LONDON, UK – With Storm Desmond battering the UK, the NIHL South continued to bring a little relief to hockey fans.
The rarely spotted Huska clapper (Steve Sutherland)
In an embarrassing climb down we have to retract our recent stinging criticism of the wind this week, as it appears that the weather phenomenon has done the NIHL a favour.
After damaging the roof of Ryde Arena last month we did not hold back with our thoughts on the fast travelling air current, but it appears we jumped the gun somewhat.
It appears from reports in the Isle of Wight County Press that the insurers will in fact pay out for the damaged roof, and along with a grant from Sports England and money from the Ryde Arena Trust this will help improve other facilities too.
Drone footage of Ryde Arena Roof
’It’s a good result all round’ said Ian Jenkins, chair of the Ryde Arena Trust.
‘It looked really bad for us but it’s amazing how things can change. We want to improve the visitor experience at the rink, so the grant money will help us make some important changes.’
‘The plans include refurbishing the bar and cafe areas, plus new changing rooms and toilet facilities.’
Regular readers will remember our exclusive reports of a yellow slug feeding off the moisture of the away changing room wall last year in Ryde Arena, so this news will certainly be welcome amongst NIHL players.
The only bad news is that the repairs are reportedly not due before Christmas and Wightlink Raiders home game against London Raiders was cancelled for the upcoming weekend.
Streatham forward Kamil Kinkor has made a good impression since signing for the London side and the big Czech revealed his sensitive side in an interview with the match night programme. After revealing that doctors once told him he was lucky not to have his leg chopped off after an injury, the forward then revealed details of his perfect partner.
Kinkor requires GSOH
‘She definitely has to have a sense of humour, love coming to hockey and be a good cook’ said the Czech who has scored 18 goals in as many games this season.
‘One day I would like to have a family with children running around banging hockey sticks on the walls.’
Streatham picked Kinkor up in the summer after he moved to London and was skating with the London Devils recreational side up at Alexandra Palace. It was a stroke of good fortune as he had previously starred in the IIHF Continental Cup with Beostar of Belgrade, Serbia last season. In a hard hitting yet personal interview, Kinkor also revealed that his number one tourist attraction in the capital was the London Eye.
In other rink news, details emerged from Romford that demolition work had started on the site of the new leisure centre that will of course include a new ice rink. The Romford Recorder ran a brief piece suggesting building work will begin as early as January on the new complex.
You can read more about this, and of course see the obligatory picture of the local council leader Roger Ramsey stood outside watching the demolition by clicking HERE
As suggested by Pro Hockey News last week, Bracknell Bees forward and former NIHL All-Star Callum Fowler departed the Hive after a number of weeks of uncertainty about his future.
Battle of the Grinell-Parkes in London (Rick Webb)
‘I would like to thank Callum personally for his efforts this season’ stated Andrew Cross, Chairman of Bracknell Bees.
‘His attitude and commitment whilst with the team was impressive and he will compliment any team he goes on to join.’
Strong rumours link him with a return to former club Invicta Dynamos with the Kent club an obvious choice for the player who scored 29 goals and 58 assists for them last season.
If Dynamos fans were licking their lips at the prospect of Fowler returning, Dynamos Coach Kev Parrish was talking about another former Mo’s hero making a return also.
‘I have been in contact with him and there’s no friendships lost, he’s just not 100% committed to playing’ said Parrish in reference to club legend Andy Smith in an interview with Kent Sports News.
‘Soon though that door will have to be shut as we need guys to come in and further this team and make it a better team than it is. Smithy would make this team a better team, there’s no doubt about that.’
‘When he’s ready to play and let’s hope he is ready to play before Christmas, or maybe a week after the Christmas break.’
‘His shirt is all ready and signed up as it was at the start of the year.’
Chinn in mood lighting
Finally an image appeared on Social Media that caught our attention during the week as former GB international and current Streatham Redskins forward Nick Chinn dug out a picture from the archives.
Despite the black and white nature we can assure you that colour pics were around back then but aside from Chinn’s face the best thing about it was the Cooper Techniflex shoulder pads he is wearing. Any hockey player around at the time will remember these pads as true legends of the equipment world, up there with blue Tuuks, Micron Megas and the legendary Gretzky Jofa helmet.
Saturday’s Hockey
Any trip to Chelmsford is a tough proposition but travelling with only 9 out skaters including your coach certainly does not help your odds of success.
Cardiff paid the price with an 8-1 defeat but Chelmsford coach Sean Easton used the opportunity to hand youngster Sonny Phillips a start in between the pipes.
Danny Hammond scored four for the Chieftains with Jake Sylvester, Juraj Huska, Darren Brown and Cameron Bartlett also on target.
Lee-thal jacket
Giacomo Raffaelli scored the consolation for Cardiff who relied on their talented goalie tandem of Michael Crisp and Ross Miller to keep the score down.
The result leaves Cardiff bottom of the table having played four games more than their nearest rivals.
Invicta Dynamos had only lost one in their previous nine games before hosting Milton Keynes Thunder, and they continued that form with a 4-2 win at Silverblades.
Steven Osman scored a brace for the Mo’s with Andrew Henderson also on target, however the players with the widest smiles on their faces were youngster Jack Lee who scored his first goal of the season and brothers Haydn and Taylor Wootton both got their first ever senior point.
The twins had a lucky escape though, as it was Lee who was forced to wear the Dynamos comedy jacket.
Jamie Line got the two goals for the Thunder who moved clear of the relegation place regardless.
Sunday Hockey
The big game at the bottom of the league took place in Milton Keynes as the Thunder hosted Bracknell Hornets and took just 30 seconds to take the lead with Ryan Coffey on target. Stewart Tait equalised soon after for Bracknell and JJ Pitchley made it 2-1 with only three minutes on the clock.
It was the last cheer of the evening for Bracknell as Ross Bowers, Harrison Goode and Jamie Line gave MK a 4-2 win. Another point of note was the return of Brad Watchorn to the Hornets line up for his first appearance of the season.
Cardiff enjoy the M4
Chelmsford moved nine points clear of Isle of Wight in second place with a 6-2 win over Invicta Dynamos at the Riverside.
Matt Turner hit a brace for the Chieftains with Cameron Bartlett, Juraj Huska, Danny Hammond and Julian Smith also on target. For the Mo’s it was Eriks Ozollapa and Nicky Lewis with the goals.
The result leaves Chelmsford sitting pretty at the top with Invicta in fourth.
Wightlink Raiders faced a tricky away tie at Solent Devils but came up big when they needed to with a 5-2 win.
A brace from Corey Watkins and lone goals from Alex Sampford, Ryan Webb and Jaroslav Cesky got Wightlink the two points. Ralfs Circenis got both goals for the hosts, who actually outshot the visitors over the three periods.
The last game of the evening took place at Streatham where the Redskins hosted London Raiders in the South East Cup.
The Redskins had won every game between the two so far this season, however it was the Raiders who were celebrating at the end of this encounter skating off with a 3-2 win.
Invicta imports signing Christmas cards for fans at Silverblades
A brace from Marek Nahlik and a lone goal from Michal Oravec sealed the points for the Raiders with Dom Hopkins and Adam Wood on target for the Redskins.
The result means that after four games played in the round robin competition someone has now won a game other than Chelmsford.
Results
Saturday 5th December 2015
Chelmsford Chieftains 8-1 Cardiff Devils NL
Invicta Dynamos 4-2 Milton Keynes Thunder
Sunday 6th December 2015
Streatham Redskins 2-3 London Raiders (South East Cup)
Chelmsford Chieftains 6-2 Invicta Dynamos
Solent Devils 2-5 Wightlink Raiders
Milton Keynes Thunder 4-2 Bracknell Hornets
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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