LONDON, UK – The NIHL South Play-Offs reached the semi-final stage this weekend, but instead of being the celebration of hockey it should have been, things turned a little sour before a puck was dropped.
Photo by Nicky Craft
As reported in Pro Hockey News on Tuesday night, league champions Chelmsford Chieftains were effectively disqualified from the competition for naming a teenager on their team sheet for their quarter final win over London Raiders.
Obviously being a teenager was not the reason their season was prematurely ended, but the fact that the player had not played the required number of games to make him eligible to play in the play-offs.
It was of course a technicality given the fact that the player had no influence on the games, however technically the EIHA had no choice under the present rules.
Long term fans of the league will remember back when the standard was not as high as it is now, that it was of real concern to some of the bigger clubs that some of the second string sides in the league could boost their squads with youngsters from the EPL, whose season had already ended.
Mo’s team bonding at Nandos
Chelmsford appeared to be taking things on the chin at the time the news broke, but by the end of the week, the clubs hierarchy had a change of mood, in public at least.
“Despite requesting an official appeal I just received an email from the EIHA saying they have made their decision and are sticking by it” said club owner Derek Bartlett.
“It is obvious we are not going to play this weekend or indeed in the play-offs. I feel very unhappy about the situation and I am going to forward the email I have received from the EIHA to my barrister to confirm how we go forward from here”
As a result of the drama, London Raiders got a reprieve and a pass through to the semi-finals. The Raiders management had the pleasant but unenviable task of planning a trip to the Isle of Wight at short notice, and the players had to sort out their training.
“It looked like the Raiders season was over, until I got a call on Tuesday to say we were back in the play-offs” said Raiders Captain Tom Davis.
“What a great feeling that call was. We now travel away to Isle of Wight on Saturday which is never an easy place to play”
Wightlink bonding at Subway
“But we have already taken points from there this season so it can be done. I know the boys will be determined to do so”
“The home leg will be played on Sunday and I’m sure the place will be rocking and the fans will be getting behind the team to make that final.”
Milton Keynes Thunder were in high spirits after upsetting the form book by beating Streatham in their quarter final to face Invicta Dynamos in the other semi-final.
The mood in the camp was lifted even further when coach Paul Gore was named NIHL South Coach of the Year in the fifth Annual Pro Hockey News Awards. Goalie Damien King and forward Jamie Line also made the All-Star line-ups which you can see by clicking HERE.
NIHL South Play-Offs semi-finals
Photo by Lucy McGill
Invicta Dynamos v Milton Keynes Thunder
The first leg was played in Milton Keynes with an early face-off as MK Lightning’s Adam Carr had the evening ice booked for his testimonial. A ticketing combo allowed all of those with testimonial tickets to watch the play-off game for free so this ensured a bumper crowd for the Thunder, thanks also to the noisy band of Dynamos fans who had made the trip.
The game was end to end but it was the sharpshooters of the visitors that had the extra cutting edge to take a 3-1 first leg lead. Andy Smith, Michal Oravec and Juraj Huska were the scorers for the Dynamos with Alex Whyte on target for the Thunder.
It was always going to difficult for MK to get a result down at Silverblades and so it proved the following eveing as the Mo’s won 6-4 on the night and 9-5 on aggregate.
Juraj Huska and Callum Fowler scored two each with Anthony Leone getting the other. It was also a quiet night for Andy Smith who only notched 5 assists. MK’s goals came from Nidal Phillips, Piotr Poziomkowski, Jamie Line and Tom Castle.
The result ends a fantastic season for the Thunder and puts Invicta in line to win a cup and play-offs double.
Photo by Nicky Craft
Wightlink Raiders v London Raiders
London may have had a reprieve, but sadly they couldn’t manage to take a full strength squad down to the island with influential import Jakub Kostalansky missing along with Alan Lack, Chris Douglas and Ricky Deacon.
Wightlink punished them with a 12-6 win but it was reasonably close until the final period.
Jaroslav Cesky notched a hat trick for the island side, Richard Facey, Alex Barker and Jeremy Cornish all scored a brace each and Ryan Webb got the other. For London it was Jacob Ranson and Vaclav Drabek with two each to add to lone goals from Matt France and Tom Davis.
The second leg in London saw the Raiders lose 8-3 on the night to take it to an all-out attacking aggregate scoreline of 20-9.
Cesky scored two and there were lone Wightlink goals for Steve Balmer, Owen Griffiths, Craig Tribe, Alex Barker, Nick Compton and Corey Watkins.
London’s goals came from David Oliver, Josh Condren and Matt France.
The result sets up an intriguing final of Wightlink Raiders versus Invicta Dynamos.
Wightlink are rumoured to be hosting the first leg in Gosport with the return game at Invicta the following evening.
The EIHA now have one final job to do to make sure there is no further controversy to this campaign and that is to allocate the best possible officiating team to the two legs that are bound to be keenly fought. All will be revealed come first puck drop on Saturday.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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