
In Peterborough, touching footage emerged of players past and present presenting super fan Ken Cross with a new mobility scooter, after his was stolen recently. The players surprised the long time supporter at his care home in Stanground and he even took it on a spin round the lounge in the presentation here. Truly heart-warming – well done all.
Bracknell Bees players acted as waiters at team sponsor Blues Smokehouse on Tuesday night raising money for Young Epilepsy. The highlight of the evening was forward Josh Smith donning blue gloves and taking part in a hot wing challenge in front of an enthusiastic crowd. This is of course the same player who took a skate to the throat a few weeks back and was stitched up in hospital, so hats off to him for giving zero you know whats!. If you enjoy watching hockey players trough wings while sweating (and we know some of you do), you can watch the action here.
The Bees also launched their Christmas range of gifts that sadly didn’t feature a Ryan Watt snow globe or a 6 minute abs Xmas DVD from personal trainer supremo Shaun Thompson. If any NIHL clubs would like to plug their unique Christmas themed gifts in this column please do get in touch especially if they are ridiculous.
Throat now recovered!
In South London, Streatham utility man Leigh Jamieson gave an interview with the South London Press, talking about his switch back to the blue line and the RedHawks recent close defeats.
“The defensive core is really solid and that’s giving us a good base to build on in games” said the 33 year old.
“I’m certainly enjoying being part of it. We need to turn things around after recent defeats and this weekend we will be going for four points.”
Basingstoke Bison players committed to the annual Movember challenge with charity Captain Tommy Ralph taking centre stage. The team have set up a fundraising page you can donate to here. Movember is a popular initiative with hockey players who need no excuse to add some facial hair to their upper lip.
Friday review
Last season the Autumn Cup dragged on for most of the season but clearly lessons have been learned this year round, even if it is at the expense of a few Fridays nights for the players involved.
The respective spouses of the Swindon Wildcats and Peterborough Phantoms players were forced to make a choice between another evening in an ice rink or eating Maltesers alone in front of Graham Norton or heading out on the lash in town with friends – delete as appropriate.
The semi-final 2nd leg took place at the Link Centre, with the visiting Phantoms holding a 4-3 lead from the 1st leg.
The Wildcats came out all guns blazing eventually outshooting their opponents 39-20 despite missing influential forwards Floyd Taylor and Adam Harding through injury.
Toms Rutkis, Jan Kostal and Edgars Bebris all scored to put the Cats within touching distance of a comeback, however a late goal from Ales Padelek added to efforts from Petr Stepanek and Corey McEwen to send the Phantoms into the final with a 7-6 aggregate win, 3-3 on the night.
Saturday review
The Wildcats fans suffered more disappointment as they headed to Basingstoke Bison for a crunch league clash. Prior to the game a poppy wreath was laid centre ice by the Bison, but the atmosphere soon switched from reflection to raucous as the hosts took the win on penalty shots thanks to an effort from Michal Klejna.
The score at the end of regulation was 2-2 with Richard Bordowski and Dr Russ Cowley on target for the Bison, who also saw Player Coach Ashley Tait given a game misconduct in overtime. Aaron Nell and Sam Bullas were the scorers for the Cats. Our good friends Banners on the Wall gave a report of the fixture here.
King of the shoot out (Rick Webb)
In Bracknell, the Bees hosted the RedHawks for the final time this regular season with previous encounters yielding extremely close scorelines. This time it was the RedHawks who took both points but it took a showdown winner from Andreas Siagris to achieve them.
The game had ended 5-5 before overtime with a Leigh Jamieson powerplay effort tying things up after Coach Jeremy Cornish had pulled goalie Damien King for the extra skater.
Jamieson had scored earlier in the game to add to a brace from Siagris and a lone effort from Alex Roberts. For the Bees a brace from Roman Malinik (who later was ejected for arguing with official Blane Evans) added to lone goals for Aidan Doughty, Ben Paynter and Josh Smith. You can watch the full highlights here.
In Romford the Raiders nearly came unstuck against the Dynamos, before a late goal from JJ Pitchley sealed a 4-3 win. The Raiders other scorers were Filip Sedivy, Aaron Connolly and Matt Turner, with Louis Colvin, Anthony Leone and Andy Munroe on target for the Dynamos.
The Mo’s iced only one import and 11 out-skaters so it was a valiant effort by all.
Sunday review
Even the most optimistic Dynamos fan would have approached Silverblades with caution on Sunday, especially after a tiring Saturday and opposition in the form of Swindon, who admittedly were playing third game in as many nights.
The Mo’s led most of the game 1-0 thanks to an early Matt Foord goal you can watch here.
A Loris Taylor equaliser in the third still gave the Mo’s hope of a point but a late penalty shot by Chris Jones broke the hearts of the home fans. With a new import on the horizon and some cash in the bank, the longer term fortune of the team does appear to be on the rise.
In Peterborough the Phantoms train just kept on rolling as they beat the Bees 4-2 in yet another close game.
Raiders after their win against Invicta
Scott Robson, Nathan Pollard, Martin Susters and Ales Padelek got the goals for the Phantoms with Ed Knaggs and Shaun Thompson on target for the Bees.
Basingstoke made it a 4 point weekend as they beat MK Thunder thanks to a brace from Paul Petts and lone efforts from Ashley Tait and guesting Oxford City Stars forward Conor Redmond. In between the pipes Alex Mettam posted a shut out in his old home rink.
Streatham did their almost signature move of falling behind a few goals before mounting a comeback, this time against the Raiders in the London derby at the Streatham Arena.
The visitors led 6-3 at one stage before the RedHawks tied it up 6-6 to send the game into overtime with a late goal again from Leigh Jamieson. The Raiders had looked in command with Ashley Jackson hitting a hat trick, Juraj Huska a brace and Aaron Connolly with one.
Streatham hit back with goals from Michael Farn, Adam Carr, Andreas Siagris, Tom Soar and Adam Wood, before Jamieson pounced.
The former Belfast and MK man then sniped the winner after Raiders goalie Ben Clements and RedHawks stopper Damien King had both turned away numerous efforts from others.
Results
Friday 9 November 2018
Swindon Wildcats 3 Peterborough Phantoms 3 (Phantoms win 7-6 and go to final)
Saturday 10 November 2018
Basingstoke Bison 3 Swindon Wildcats 2 (after OT)
Raiders 4 Invicta Dynamos 3
Bracknell Bees 5 Streatham IHC 6 (after OT)
Sunday 11 November 2018
Invicta Dynamos 1 Swindon Wildcats 2
Peterborough Phantoms 4 Bracknell Bees 2
Streatham IHC 7 Raiders 6 (after OT)
MK Thunder 0 Basingstoke Bison 4
Contact the author: carrsy2@gmail.com
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