LONDON, UK – After a slow news week last week, NIHL South provided us with new signings, departures and a few random stories to fill the news columns.
Wightlink ask for silence (Nicky Craft)
It is a long standing joke in the NIHL for any team with a new import to trick them into thinking they need a passport to get to the Isle of Wight. Stories of deliberately misinformed Canadians riding with the bags under the bus or hiding in the toilet when the bus approaches the ferry terminal are legendary, however the Raiders got a real taste of the UK border force last weekend.
On a high after beating Bracknell Hornets, the Wightlink team had to use the continental port rather than the usual domestic one to return home and as such were pulled over by four agents who demanded to do a full search of six hockey bags in the hold of the bus.
The incident was reported in the Isle of Wight County Press, and the guards allegedly stopped after opening just one bag and taking a whiff of Raiders agitator Corey Watkins cup and sweats.
Obviously the newspaper didn’t report on that bit in particular but we love any excuse to lower the tone.
Invicta Dynamos were rocked by the departure of Scottish goalie Mark McGill who left the club in intriguing circumstances. McGill has been in good form this season so far and his decision certainly shocked a number of fans.
Rene non plussed at the Border Force story
“Mark was initially happy staying with a teammate in separate double rooms within housing provided by a supporter but recently expressed an interest in being relocated and so was offered the remaining single room at the team flat occupied by Eriks Ozollapa and Ondrej Zosiak” explained the Press Release from the club.
“Despite both imports being happy with the accommodation, Mark was not satisfied with the remaining room and would not accept the alternative arrangements.”
Switching from a double room to a single room can sometimes be a big jump in standards, especially in London and the South East, but Zosiak weighed in on the Dynamos Facebook with his own opinion.
“I respect his decision and wish him good luck in the next hockey career, but I think he lost a very good opportunity be here and be a part of this team.” said the Slovakian.
“However, there is a more important things that I want to say. I played few years’ top division in Slovakia and there is lot of teams who do not pay accommodation and in general do not care about where players live.”
“One time I moved 5 times during the 4 months on my own expenses when I played in Slovakia and no one cared about it. That is the reason why me and Erik appreciate the work of all people who works in the club and I think this situation is not a shame for the club, because all people here are trying do everything for comfortable of all players. Thank you all fans for understanding this situation and excuse me my English.”
If there is one positive to be taken out of the situation for Mo’s fans is that they appear to have an import who has already bought into the club, and the fact he is a quality player makes that even better news. For his part McGill has thus far kept his silence on the situation, and his next move remains unknown.
Return of the Annual
We are sure you already know this as regular readers, but Pro Hockey News published some NIHL related interviews during the week including a piece on Haringey Racers gift from the gods that you can read HERE, London Raiders utility man Liam Chong talking about hockey as a career that you can read HERE, and finally a piece on the Ice Hockey Annual including words from author Stewart Roberts that you can read HERE.
Did you click all three links and read the articles? If yes, thank you, if no then…well you have missed out.
A design for the new Romford ice rink was revealed on the website of Environmental Mechanical Electrical Consultancy. The company have been providing Kershaws and Wilmott Dixon with building and sustainability consultancy services as part of a new £25 million leisure centre complex with ice rink, swimming pool and fitness suite in Western Road, Romford.
The images shown are not the best, however the design does reveal that the ice rink is proposed to be on the third floor of the building.
It is funny how history has a way of repeating itself, as old style Mecca rinks like Bradford and Queens Road Sheffield were on the second floor of buildings and now we have Romford potentially joining Streatham with the same kind of design.
The more excitable Romford fans are allegedly gearing up to make any potential swanky new rink look ‘mean’ in the same way the Hanson Brothers took hammers to the team bus to show the opposition they mean business.
Raiders celebrate new of new rink (John Scott)
Rom Valley Way was always a fortress and an unforgiving venue for away teams, so suggestions that a mock anti-tank gun be placed on the roof and a dimly lit ‘moody’ entrance with ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ by Guns & Roses on loop are apparently being submitted to Havering Council.
Oxford City Stars made sure that there was no team BBQ to welcome new Slovak Ondrej Pekarik to the club to complete their import quota.
The 25 year old was a 1st round draft pick in the CHL import draft a few years ago, but has been hampered with injuries.
“I am excited to have signed for the Stars and I am also excited to live in a city like Oxford.” He said.
“I’m pretty sure that this will be right move for me at this stage of my career. I have not played much hockey in last year or so because I had some problems with injury. But that is behind me now and having the chance play for the Stars is great opportunity for me to show that I’m still a good hockey player.”
“The Stars fans can expect me to play a smart game – I’m not scared to play physical either. But after speaking to the coach, I think that he wants points from me and to help the team to try win every game that we will play.”
Saturday’s Hockey
It was derby day on the Isle of Wight as Solent Devils crossed the water to take on the Wightlink Raiders in a cup fixture that has developed a bit of needle over the last two seasons.
With the score level going into the last ten minutes tied at 2-2, it was the home side who pulled away with three late goals to win 5-2.
Ryan Webb, Jeremy Cornish, Craig Tribe, Jaroslav Cesky and Corey Watkins scored for Wightlink with George Norcliffe and Mitchell Murray on target for Solent.
Cesky and Cole enjoying the ice (Nicky Craft)
Murray then found himself in the eye of the storm clashing with Jeremy Cornish and then later Corey Watkins before being ejected on his second misconduct by veteran officiating team Blaine Evans and Rene Ross. Devils Alex Cole and Raiders Jaroslav Cesky also tangled at the end to round of a busy evening for team Zebra.
The other cup game of the evening was no less exciting as London Raiders former Invicta Dynamo Michal Oravec returned to haunt his old club with a late equaliser to tie the game 4-4 at Lee Valley Ice Arena.
Oravec had already scored earlier in the game, and also on target for the Raiders were Terry Fillery and Rio Grinnell-Parke. For Invicta it was Nicky Lewis and Eriks Ozollapa with a brace each.
Ozollapa missed a penalty shot with the score at 4-3 and the Mo’s were punished almost immediately at the other end of the ice.
Fist pump for Green (Paul Foster)
After much speculation about who would replace McGill, Mo’s back up Steve Nightingale took his chance and reportedly did well, against a short benched Raiders team missing Frankie Harvey and Liam Chong.
Special mention also goes to Raiders forward Bailey Chittock who had a number of teeth knocked out last weekend after a puck to the face but took to the ice again for this game.
Bracknell Hornets season went from bad to worse as they lost 5-2 at home to Oxford City Stars.
Alan Green returned to form for the Stars with a brace, new boy Ondrej Pekarik scored on his debut and there were goals for Darren Elliott and Mike Whillock.
Danny Hughes got both goals for Bracknell, who lost Greg Chambers to a match penalty which gave them less chance of getting anything on the road at Cardiff the following day.
Cardiff became the latest team to be beaten heavily at the Riverside as Chelmsford won 12-2 after taking a 9-0 lead at almost the halfway stage of the game.
The goal judges at Chelmsford will be filing R.S.I. claims if the season continues like this, and the scorers were Juraj Huska with a hat trick, Cameron and Grant Bartlett plus Danny Hammond with two each and lone goals for Matt Turner, Jake Sylvester and Ross Brears.
Thomas Stuart-Dant and Jon Nash scored for Cardiff who were also missing talisman Jamie Hayes.
Sunday Hockey
The story of the day took place in Cardiff as the winless Bracknell Hornets found themselves 2-0 down to the Devils at the halfway stage of the game before a Brandon Miles hat trick inspired them to a much needed 5-2 win.
Happy Hornets on the bus home
Bracknell’s other scorers were Tom Fisher and Danny Hughes with the empty netter after Cardiff pulled Ross Miller for an extra skater at the end.
Zak Shanahan and Ben Brown scored for Cardiff who are now level on points with the Hornets at the bottom of the table.
Streatham hosted London Raiders in a local derby down in South London and beat the visitors 10-4 with four unanswered goals in the third period helping them pull away.
Adam Wood scored a hat trick for Streatham, Kamil Kinkor got two and there were lone goals for Steven Fisher, Joe Johnston, Nick Chinn and Joe Allen.
Marek Nahlik hit a brace for London with Rio Grinnell-Parke and Mason Webster scoring the others.
Three for Wood (Rick Webb)
Webster was also involved in a fight with Chinn on the boards in the second period, before then reluctantly tussling with Wiggins in the third after the Streatham man sought retribution.
The final league game of the night took place at MK Arena where an intriguing matchup between the improving Oxford City Stars and the resident Thunder took place.
The visitors completed a 4 point weekend with a 4-2 win that will certainly boost their confidence.
Ondrej Pekarik scored his second goal of the weekend with another effort to add to goals from Joe Edwards, Alan Green and Dax Hedges.
MK scorers were Jamie Line and Ross Bowers and as a result they now sit in 8th place in the league.
There was one more game to report on as Invicta Dynamos hosted Chelmsford Chieftains in the Cup at Silverblades.
Thunder struck (Paul Foster)
The Chieftains made it ten straight wins in all competitions with a 5-1 victory that saw former Mo’s old boys Juraj Huska and Anthony Leone return to haunt their old club. Huska scored two whilst Leone’s lone effort was added to by goals from Alex Staples and Ross Brears.
Invicta’s scorer was Jacob Ranson, who incidentally will feature in a Pro Hockey News interview later this week.
The results mean that Streatham stay top of the league with Wightlink just behind and Chelmsford in third.
Results
Saturday 17 October 2015
London Raiders 4-4 Invicta Dynamos (Cup)
Wightlink Raiders 5-2 Solent Devils (Cup)
Bracknell Hornets 2-5 Oxford City Stars
Chelmsford Chieftains 12-2 Cardiff Devils NL
Sunday 18th October 2015
Streatham Redskins 10-4 London Raiders
Invicta Dynamos 1-5 Chelmsford Chieftains (Cup)
Cardiff Devils NL 2-5 Bracknell Hornets
MK Thunder 2-4 Oxford City Stars
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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