LONDON, UK – The NIHL Britton Conference began to take shape this week as the title race continued at pace, and the league unveiled a new rink to the delight of hockey fans across the UK.
Webster and Bakrlik meet again (Kev Slyfield)
There was good news in Peterborough during the week as the Phantoms inducted former goalie Stephen Wall into their Hall of Honour. The popular Geordie stopper was last seen in action for Milton Keynes Thunder but it was his time at Bretton Way that gave him his best moments between the pipes.
“When I was asked, I was like howay man that’s class” said Wall in the press release. “I couldn’t stop smiling, it means so much to me. Thank you Dave and Jo and the Phantoms, for giving me this opportunity I really am blown away”.
Someone else who was blown away midweek was the Mayor of Swindon, who invited the Wildcats round for afternoon tea and got her hands on a shiny red helmet.
The report on the Total Swindon website claimed the team was ‘shown round the Council Chamber and even sat behind the desks on the comfortable chairs, where so much of Swindon’s history has been decided.’
The Mace, the Helmet and Chains… with the Mayor
Player Coach Aaron Nell was visibly moved as he sat in the exact same spot planning permission was signed off for both the much vaunted Swindon Designer Outlet and the extension to Scott Gough’s house.
The build up to the opening of the new Romford ice rink dominated the run-up to the weekend, with Pro Hockey News publishing a piece documenting the interim period between the old Rom Valley Way ice rink closing and the new facility opening. The first fixture in the new rink sold 1200 tickets in advance, with 1800 reportedly on the waiting list signalling a bright future for the Raiders in the coming years.
It’s important to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of those who keep clubs going in adversity, especially when they have to locate away from their traditional homeland. Undoubtedly the stars have aligned for the Raiders but had their small band of volunteers not put in the effort to keep the team going, the gold and blue army would be starting from a considerable disadvantage to the position they now enjoy.
You can read the interview with Raiders CEO John Scott HERE.
The EIHA announced the Player of the Month awards for January with Streatham’s Michael Farn picking up the gong for the Britton Conference. Farn has been a standout for the RedHawks all year and is the highest scoring defenseman in the league.
“Michael has proven he’s an elite talent in this league this year” said Head Coach Jeremy Cornish. “Not only is he helping to lead our team on the ice, he’s a natural leader that’s fantastic in the locker room.”
Saturday action review
The game of the day was undoubtedly at the new Romford rink, where a sell-out crowd watched the nervous Raiders survive a backs against the wall display by the Cardiff Fire to win 5-2. The score was unbelievably poised at 2-2 going into the final twenty minutes, so the crowd got the drama befitting the occasion.
HADOUKEN!!! (John Scott)
The honour of the first goal in the new rink went to Cardiff youngster Jackson Price whose shorthanded effort in the first period marked a little piece of history. Sam Bryant got the other Cardiff goal while John Connolly, Brandon Ayliffe, Marek Nahlik, Olegs Lascenko and Matt Turner made history for the Raiders with a goal each.
Raiders’ Alan Lack and Fire’s Elis Sheppard also made history by dropping the gloves for the first fight in the new rink. You can watch it here.
The Raiders kindly provided Pro Hockey News with complimentary media passes, but sadly our team were unable to attend. Fellow media outlet 482 Days were in attendance of course, and they made a toddler cry by eating the last available Hot Dog before taking a full bottle of burger sauce up to their seats where they guzzled it like squirty cream for twenty minutes solid.
VIP security makes an error
Another person guzzling was veteran referee Blaine Evans, who tucked into the post-game buffet with the enthusiasm of a polar explorer after three days on the ice sheet. Amusingly (and this is not a joke), the fire alarm went off after the game while Evans was stuffing his face and he had to negotiate an exit food in hand, before eventually returning up to the VIP lounge with crumbs around his face and an empty plate once the alarm was switched off.
If the occasion in Romford was important in historical terms, as far as the league title race was concerned there was a game of more significance in Hampshire as Basingstoke Bison came from behind to register an important 4-3 win over league leaders Peterborough Phantoms.
Goals from Dan Scott, Grant Rounding, Dan Davies and Josh Smith sealed a massive two points for the Bison, with Ales Padelek, Nathan Salem and Owen Griffiths on target for the Phantoms.
They say the best way in hockey to settle a score is on the scoreboard, but in truth dropping the gloves can be more satisfying for the individuals. So with eight seconds on the clock Invicta’s Mason Webster dropped the gloves with Bracknell’s Frantisek Bakrlik for the most anticipated bout of the season so far.
Unfortunately it ended almost as soon as it began with the officials jumping in on safety grounds and both players headed to the penalty box.
The Bees went on to win the match comfortably 5-1 with Shaun Thompson, James Galazzi, Alex Barker, Danny Ingoldsby and Carl Thompson on target. Scott Bailey got the consolation for the Mo’s and Brandon Webster dropped the gloves with Harvey Stead to add to the storyline.
Busy King (Kev Slyfield)
The game was soured at the end as a young girl in the crowd was hit by a flying puck. Reports later came through that thankfully a trip to the hospital had managed to glue together her forehead and everyone here at Pro Hockey News wishes her a speedy recovery.
The final game of the day saw Swindon Wildcats run rampant over Streatham with an 8-3 win. Floyd Taylor was the star of the show with a hat trick in a game the Cats were bizarrely outshot over sixty minutes.
Aaron Nell, Edgars Bebris, Luc Johnson, Phil Hill and Max Birbraer got the other goals for Swindon with Joe Allen, Ryan Watt and Ben Paynter all on target for Streatham.
Sunday action review
Invicta Dynamos looked to be on their way to a famous comeback as they clawed back from 4-1 down to tie Basingstoke Bison 4-4 with twenty minutes remaining. Sadly for the home fans the Bison eased away with three unanswered goals to rise to the top of the league with a 7-4 win.
Dan Davies and Tomas Karpov both notched a brace for the Bison with Hallam Wilson, Ivan Antonov and Joe Baird also on target. For the Mo’s Mason Webster scored two to cap off an eventful weekend for him, while Louis Colvin and Jaroslav Cesky got the other goals.
The result put the Bison top of the league ahead of Peterborough on the head to head and with a game in hand. For Invicta it marked their fourth consecutive defeat.
In Cardiff, the Fire named veteran James Manson in the squad but couldn’t build on the previous evening’s heroics as they slumped to a 5-1 defeat to Bracknell Bees.
The Bees were without the suspended Frankie Bakrlik and snow dog Callum Best, but a James Galazzi brace and lone efforts from Shaun Thompson, Jan Bendik and Ben Ealey –Newman were enough to seal a four point weekend for Scott Spearing’s men.
Farn on target (Rick Webb)
In the London derby Streatham came out firing early on building a first period 4-1 lead over the London Raiders.
The visitors came back in to the game late on but eventually went down 4-3 in a typically event filled encounter. Michael Farn scored two for the RedHawks with Adam Carr and Andreas Siagris also on target. For London Ollie Baldock scored a brace with Juraj Huska also on target.
The crowd got their monies worth as Baldock and Ryan Watt dropped the gloves with the former being ejected on a spearing call, then in the dying seconds Callum Wells and Ben Paynter danced to the delight of the crowd.
The win was much needed for the RedHawks in their bid to catch either the Raiders or Bees for 4th or 5th place.
Results
Saturday 3 February 2018
Bracknell Bees 5 Invicta Dynamos 1
Swindon Wildcats 8 Streatham IHC 3
London Raiders 5 Cardiff Fire 2
Basingstoke Bison 4 Peterborough Phantoms 3
Sunday 4 February 2018
Streatham 4 London Raiders 3
Invicta Dynamos 4 Basingstoke Bison 7
Cardiff Fire 1 Bracknell Bees 5
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.