RYDE, UK – Last season’s Play-Off Champions Wightlink Raiders had an eventful summer with their rink rescued by a newly formed not-for profit group formed of local people. Forward Ben Paynter talks to Pro Hockey News about the season so far for the Wightlink Raiders.
Photo by Nicky Craft
It has been a mixed start for the Raiders this season with early results positive then followed by a couple of slip ups that leave the team in third place in the league standings. It was a similar scenario last season too, with a number of new faces taking time to settle in to the unique surroundings of Ryde Arena.
“The new boys are settling in well” explains Paynter who is based in Southampton just across the water.
“I think it takes everyone a little while to get used to playing on the small ice but I think we will get better and better and be challenging for trophies come the end of the year.”
“It helps that the majority of the team travel together on the Cat (catamaran), it helps people get to know each other and guys like Danny Ingoldsby lighten the mood with his ridiculous antics.”
Team spirit is vital on a team that has the most arduous travel commitments of any in the NIHL South, and indeed the close knit nature of the squad by the end of each season perhaps indicates why in recent seasons at least, they have been slow burners to reach top form.
“I enjoyed last season, probably the most I’ve enjoyed hockey in a long time” admits 20 year old Paynter.
“Corny (Jeremy Cornish) always has a team that gets on well and a good group of guys so that’s a plus, as well as the fact it’s a great place the play, the management treat you really well and look after you and the fans are great.”
“Prior to playing on the island I have never played for a team expected to be at the top of the table so it’s nice to have that added pressure and go into every game expecting a win. Winning the play offs last year was also an added bonus.”
Ben.. Matt.. Ben?
That Play-Off win was unexpected in many quarters, with fellow finalists Invicta Dynamos favourites over the two legs. The second leg was all set up for a Dynamos win in front of a large and expectant home crowd, however the Raiders shocked the hosts thanks to a Jaroslav Cesky inspired victory.
It was the tactics employed by Player Coach Jeremy Cornish that earned the plaudits from many observers and with the big Canadian now in his seventh season at the club, Paynter is in no doubt of his influence.
“It’s good playing for Corny, it must be tough being a player coach to get the right mix of being one of the boys but also being the coach”
“I think Corny has it spot on. You know what is expected of you. He is what I expected when I signed, as he was a teacher at my school when I was there, I think he had the same attitude at school as he does as a Player Coach where he is respected but always good for a laugh.”
As is the case with most familiar surnames in hockey, it isn’t long before fans realise that the players they cheered in the past have produced another in the circle of life. So when Wightlink Raiders signed Paynter in the summer of 2014, long term Raiders fans must have guessed that he would be related to long time Island favourite Matt Paynter.
Now 44, Paynter Senior is long retired but did in fact ice for the first ever league side on the Isle of Wight, namely Solent Vikings in 1991 and then for the newly formed Isle of Wight Raiders where he played seven consecutive seasons up until 1999.
Born in 1994, Paynter junior missed out on some of the golden years of early Island hockey where all-time scorer Dan Sweeney and his Dad helped write a history still looked upon fondly in Ryde.
“I remember being around the rink as a kid and have vague memories of him playing but don’t really remember watching.” admits Paynter.
Ryde Arena saved and smelling great
“As weird as it sounds the smell of the rink is what I remember most.”
“My Dad does get mentioned a lot yes, I get chirped a lot by the boys about how my Dad is the better Raider, I have also adopted the nickname Matt.”
“The fans also mentioned him a lot when I signed; followed by them telling me they remember me when I was small etc.”
“My dad usually comes to every home game, I think he just likes going back over the island. He was pleased for me when I signed there; I think secretly he always wanted me to.”
Along with team mate Jordan Gregory, Paynter is currently sporting a flow to make fictional Hamilton Mustangs star Derek Sutton green with envy. The pair played juniors together at Bracknell and are not alone with a number of NIHL players adopting a hair style long popular with hockey players through the decades.
Having a flow is no easy business and it also requires regular upkeep, especially with the helmets worn in hockey.
“I receive so much abuse about it sometimes I don’t think it’s worth it” explains the youngster.
“But really the only reason it’s there is to cover the fact I have a big head and I’ve had long hair since I was about 11 I just don’t have be bottle to cut it off.”
“Having a mum as a hair dresser helps keep it in good condition, no one else has ever touched my hair.”
In Bracknell days…
As for long term ambitions in the game, Paynter is happy on the island but after dropping down from the EPL to arrive at the Raiders, he admits that if the chance came to step up again he would give it a go.
“As much as I love playing on the island I would like to give it another go one day, but only if the time was right and if it was at the right club, as I think my confidence was affected massively last time” he admits.
Wightlink Raiders host Streatham Redskins this weekend in the Cup on Saturday before travelling to Cardiff Devils NL the following day in league action.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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