LONDON, UK – After the drama of last weekend, it was a relief all round that the league returned to normal with no empty arenas, missing jerseys or goalie pads.
Invicta take on Solent (David Trevallion)
Many hockey players who grew up in the 1980’s and watched movies on the bus to road trips, would have dreamed of one day emulating Dean Youngblood.
Apart from an unsavory scene where he gets his balls shaved by his team mates, Dean lives the dream for the Hamilton Mustangs in a movie titled after his own surname. He has an intimate affair with the coach’s daughter, scores winning penalty shots and even knocks out the league pyscho in a toe to toe battle.
Former Chelmsford player coach Gary Clarke had a decent career himself in the UK before heading over to Canada and getting closer to the life of Youngblood than most from these shores.
Just like when kids discover the tooth fairy is fictional we are sorry to crush everyone with the news that the Hamilton Mustangs do not exist and indeed Clarke is icing for the Hamilton Steelhawks. Check out this video of him circling in the slot as per usual and scoring a goal by clicking HERE.
One guy who once rocked a similar haircut to Dean Youngblood and scored similar goals to him is former Manchester Storm, London Knights and MK Lightning forward Nick Poole.
Luckily for the NIHL he signed for the MK Thunder during the week along with top British goalie Stephen Wall, who was last seen at Guildford Flames.
Gary Youngblood
The pair add not only quality to the Thunder ranks but also to the league as a whole and are good characters to have in the NIHL.
Talking of goalies, or the lack of them. Invicta Dynamos snapped up veteran stopper Glen Rodbourne to replace the departed Steve Nightingale as back up to Damien King.
The likeable Nightingale opted to see out the rest of the season with the London Rangers recreational side, based at Alexandra Palace.
Ryde Arena finally opened its doors to paying hockey spectators after playing last weekend’s game against Streatham behind closed doors.
If that wasn’t good enough news, the best culinary offer in the league was re-introduced as one lucky programme buyer got the chance to win not one but two cod suppers from the Codfather fish and chip shop.
Dewey in action (Claire Stanton Photography)
After criticism over portion size by this very column last season, the eatery has upped its game this year and is well worth a visit for any hockey fans day tripping it to the Isle of Wight.
Defenseman Elliott Dewey continued to enjoy the spotlight after spending 18 minutes guarding the Invicta goal in player kit during the 6-2 win over MK Thunder.
Praised on numerous hockey forums, Social Media and getting his own video interview on Mo’s TV, Dewey was allegedly booked for a meet and greet at Lakeside Taco Bell but at time of press we don’t know if this went ahead or not.
In hindsight perhaps regular stopper Damien King should forget his pads more often such was the euphoria coming out of the Mo’s camp. These type of things can forge a team spirit that should serve the Mo’s well for the rest of the campaign.
Saturday’s Hockey
MK Thunder hosted the league leaders Chelmsford hoping to put to bed last week’s loss against Invicta.
Sadly for Paul Gore’s men they lost 6-3 to the Essex side as Ross Brears bagged a brace to add to goals from James Ayling, Juraj Huska, Danny Hammond and Grant Bartlett (who underwent treatment for a broken nose just days earlier).
Nidal Phillips, Tom Mboya and Ross Bowers scored for the Thunder with both Wall and Poole making their debuts.
Wall heads to NIHL (Paul Foster)
The EIHA website did its thing of going all formal with the gamesheet and thus Nicholas Poole appeared wearing number 28.
One Wightlink fan may have treated their partner to a fish supper for free (or maybe ate two), but the rest of the home support were not able to celebrate a win on their return as the Raiders lost 5-4 to Oxford City Stars.
The Stars scored three early goals in the first period that left the island side too big a mountain to climb.
Alan Green bagged a brace against his old club for the Stars with Ondrej Pekarik, Ben Ealey-Newman and Joe Edwards also on target.
Raiders’ scorers were Jaroslav Cesky, Nick Compton, Danny Ingoldsby and Jeremy Cornish.
Streatham secured top place in their cup group with a 5-2 road win at Solent Devils. The Londoners booked a semi final against Invicta Dynamos thanks to a hat trick from Joe Allen and lone goals for Callum Best and David Savage.
Ralfs Circenis and George Norcliffe were on target for the Devils, who lost Shaun Rudkin midway through after he took a puck to the head.
Redskins Adam Wood and Devils Mitch Murray dropped the gloves centre ice to give the crowd something else to talk about.
Face Off violation? Alrighty then… Blaine gets excited in Solent.
The final game of the evening took place at London Raiders as they handed new signing Evander Grinell Parke his debut against Invicta Dynamos in the South East Cup.
Thanks to Chelmsford selfishly beating all before them in the early stages and winning the trophy two weeks ago, this game was a dead rubber of the variety found on nearby Walthamstow Marsh.
Invicta won 7-2 thanks to a brace from Steven Osman and a goal each for Nicky Lewis, Arran Strawson, Josh Condren, Jacob Ranson and Callum Fowler.
Seb Downing and Mason Webster were on target for the Raiders.
Sunday Hockey
Invicta enjoyed their second win of the weekend with a 6-2 win over Solent Devils at Silverblades.
After a goalless first period the net started bulging and Invicta’s goals came via a brace each for Eriks Ozollapa and Steven Osman with Jacob Ranson and Callum Fowler also scoring.
Andrew Magee got both goals for the Devils.
Wightlink moved up to third in the table as they dispatched the Bracknell Hornets on the island with a 6-2 win.
Jeremy Cornish, Nick Compton, Danny Rose, Ryan Webb, Ben Paynter and Craig Tribe all scored for the Raiders with Sam Waller and Josh Martin replying for the Hornets.
Thunder beat the Stars (Paul Foster)
JJ Pitchley and Corey Watkins dropped the gloves to add to the matchnight experience.
Chelmsford avoided any slip ups at the top of the table as they beat London Raiders 8-2 at the Riverside.
Billy and Charlie Phillips hit a brace each for the home side with Cameron Bartlett, Grant Bartlett, Ross Brears and Lukas Zatopek also on target.
Tom Davis and Bailey Chittock scored the goals for the Raiders.
John Connolly and Billy Phillips dropped the gloves in the second period to add to the drama.
The final game of the day took place in Oxford in the John Cartwright Memorial Trophy that takes place when the Stars face MK Thunder.
The Thunder brought back goalie Villem-Henrik Koitmaa for this game with Wall not icing, and they won 3-1 to take the inaugural trophy.
Alex Whyte, Nathan Long and James Clarke got the goals for MK with the latter only leaving the Stars a couple of weeks ago. Oxfords goalscorer was Jake Florey.
The final word goes to the bruise of the week winner Dom Hopkins of Streatham. Calm down ladies and gents.. here is the dominators thigh.
Results
Saturday 6 February 2016
Solent Devils 2-5 Streatham Redskins (NIHLS Cup)
MK Thunder 3-6 Chelmsford Chieftains
London Raiders 2-7 Invicta Dynamos (South East Cup)
Wightlink Raiders 4-5 Oxford City Stars
Sunday 7 February 2016
Wightlink Raiders 6-2 Bracknell Hornets
Invicta Dynamos 6-2 Solent Devils
Oxford Stars 1-3 Mk Thunder
Chelmsford Chieftains 8-2 London Raiders
Contact the author: david.carr@prohockeynews.com
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