LONDON, UK – It was an emotional week in the Britton Conference with plenty of talking points on and off the ice.
New City Stars Coach Paul Gore explains tactics to BBC Oxford’s Andrew Self – Photo Twitter Chris McHugh @CMcHugh_
The hockey family in the UK was rocked during the week when it was announced that official Haris Hussain and former Invicta Dynamos forward Nathaniel Rose had both sadly passed away.
UK linesman and Elite League prospect Hussein had been in hospital, battling hard against lymphomas caused from complications from his bone marrow transplant last July.
Haris played hockey up to under-18 level and represented Midlands Conference at under-11 and under-13. More recently, he became a Level 6 linesman, regularly lining NIHL Division 1 games.
In the press release, IHUK referee-in-chief, Joy Johnston, said: “Haris was a wonderful young man. Aside from having huge potential as an official, he was full of fun and laughter with a great sense of humour.”
Donations to DKMS UK, a charity Hussein was raising funds for before his passing are still being taken. Click here for more details.
Rose spent a season with the Dynamos in 2012/13 during which time he played 45 games, scored 8 goals, grabbed 10 assists and so tallied 18 points. A physical and uncompromising player, Rose learnt his hockey in Sheffield and last appeared on the ice for Sutton Sting five years ago.
All of us at PHN give our condolences to the family and friends of both Haris and Natty.
Much missed Natty Rose
After former Head Coach Simon Anderson stepped down the week prior, Oxford City Stars appointed former MK Thunder and noted junior coach Paul Gore in the position until the end of the season.
Long-time followers will remember Gore winning coach of the year during his stint with the Thunder and should be a safe pair of hands.
Darren Elliott continues his split role to the end of the season as Assistant Coach of the Stars and a coach in the junior club. Darren has also been appointed Head Coach of the Junior Club – a huge boost to the club’s goal of producing the future generation of home grown players.
In other Oxford related news, a petition regarding the much needed car park next to the rink has been set up and really does need the signatures of everyone involved in hockey. Sign it here.
There were scenes of shock in Streatham, and celebration amongst rival fan-bases (and likely playing staff) as the EIHA announced lengthy bans for Brandon Miles and Adam Wood.
The detailed announcement from the EIHA explained how an incident in the game against Solent Devils last Sunday videoed by a fan and tagged to the EIHA on Twitter, had pushed both players over the threshold for additional game bans.
Long-time assistant coach Terry England was also handed a two game ban as part of the process and the club fined. A double financial hit given they’d also bought Cup winners medals earlier that week for their own players after the governing body failed to deliver any.
In lighter news, Cardiff Fire goalie Ben Scanlan became the latest squad member to appear on the team’s playlist takeover.
In the feature, Scanlan admitted Josh Batch was his hero, that he’d watched Tears for Fears in Las Vegas and that he was “weirdly bendy”. A lot to take in truth be told.
The build up to the Play-Off weekend in Bracknell continued as ticket sales were plugged by the organisers. For those unfamiliar, the format this year will see quarter finals take place the week prior with the winners of those games playing semi-finals and then a final at the Hive.
Tickets can be found here, along with accommodation details. PHN would normally at this point offer some hints and tips but as we’ve not holidayed in the Bracknell area before, we can’t hand on heart give any inside tips. Sorry.
In other hockey news from around the world, a Zamboni driver helped the Carolina Hurricanes to beat the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Miracle on Ice team came under fire for appearing at a Donald Trump rally in Vegas. Former Lee Valley and Streatham player Steve James appeared on TV after fighting Australian fires and coronavirus threatened to cancel everything – including hockey.
Saturday review
Solent made light work of the visiting Invicta Dynamos with an 11-3 win to help keep up the pressure on league leaders Streatham.
Six unanswered third period goals did the business for the Devils with Ralfs Circenis and Elliot Lewis top scoring with a brace each. Steve Osman, Alex Murray, Calumn Perella-Fox, Richard Facey, Drew Campbell, Dan Lackey and Mark Pitts all netted one each.
The Dynamos were missing a number of players including Captain Ryan Giles and import Tomas Banovsky, and scored consolations through Brandon Webster, Tom Davis and Juraj Huska.
After seven consecutive defeats, Oxford City Stars finally got a much needed win thanks to a 6-4 road win in Bracknell.
Devils on fire against Dynamos (James Coleman-Powell)
The Stars scorers were Matt Lawday with two, and Alex Staples, Joe Edwards, Dax Hedges and Mike Whillock with one each. Hornets’ goals came from Michael Stratford, Den Ealey-Newman, Tamas Elias and Chris Cooke.
Slough Jets made it three wins in three games as they overcame Raiders Juniors 8-4 in Romford.
Lukas Smital’s side bagged the points thanks to a hat trick from Captain Dan Rose, a brace from Ryan Handisides and efforts from Juha Lindgren, Jacob Soper and Christian Mohr.
For the Raiders it was Ross Cowan, Matt Brown, Donald Campbell and Tommy Huggett with the goals.
To add to the drama George Gell and Harry Hatfield dropped the gloves in the third to give the game a feisty finish.
It was top versus bottom in South London as Streatham hosted MK Thunder. The game had rather surprisingly just two goals in it going into the final period before six unanswered goals gave the RedHawks a 9-1 win.
Ryan Watt proved his good form again as he bagged another hat trick for the hosts, with Luke Brittle, Michael Farn and Rupe Quiney netting two each. The Thunder consolation came through Reece Wickens.
Streatham forward Scott Bailey and Thunder player Sam Dean dropped the gloves in the second period to add to the story line.
Sunday review
The RedHawks secured a four point weekend as they made it 48 hours to forget for the Invicta Dynamos.
Adam Carr’s team raced out the blocks to take a 4-0 lead in the first, before the Mo’s steadied the ship, eventually going down 5-1.
Double shot of Baileys for Streatham (Fusional)
Scott Bailey scored twice for Streatham with Ryan Watt, Danny Ingoldsby and Luke Brittle also on target. Juraj Huska denied Damien King a shut out with the consolation goal for the Mo’s on the powerplay.
It was second versus third at the Riverside as Chelmsford aimed to keep their title hopes alive with a crunch game against Solent.
Missing top scorer James Ayling and influential Darren Brown, the Chieftains fell 2-0 behind before coming back to lead 3-2 in the third. Richard Facey pulled it back to 3-3 before Chieftains coach Joe Wilson switched netminders with Sonny Phillips taking over the last eight minutes of regulation from Ben Clements, who reportedly picked up an injury.
Both Phillips and Chico Cole took on star roles between pipes in the resulting overtime and penalty shots with both making save after save. Just when it looked like a midnight finish would be on the cards, who else but veteran sniper Drew Campbell finally converted in the showdown and then Cole did the business to deny Matt Turner and win the game for the Devils. You can watch the match winning moment here.
Terry Fillery, Grant Bartlett and Cameron Bartlett got the Chieftains goals in regulation, while Mitch Murray and Ralfs Circenis were on target alongside Facey for the Devils.
Devils celebrate in Chelmsford
Mark Pitts and Grant Bartlett dropped the gloves midway through the game to add to the talking points.
Oxford City Stars had a four point weekend in sight as they led MK Thunder in the third period, only for the visitors to equalise late on then score the winner in overtime and win 5-4 thanks to Harrison Goode’s late strike.
Goode’s winner sealed his hat trick and added to Thunder goals from Julien Bauemlin and Alex Whyte.
Joe Edwards scored twice for the Stars with Olly Shone, Josh Oliver and David Manning also netting. Manning was ejected on a check to the head penalty and will likely face a multiple game ban over the coming weeks.
The result means the Thunder can still catch Cardiff and move off the bottom of the league.
Results
Saturday 29 February
Streatham IHC 9-1 MK Thunder
Raiders Jnr 4-8 Slough Jets
Solent Devils 11-3 Invicta Dynamos
Bracknell Hornets 4-6 Oxford City Stars
Sunday 1 March
Invicta Dynamos 1-5 Streatham IHC
Oxford City Stars 4-4 MK Thunder (Thunder win in overtime)
Chelmsford Chieftains 3-3 Solent Devils (Devils win on penalty shots)
Contact the author: davidcarr_2@hotmail.com
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