GOSPORT, UK – They say in life you have to experience the lows to really appreciate the highs and for Solent Devils Player Coach Alex Murray, the weekend just gone was certainly a fitting reward for the work he and his team have put in this campaign to compete in National Ice Hockey League Division 1.
Edging ahead of the Hornets (Kev Slyfield)
After eight games without a win, the Solent Devils ripped up the form book and stamped on it with two stunning victories in 48 hours that saw them beat Invicta Dynamos and Oxford City Stars convincingly.
It was not just the victories themselves but the manner of them that stunned the rest of the league. Both Invicta and Oxford would have been the bookies favourites pre-game to take the points, but found themselves conceding eight and ten goals respectively as the Devils went wild.
‘It has to rank up there with one of the best weekends of my coaching career’ admits 27 year old Murray, whose father Pete was also a long time servant of the game.
‘I would be lying if I said to you there was no element of surprise, however am I surprised we beat Invicta and Oxford? No, on our day we are a capable of beating anyone in this league and that is the beauty of the NIHL.’
Winning at Oxford (Paul Foster)
‘The surprising element could be the fact we have won these games back to back following positive results for our opponents in recent weeks and with the current form table having us rock bottom prior to this weekend.’
Playing in a struggling side is hard enough, but when you are responsible for the coaching too, it really is a big challenge to keep the positivity going and plug away against sides with bigger budgets. Solent are one of the smaller clubs in the league and every season brings a big challenge to be competitive, something they have certainly managed to do since their return to the league.
‘We have had a difficult campaign so far, which has not been helped by injuries and suspensions’ explains Murray.
‘In addition to personnel problems the league structure itself has not helped our situation. Cardiff pulling out the league at the 11th hour meant that we missed out on 4 games which last season we took 7 points from.’
‘Furthermore the loss of Wightlink meant that the majority of the teams managed to strengthen considerably picking up some of the best players in the league, whilst although being the closest team in terms of location to Wightlink we only managed to secure Aidan Doughty from the Raiders.’
‘We just don’t have the budget to attract those types of players, to be honest, we don’t have a budget, so even players released by other clubs to make way for ex-Raiders joining them were unrealistic for us. The biggest challenge though has been getting a fit full line up regularly, and this week was the first time in a long time where I was able to have a full squad for both days.’
Despite the poor early season form, there have been bright spots. The form of evergreen forward Richard Facey has held up and he leads the team in scoring, closely followed by Matt Lawday who is also lighting the lamp on a regular basis for the team.
Add in highly rated goalie Chico Cole and brother and Captain Alex plus an eager young Brit pack and it’s easy to see why Murray feels confident of results when he can get everyone on the ice.
Facey on form (Kev Slyfield)
‘Facey is a top six player on any team in this league, his leadership and experience is second to none’ says Murray.
‘He is a very valuable asset to the team, and has contributed on and off the ice considerably since he joined us.’
‘Matt Lawday is a goal scorer with a point to prove, after a disappointing campaign last year at Wightlink with limited opportunities, Matt is enjoying the responsibility of being a go to guy when we need a goal. He has already bagged two hat tricks this year, and if you give him the puck around the net he will score.’
This is Murray’s fourth season with the club after he joined from Wightlink Raiders back in 2013 and he is the youngest coach in the league by some distance.
Coming from a hockey family he knows the sport as well as anyone, but admits that his enthusiasm for the game has been tested this year.
‘Admittedly before this weekend I went through a very tough period. We hadn’t won a game since October and I began to question my coaching and playing ability’ he admits.
‘For the first time ever I started falling out of love with the game, and it wasn’t a nice feeling. Luckily I have a great support team around me at Solent and following meetings with my coaching and management team, as well as meetings with certain players we decided to make changes to the line-up and how we do things, and I’m delighted that the changes appeared to have worked this weekend.’
‘I am someone who is very regimented and like things done my way and nothing else, I think opening up and letting others contribute ideas has helped, and it has created and new lease of life in me and in the team.’
The return of stalwart Drew Campbell certainly won’t harm the team’s chances of a longer upturn in form. The former Basingstoke and Haringey sniper was a star with the team when they got promoted from NIHL 2 a few years back and is an experienced pick up at this stage in the season.
Lawday celebrates (Paul Foster)
‘Drew had always wanted to return to Solent, we have remained good friends since his departure two years ago, and we talk regularly I have tried to sign him from the moment he told me he was leaving the Racers, and I’m delighted he finally got bored of me asking and decided to return’ explains Murray.
‘Drew is a very experienced player who can score goals at will, he has a natural eye for goal, but also controls the game well. He gives me another option in the middle and an additional scoring threat on my top line.’
Two games certainly do not make a season, and with league leaders Chelmsford coming up this weekend an unbeaten streak may be a tall ask. Solent are currently three points ahead of bottom placed Bracknell Hornets and have four games in hand. Aspirations have changed after a poor start, however Murray is still ambitious as to how the season might pan out.
‘At the start of the year, we lost some keys players’ he admits.
‘The likes of Magee, Circenis, and Norcliffe are hard players to replace, but I still had the aim of going on step further than last year. In my three full years coaching this team I have managed to move up a place in the league a year at a time going from 8th, 7th and last year 6th so I was committed to continuing that trend.’
‘Following the changes in the league I’ve had to re-evaluate our goals, but we still aim to catch those above us in 6th and 5th whilst being very conscious of the Hornets behind us. We have three games against MK left this season and if we are to firstly catch them we must look to get the better of them during those matches.’
‘It would also be nice to get past the 1st round of the playoffs. The last two season we have given a great account of ourselves, but have just fallen short, now with a more experienced line up, in hoping we can turn a top team over and make the semi-finals at least.’
Murray thankful (Dave Chapman)
Solent travel to Chelmsford this Saturday and then have a road game in Streatham the following weekend, a venue they earned their first ever victory at earlier in the season.
Murray will be hoping his side give a good account of themselves in both games and is certainly appreciative of all those who work together to keep the team going.
‘There are a lot of really good people who support me and the Solent Devils, there are a lot of people who do things as volunteers, with the majority of them incurring costs which they cover themselves due to our financial position. Without these people we simply would be in the position we are in.’
‘Of course I am also lucky to have a wonderful family who put up with me during hockey season. The commitment required to play at this levels puts pressure on your life at home but I’m lucky to have a supportive and loving family who support me through the season.’
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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