LONDON, UK – With the season now five weeks old and teams beginning to gel, you might think the league would be getting a little predictable, but thankfully there is always a drama in the NIHL South.
New season, same old Streatham v Invicta (Rick Webb)
With Oxford’s import Andrew Magee missing last week’s fixtures through reported illness, it was a surprise to all of the City Stars fans during the week, when it was announced he had left the club.
No mention of an ill-fated BBQ in the story line this time, but Oxford quickly announced that they had signed a replacement named Boris. Sadly for comedic value it was not the outgoing Mayor of London Boris Johnson, but in fact 6’ 3” Slovakian defenseman Boris Ruzicka.
Magee departs (Stu Widdows)
“Boris will give us a presence at the back end” said Simon Anderson, in front of a giggling media presence at Oxpens Road.
“He is someone who will give us composure and improve our transition game. We have struggled moving the puck out of our end, it’s something that has not improved from last season and Boris will do that and hopefully strengthen us defensively as well.”
Magee’s next steps are unknown, but Oxford are also searching for a replacement import forward to take them up to maximum allocation.
It has been a season of fan competitions so far this year with the success of the Streatham Selfie competion last week and now the Wightlink Raiders fast food extravaganza.
The Ryde based outfit revealed a programme competition for fans to win a ‘Fish and Chip Supper for Two’ at the Codfather chippy across the road. Regular readers of the column will remember a quip about the portion size of their ‘large’ chips a couple of years ago, but the restaurant is now back in our good books after linking up with the hockey team.
Decent bruise for Tarczycki
The Raiders followed this up by announcing that a lucky season ticket holder would also win a free pizza from Blaze café bar, but did not specify how. Perhaps the Raiders Marketing team could ask for fans to submit selfies with former Raiders legend Tony Blaize to win the pizza?
After only two tattoo submissions, tattoo of the week gives way to bruise of the week. This time its Streatham’s Jack Tarczycki who not only gives us a glimpse of his classic red and white striped boxer shorts but also a bruise on his leg to rival any other.
In a rare occurrence for the NIHL, Invicta Dynamos and Chelmsford Chieftains played a midweek cup game on Thursday in Kent.
Midweek games are a regular fixture in the leagues above but for the third tier they are usually as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit. To their credit, a fair amount of fans showed up to watch a game that Invicta looked like winning until Chelmsford pulled away and won 4-2.
Matt Turner, Lukas Zatopek, James Ayling and Juraj Huska scored for Chelmsford whilst Ondrej Zosiak and Adam McNicoll replied for the Mo’s.
More clubs than Tiger Woods
Invicta’s Jack Lee and Chelmsford’s Grant Bartlett dropped the gloves to add further talking points. The incident summed up how hockey fights divide opinion as Kent Sports News reported a win for Lee, whilst Chelmsford claimed Bartlett was the victor.
Thankfully with Invicta games there is always the excellent Mo’s TV to help clarify any controversy and their highlights package features all of the action HERE
Finally in the news, a furry polar bear mascot was a busy boy in the home-counties during the week as he appeared at a school assembly promoting the Milton Keynes Lightning and then rocked up at the Special Effect charity alongside a number of Oxford City Stars players.
Who is inside the suit, who would they choose to support if the City Stars played the Lightning and finally did they cook the food at the BBQ that got rid of Andrew Bates and also made Magee ill?
Saturday’s Hockey
Games between London Raiders and Chelmsford Chieftains are always packed with incident and this clash was no different.
Mexican wave in Streatham (Rick Webb)
Everything from the pre-game Lee Valley laser show on the warm ups, mid period streaker and the players doing balloons on the bench, made it a spectacle to remember.
Sadly none of this happened as no officials were allocated to the game and everyone had to get back in their cars and join the Lea Bridge Road traffic much earlier than anticipated.
The EIHA reportedly apologised to both teams for the mix up.
Streatham hosted Invicta hoping to continue their unbeaten league run, but the visitors skated off with a 4-3 victory thanks to two late goals.
Mo’s scorers were Arran Strawson and Eriks Ozollapa with a brace each, whilst Adam Wood, Joe Allen and Steven Fisher were on target for Streatham.
Paynter gets two goals (Nicky Craft)
Streatham’s ill-discipline took a turn for the worse in the game and they took an incredible 36 minutes in minor penalties. For Invicta it was an impressive display high in effort and determination.
Wightlink Raiders kept up momentum at the top of the table with a seemingly straightforward win over Cardiff Devils NL.
Three goals in the opening 12 minutes set the tone for the home side as they also handed a full start to goalie Aaron Craft.
Ben Paynter scored two goals for the island side with Ryan Webb and Danny Rose also on target. For Cardiff it was Thomas Stuart Dant with the consolation effort.
Sunday’s Hockey
Oxford City Stars came from 4-2 down to beat Solent Devils 5-4 at Oxpens Road.
Dax Hedges hit the late winner for the Stars with Josh Oliver, Josh Florey, Darren Elliott and Josh Ealey-Newman getting the other goals.
George Norcliffe scored twice for Solent with Alex Cole and Mitch Murray getting a goal each.
Solent and Oxford get fiesty (Paul Foster)
For 17 year old Ealey-Newman it was his first NIHL 1 goal so well done to him.
Milton Keynes Thunder beat the visiting London Raiders 6-2 in the land of concrete cows.
Former Cheiftain Tom Castle scored two for MK, with Harrison Goode, Ross Bowers, Jamie Line and the veteran Simon Howard getting the others. For London it was Frankie Harvey and Marek Nahlik with the goals.
Streatham managed to finish their weekend off with a smile as they beat Bracknell Hornets 10-2 in South London.
Steven Fisher hit a hat trick for Streatham, Kamil Kinkor and Adam Wood scored two each, and Joe Johnston, Liam Rasmussen and Chris Wiggins got the others. For Bracknell it was Greg Chambers and Brandon Miles with the goals.
In contrast to the previous evening Streatham took only two minutes in penalties all evening.
Bartlett a busy man (Emily Snoding)
In the final game of the evening Chelmsford Chieftains hosted Invicta Dynamos in the NIHL Cup with the Dynamos looking to continue their good form.
Just like they did to Streatham the week before, the home side scored three quick goals at the start of the game and it was downhill from there as they fired 11 goals past the Mo’s with no reply.
Youngster Jake Sylvester scored two for Chelmsford with Matt Turner, Ollie Baldock, Julian Smith, Anthony Leone, Danny Hammond, Ross Brears, Juraj Huska, Sean Barry and Grant Bartlett also on target.
Euan King got the shut out for Chelmsford, whilst there were also punches thrown as Arran Strawson tangled with Cameron Bartlett and then so did Harrison Lillis later in the game.
The results leave Streatham on top of the table ahead of Wightlink, and Bracknell rooted at the bottom and winless.
Results
Saturday 3 October 2015
Streatham Redskins 3-4 Invicta Dynamos
Wightlink 4-1 Cardiff Devils NL
London Raiders v Chelmsford Chieftains (Match abandoned)
Sunday 4th October 2015
Oxford City Stars 5-4 Solent Devils
Streatham Redskins 10-2 Bracknell Hornets
Milton Keynes Thunder 6-2 London Raiders
Chelmsford Chieftains 11-0 Invicta Dynamos (NIHL Cup)
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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