LONDON, UK – As another storm decided to batter the UK, hockey fans were left with a struggle again to make it to games. For some it was worth the effort, for others less so.
There was relief during the week when the EIHA announced that all games postponed for the weather the previous weekend would be replayed rather than any blame attached for refusal to travel.
For the many players who got a surprise night off, the realisation that an unscheduled weekend would now be taken up with a rearranged game would have hit hard in some parts. Cancel the mini break to Amsterdam.. we’ve got Chelmsford away!
Excitement was building in South London as Streatham looked forward to their first opportunity to lift a trophy in 38 years in the NIHL South Cup Final against Invicta Dynamos.
“Playing in cup finals and for trophies in general are why we all play ice hockey but winning trophies is also the hardest thing to do” said Captain Michael Farn in the South London Press.
“When these opportunities come round it’s so important to be at your best but not to let your emotions get the better of you”.
Invicta Dynamos teenage netminder Owen Rider announced that he would be taking part in a World Challenge next March. Owen will make a two week trip to Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) that will include working to help up to 180,000 AIDS orphans in the country.
Maldives IHC
Owen could assist in construction, agricultural work, teaching, cooking or numerous other activities to help improve the lives of all in the community and his Go Fund me link is here.
The Pro Hockey News research machine kicked in to see if Rider could get on the ice in Eswatini but sadly the only hockey that is played there is the version on astro turf with the weird looking sticks and anti-backhand rules.
The nearest rink is in Nelspruit, South Africa just two and a half hours drive away should he wish to extend his stay for some spring training.
The Google rabbit hole did lead to an advert for the first ice rink to open on the Maldives. And yes we would like to fly over, do a review and maybe slap a few pucks onto the white sand.
Saturday review
It was smiles all round at the Riverside as Chelmsford Chieftains beat Cardiff Fire 13-3 then skated with fans to the delight of all – except the skate hire staff working an extra tough shift.
Jaden Boolkah celebrated his first goal in Chieftains colours and was named man of the match in a night to remember for the 16 year old. Chelmsford’s other scorers were Cam Bartlett, James Ayling and Matt Turner with brace each and lone goals for Elliot Dervish, Darren Brown, Courtney Grant, Adam Jakopin, Julian Smith and Ross Brears.
Chelmo skate with fans
Fire scorers were Kristians Kasjanovs, Iwan Davies and Elis Sheppard.
Bracknell Hornets made it back to back wins with a thrilling 5-4 victory over local rivals Slough Jets at the Hangar. Three goals in the final five minutes kept the crowd on the edge of their seats with Ben Ealey-Newman getting the winner (and his second goal of the game) just 18 seconds from the buzzer.
Connor Hutchison, David Millner and Ryan Apsley were also on target for Bracknel, with Slough’s goals coming from Liam Underdown, Lewis English, Christian Mohr and Jacob Soper.
Fists flew at the end of the 1st as English and Hutchison dropped the gloves to add to the drama.
Second placed Solent Devils closed the gap on Streatham at the top of the league as they beat Raiders Juniors 8-3 at a windy Gosport.
Ralfs Circenis bagged four goals for the Devils to add to efforts from Mark Pitts, Drew Campbell, Richard Facey and Alex Murray. For the short benched Raiders it was Tommy Huggett with two goals and a lone effort from Captain Sam Roberts.
You can listen to Murray’s post-game thoughts here.
The first leg of the NIHL South 1 Cup final took place in Gillingham as Streatham looked to gain an early advantage against the Invicta Dynamos.
A dominant first period from the visitors put them 4-0 ahead and sucked the wind out of the hosts, with the final scoreline ending 7-3 in the RedHawks favour.
Ryan Watt scored a hat trick for Streatham to add to a brace from Adam Carr and lone goals from Scott Bailey and Danny Ingoldsby.
To add to the storyline, Bailey stepped in to an altercation between RedHawks Captain Michael Farn and Harrison Lillis before dropping the gloves with his old team mate.
Sunday review
Streatham lifted the NIHL South Cup with another dominant display on home ice beating Invicta 6-2 on the night and 13-5 on aggregate.
Despite being often overlooked as one of the trophies to win each year, the Cup final occasion brought a full house to Streatham and there were emotional scenes at the end of the game from long-time fans.
Ziggy Beesley opened the scoring and the hosts never looked back as Michael Farn, Adam Wood, Adam Carr, Ben Paynter and Danny Ingoldsby went on to light the lamp. It was a night to forget for the Dynamos whose import Tomas Banovsky picked up an injury and didn’t ice for much of the game. Juraj Huska and Anthony Leone got the consolation efforts for the Dynamos.
Like a London bus… 2 wins in a week for MK Thunder
Milton Keynes Thunder waited all year for a win and then two came along in the space of a week as they shut out the Slough Jets 5-0 at the Thunderdome.
Sam Dean scored twice in the game adding to lone goals from Sam Chandler, Connor Mellett and Sam Prosser.
Netminder Graham Laverick enjoyed a 33 shot shut out to add to the good news.
Bracknell Hornets completed a superb four point weekend as they stunned Chelmsford with a 3-2 overtime win at the Riverside.
Ben Ealey-Newman was again the hero, scoring 30 seconds into overtime after the Chieftains had clawed back from 2-0 down with eight minutes to go.
David Millner and Michael Stratford got the other goals for the Hornets, with Grant Bartlett and Darren Brown on target for Chelmsford.
Tom Annetts put in a solid shift between the pipes for Bracknell facing 57 shots over the sixty minutes and ending with a 96% save average.
Solent Devils also enjoyed a 4 point weekend as they made it back to back wins over Raiders Juniors with a 5-3 scoreline.
A Richard Facey double and solo efforts from Steven Osman, Ralfs Circenis and Alex Murray bagged the points for the Devils, with Vilius Krakauskas, Ewan Hill and Sam Austin replying for the Raiders.
Fire on Fire by James Assinder
The result narrows the gap at the top to just two points between the Devils and league leaders Streatham.
Cardiff Fire continued their decent 2020 form with a narrow 3-2 win over the Oxford City Stars in South Wales.
Mark Cuddihy’s men came from 2-1 down to win with Kristians Kasjanovs, Cameron Basnett and Reed Sayers the scorers. Jake Williams and Matt Lawday replied for the City Stars.
Fire player Lewis Stevens was ejected at the end of the 2nd period on a kicking call.
Next week the Dynamos get the chance to bounce back with a home tie against Chelmsford and the top two teams in the league go head to head in South London as Solent travel to Streatham in a crunch game.
Saturday 15 February 2020
Solent Devils 8-3 Raiders Jnr
Slough Jets 4-5 Bracknell Hornets
Chelmsford Chieftains 13-3 Cardiff Fire
Invicta Dynamos 3-7 Streatham IHC (Cup final 1st leg)
Sunday 16 February 2020
Raiders Jnr 3-5 Solent Devils
Cardiff Fire 3-2 Oxford City Stars
Chelmsford Chieftains 2-2 Bracknell Hornets (Bracknell win in OT)
MK Thunder 5-0 Slough Jets
Streatham IHC 6-2 Invicta Dynamos (Streatham win 13-5 on aggregate)
Contact the author: davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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