LONDON, UK – After months of commitment, drama and entertainment, the NIHL South season draws to a close this weekend with only Wightlink Raiders standing in the way of Chelmsford Chieftains completing a clean sweep of trophies.
Photo by Nicky Craft
The Essex side have had a relatively pain free path to glory this season as Coach Sean Easton started the campaign with a strong settled squad and added quality when injuries came.
The closure of Romford ice rink and the excellent junior coaching system at the Riverside have helped create an embarrassment of riches within the Chelmsford club, highlighted by the NIHL2 Warriors winning the Cup in the league below.
Years of hard work in the background have come to fruition and in many ways the Chieftains have a head start on their rivals each campaign before a puck is even dropped.
In contrast, his opposite number Jeremy Cornish had to add a number of players at the start of the campaign and then deal with months playing on the road after the roof blew off their home rink in Ryde.
The big Canadian will hang up his skates after the game to add yet another element to the storyline. Cornish led his side to a shock Play-Off final win over Invicta last season and few neutrals would begrudge him beating the odds again and returning the trophy back to the Island.
The final will be played over two legs with the first taking place on the Isle of Wight this coming Saturday.
Chelmsford start as clear favourites but Wightlink are no sitting ducks and this match up has plenty of questions to answer. Pro Hockey News looks at the key match ups, form guide and opinion from around the league as we preview the NIHL South Play Off final in depth.
Colclough in action (Nicky Craft)
The goalies:
With the dynamic duo Euan King and Ben Clements sharing the pipes for Chelmsford, they have resilience against injury and any under par performance. King has had the nod most of the time when available during the campaign but the pair shared the duties in the semi final.
Matt Colclough in contrast will definitely play both games if available and is a big game goalie used to playing in such occasions. His back up Aaron Craft is relatively untested but the local youngster will be ready to step in if required.
The stats say Chelmsford have the edge in this department but when did goalie stats ever mean anything? Don’t hate us please goalies!
Photo Emily Snoding
The defense:
Chelmsford let in fewer goals than any other team in the league (75 in 36 games) over the campaign and their solid defensive core means they also give up fewer shots than other teams. In contrast to previous years though, their goalscoring has been far more influential to their success than their defensive frugality.
In Lukas Zatopek and Julian Smith they have a genuine solid spine, whilst Alex Staples has stepped up to the plate this season as a key player. Billy Phillips brings a goal threat with his shot adding to their dimension.
Wightlink are blessed with composed quality defenders and were boosted by the return of the excellent Damon Larter after a short break from the game. Nick Compton is a league all-star again this year and Jordan Gregory has shown the form that made him an EPL prospect not so long ago.
Huska the machine (Emily Snoding)
The offense:
If the other areas of the ice are relatively evenly balanced, the forward lines are where the difference can be found. In Juraj Huska Chelmsford have the leagues most potent sniper who on his day can be unplayable.
The Slovakian has scored 39 goals in the league this year with Wightlink’s Jaroslav Cesky some way behind with 22 to his name. Cesky does offer more as a playmaker however and with youngster Ryan Webb having a breakout year with an impressive scoring rate and the ever reliable Craig Tribe pitching in where needed the Raiders are not exactly impotent up front.
The advantage Chelmsford have is Huska’s supporting cast which is talented and deep. Cameron Bartlett has stepped up to be a key player this year and Danny Hammond has returned to the form that he previously showed a couple of years back.
The Chieftains have the most firepower of the two sides and more players capable of scoring and it is this depth that makes them favourites over two legs.
NIHL South Pundit Panel
Simon Anderson – Head Coach Oxford City Stars
“It’s going to be a tight series, but I think Chelmsford may just edge it over the 2 legs. I think a lot depends on what happens on the Island in the first leg if Wightlink can use home ice advantage like they did in the semis, they have a great chance. They also won in Chelmsford in the regular season so will be buoyed by that. They will have to nullify Chelmsford’s speed and skill and be solid defensively for 6 periods. But I think over the 2 legs Chelmsford’s strengths will shine through in the end.”
Kevin Parrish – Head Coach Invicta Dynamos
“All the pressure is on Chelmsford to get the 4 trophies they set out to do. Wightlink are on a high and that goes with the run of home games they had at the back end of the season. Wightlink looked the best I’ve seen them all year last weekend. Think Chelmsford will just edge it, but it will be a tight affair and a great advert of hockey for our league.”
Alex Murray – Player Coach Solent Devils
“I’m going for a Wightlink win! I feel they are on a tremendous run of form lately and confidence is high. The team have found 3 settled lines and they are all clicking. Wightlink have already shown that they can pick up points on the road in Chelmsford this year; so I feel a win at home on Saturday by 2/3 goals for the Raiders, will see the cup return to the island for a second consecutive year.”
Ryan Giles – Defenseman Streatham Redskins
“It should be a great final. Chelmsford are the obvious favourites but you can’t discount IOW in these situations. They can be a big game team and Cornish seems to always have them peaking in form for the finals. The game on the island will be tight and IOW could edge it. The game in Chelmsford will also be close though, I predict a draw or Chelmsford win. If IOW get a good result on the island, they will trap up Sunday in Chelmsford and could just win the trophy. Everyone loves an underdog and I’d like to see Cornish win something big in his last season on the ice. But then again, if Chelmsford do ‘the quad’, its well deserved and wouldn’t be too bad of a first season for Easton at the helm.”
Liam Chong – Forward London Raiders
“I think Chelmsford are going to do the quadruple again. They have three solid lines and an abundance of youth. I think Wightlink will push them hard on Saturday on the Island and Chelmsford will take home the title on Sunday.”
Head to Head 2015/16
Games played – 6
Chelmsford wins – 3
Wightlink wins – 1
Tied games – 2
Road to the final:
Chelmsford beat London Raiders and Streatham Redskins.
Wightlink beat Solent Devils and Invicta Dynamos.
NIHL South Play-Off Final Squads 2015/16:
Wightlink Raiders: Colclough NM, Craft NM, Annis, Baird, Compton (C), Cooke, Streetly, Larter, Gregory, Cesky, Cornish, Edwards, Ingoldsby, Lawday, Paynter, Rose, Sampford, Tribe, Watkins, Webb.
Chelmsford Chieftains: King NM, Clements NM, Barry, C Phillips, B Phillips, Smith (C), Staples, Wells, Wright, Zatopek, Ayliffe, Ayling, Baldock, C Bartlett, G Bartlett, Brears, Brown, Hammond, Lascenko, Huska, Leone, Sylvester, Turner.
The first leg faces off this coming Saturday on the Isle of Wight at 18:00 and the second leg will be played in Chelmsford on Sunday at 18:30.
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
Photos by John Scott, Dave Chapman, Rick Webb and David Trevallion where not stated.
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