LONDON, UK – It was judgement weekend at the bottom of the table and the Play-Off match ups were finalised as the regular campaign edged closer to closure.
Chelmsford celebrate the league championship
The biggest news of the week came from the Isle of Wight as long serving Wightlink Raiders Player Coach Jeremy Cornish called time on his playing career with an interview with this very website.
Few can dispute the influence the Canadian has had on the island club, not least his ability to persuade players to commute across the Solent each week and commit to the cause.
Success has come despite the odds and for all his toughness, the 36 year old behaved in a way that many other young players in this league would do well to learn from. With toughness comes responsibility and Cornish’s maturity is the reason his team won the league in 2010/11 and Play-Offs last year.
He will be a big loss to the league as a player and hopefully will be back next year as a full time coach.
Just as the nation sat open mouthed watching the enchanting Norwegian based documentary ‘Reindeer Girls’ on BBC2 (or was it just the PHN office TV that tuned in), the likeable animal’s relative was causing chaos over in the UK as one ran out in front of NIHL/EPL referee Stephen Matthews whilst he was driving.
Slick Kutz in Cardiff suffer a blow
Substantial damage was caused to the front of what we assume is Matthew’s girlfriend’s car or one he borrowed from the local hairdresser for his trip to Deeside.
Thankfully Mr Matthews and his colleagues are all ok.
North East London is known for its entrepreneurial spirit with Apprentice host Alan Sugar it’s most famous son for making money from nothing. Lord Sugar may have a new contestant in the next junior apprentice as young London Raiders fan Ellie Goldstone did her prospects no harm at all with a cute fundraiser for her team.
£251 was raised thanks to a simple guess the number of items in the matchbox competition that remarkably saw 47 items squeezed into the small box. Ellie presented winner Claire Phipps with the winning prize after the Raiders game against Chelmsford, and it is not yet clear what the cash will be used for.
Perhaps some new twigs for the returning star Liam Chong, who announced he would be returning to action at the weekend after recovering from a broken wrist.
Ellie and Claire with the Raiders (John Scott)
It has not been a season to remember for Bracknell Hornets and things got worse for them when it was revealed that star forward JJ Pitchley would play no further part in the rest of the season.
An off the play punch by Olegs Lascenko in last weekend’s one sided affair against Chelmsford put Pitchley in hospital with concussion and just added to the sour mood surrounding the Hive.
Indeed the struggle of the Bees in the EPL has stretched the Hornets and the junior teams to an extent where it almost feels like a black cloud is constantly hovering over the Hive in the same way it always seems to be lashing it down with rain in Mid Wales 365 days a year.
The Hornets were eventually moved to issue a statement on Facebook that read:
‘The negativity currently surrounding the club (inc Bees) will not benefit anyone players, staff and fans alike should all be focusing on positivity towards bringing this great club back to the summit where it belongs and not the blame game and pointing fingers.’
Whilst Bracknell have had a year to forget, in contrast Oxford have enjoyed their season and are still challenging for a fourth place finish.
Head Coach Simon Anderson has played a big part in turning Oxford from strugglers to consistent performers and the club announced he would be returning for the 2016/17 season.
Elliott and Anderson celebrate at Costa
‘I am delighted to have agreed a return to coach the Stars. The season has been a huge success with us moving into fifth spot and pushing for fourth’ said Anderson in the press release.
‘I have enjoyed working with the players, they are a fantastic bunch of guys and they make it a pleasure to come to the rink. The goal is to now go as deep as we can in the play-offs and then build this club to the next level during the summer, both on and off the ice.’
‘The challenge is then for us to hopefully break into the top 4 next season and with the guys we have, if we can keep them together, I do not feel this is an unrealistic team goal.’
While every other club was training or chilling out on Thursday night, Wightlink Raiders and Solent Devils played a rearranged fixture on the Island.
Luckily for Solent it isnt far for them to travel with a late finish but it was a night to forget for the Devils as they were beaten 7-3 by their local rivals.
A brace each from Ryan Webb and Corey Watkins added to efforts from Jeremy Cornish, Alex Sampford and Jaroslav Cesky to make the final tally for the Raiders.
Mason Wild, Richard Facey and George Norcliffe all scored for Solent, whose mini unbeaten run came to an end as a result of the loss.
Saturday’s Hockey
All eyes were on the big blue tent as Cardiff looked to ramp up their great escape act with a win over old rivals Invicta Dynamos.
It wasn’t so long ago that the NIHL Devils were one of the Mo’s trickiest away games of the season, but the Welsh side had no such repeat of former glory as they went down 4-2.
A brace from Adam McNicoll along with goals from Jacob Ranson and Steven Osman were enough to seal a Dynamos win, whilst Tamas Elias and Jamie Hayes scored for Cardiff.
Osman seals top scorer in the league gong!
Dynamos import Eriks Ozollapa was ejected at the end of the second period on a match penalty for roughing.
It was deja-vu for hockey fans on the Island as Solent made their second trip to Ryde Arena in the space of 72 hours and lost 10-2.
Ryan Webb and Craig Tribe scored twice for the Raiders with Nick Compton, Aaron Edwards, Jeremy Cornish, Jaroslav Cesky, Corey Watkins and Damon Larter getting one each.
London Raiders hosted the league champions Chelmsford at Lee Valley Ice Centre and were beaten 9-2 by the Essex side, who iced four lines.
Chelmsford goals came courtesy of a Juraj Huska hat trick, two goals from Cameron Bartlett and one each for Darren Brown, Ollie Baldock, Olegs Lascenko and Charlie Phillips.
Rio Grinell-Parke and Seb Downing were on target for the Raiders.
Sunday Hockey
The big matches of the evening took place in Oxford and Solent as both relegation strugglers Bracknell and Cardiff desperately sought much needed points to survive.
The Hornets were unable to get anything from Oxpens Road as the City Stars beat them 7-1. There was a SEGA game giveaway at the fixture with rumours of NBA Jam for the now retro Mega Drive as first prize, but the main man ‘on fire’ during the evening was not a pixelated Shaquille O’Neill or Sir Charles Barkley but in fact Alan Green who bagged a hat trick from down town.
Survival for Bracknell at last (Kev Slyfield)
Oxfords other goals came thanks to two goals from Mike Whillock and one each for Josh Florey and Ben Ealey-Newman.
Brandon Miles got the consolation for Bracknell who needed Solent to beat Cardiff to keep them in the division.
At 0-0 going into the final period the Gosport Ice Arena has rarely seen such tension as the Devils of the Cardiff variety fought desperately to stay in the league.
With ten minutes to go they had a five minute powerplay thanks to an ejection of Mitch Murray, but they picked up a minor themselves shortly afterwards and it was George Norcliffe who sent the Welsh side down to NIHL 2 with a goal to give his side a 1-0 win.
Norcliffe can no doubt expect a magnum of champagne from the Bracknell boys through the post this week as the Hornets survive as a result.
This is the second season in a row Cardiff have finished bottom of the league and it remains to be seen if they win a second reprieve and avoid relegation.
The big question hinges on who wins the championship of NIHL 2 and whether they will be able to move up to NIHL 1. On that front, an interesting summer lies ahead.
In the other league games, Invicta Dynamos beat Streatham Redskins 4-0, thanks mainly to a 40 shot shut out from Damien King.
Hooded King on form
In front of a decent crowd given the nature of the game the Mo’s won thanks to two goals from Conor Redmond and one each from Nicky Lewis and Jacob Ranson.
The result puts Invicta in second position in the final standings a long way behind Chelmsford which shows what a one horse race this league campaign has largely been sadly.
Invicta’s Steven Osman finishes as league top scorer after the weekend results which is a great achievement and everyone at Pro Hockey News doffs their cap in his direction – but we will still continue to use the tropical bird picture as it is amazing.
The champions themselves needed a late, late equaliser from Cameron Bartlett to make it 2-2 against Wightlink Raiders in Essex.
Jurak Huska had opened the scoring for Chelmsford but a brace from Jordan Gregory (according to the gamesheet – although there are rumours Craig Tribe scored one of them) had looked to put Wighlink on the march for two impressive road points at one stage.
Young Chieftains blue liner Charlie Phillips was kicked out for high sticks towards the end of the first period to make it a whopping 118 penalty minutes in only 12 games played.
The Chieftains had their league trophy presentation after the game, complete with bespoke Champions hats and look to add their third piece of silverware of the season when they play Streatham in the cup final next weekend.
The final game of the evening took place in Milton Keynes as London Raiders looked to snap three game losing streak.
The Thunder could not move any higher than seventh place but they came from behind to win 7-5 in a topsy turvy game at the Thunderdome.
Wall helps MK to victory (Paul Foster)
Alex Whyte, Jamie Line, Ryan Coffey Nidal Phillips, Ross Bowers, Harrison Goode and Nick Poole all scored for Milton Keynes who now look set to face Invicta Dynamos in the Play-Offs.
Seb Downing continued his scoring streak with two more to his name to add to efforts from Rio Grinell-Parke, Michal Oravec and Marek Nahlik.
This means the Play-Off match ups are Chelmsford v London, Invicta v MK, Wightlink v Solent and Streatham v Oxford. There are still a few dead rubber games to play next weekend along with the Cup final and after that its Play-Off time.
Results
Thursday 17 March 2016
Wightlink Raiders 7-3 Solent Devils
Saturday 19 March 2016
Wightlink Raiders 10-2 Solent Devils
Cardiff NIHL Devils 2-4 Invicta Dynamos
London Raiders 2-9 Chelmsford Chieftains
Sunday 20 March 2016
Invicta Dynamos 4-0 Streatham Redskins
Oxford City Stars 7-1 Bracknell Hornets
Chelmsford Chieftains 2-2 Wightlink Raiders
Solent Devils 1-0 Cardiff NIHL Devils (Cardiff relegated)
MK Thunder 7-5 London Raiders
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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