TAKING FLIGHT
Welcome to Taking flight. Where here on the blog we take a look at the new faces, the familiar faces and the faces departing the club. The new season is still a while off, and the old season has only just ended but already the club has begun assembling a squad to make an assault on the "new NIHL 1". Thats right new NIHL 1, or as I should say old NIHL 1. As everything old is new again, the EPL sides who dominated things for the past 2 seasons have departed for the newly named National league and the head coach of the Streatham Redhawks now has to build a squad capable of competing for trophies against some very familiar old faces as the league welcomes back the Oxford Stars,Solent Devils,Bracknell Hornets,and Chelmsford Chieftains along with the rise of the Slough Jets and Romford junior team. To line up with the returning MK Thunder and Invicta Dynamo's. There are rumors of a retun to NIHL 1 for the Cardiff Fire as well but for now we are a 9 team league again, but a 9 team league on a more even playing field.
ONE DOOR CLOSES
On the eve of the play offs the club was rocked by the announcement that head coach Jeremy Cornish would not be returning for the 2019/20 season. When ever a coach departs from a team the accepted practice is for us to asses his body of work and decided if it was a success. The hard and fast method would be to look at the wins and loses column, and how many trophies were won under Jeremy's tenure. Of course a quick look at these would reveal more loses than wins over the last 2 seasons, and a slightly more even record over the course of the season where Corny took over from Nicky Chinn. Eliminations in the quarter finals and semi finals of the play offs and NIHL cups all show a lack of silverware. So a failure right? No, by no means was Jeremy Cornishes run as coach a failure. He turned the team around in 2016 and coached it to a 3rd place finish. There are ways other than trophies and games won to asses the success of a coach.
First I must point to the obvious, the last 2 seasons saw the Redhawks going up against significantly stronger opposition with the arrival of the EPL sides. And it may sound like I am making excuses but that accounts in my mind for the fact he coached more loses than wins here in Streatham. Jeremy Cornishes success comes in the change he has fostered at the club, Streatham suffers from a problem a lot of NIHL teams do that fosters an environment of stagnation rather than progress. That being the clubs location in Southwest London works against it. Players can't afford to move to the area, import signings are going to be players who moved here for work reasons or university. So the club for a long time saw itself bringing in what it could get and familiar faces combined with graduates from the junior system. Jeremy Cornish changed all that, the club changed in to a place players wanted to come and play from far and wide, as was evidenced by the club picking up a large portion of the Isle Of Wight Raiders players who found themselves without a team after the Raiders demise. And then over the past two seasons bringing in EPL level stalwarts like Michael Farn,Ryan Watt, Adam Carr Ben Russell,Rupert Quinney and Liegh Jamieson, while also landing one of the best imports in the league last year in Alex Roberts. The teams built over the last 3 seasons would certainly count as title challengers in the old NIHL 1 and this new NIHL 1. It was fate however that undid these plans as after the 17/18 side was assembled the EPL collapsed. Overnight a title contended became mid table fodder. In spite of this Cornish has left the foundations of something potentially special for his replacement to work with going forward.
However ultimately Cornys tenure has fallen victim to the same restrictions that impact hockey recruitment at this level. Being based on the South coast meant Corny had a lot of travel time to put in for games and training sessions. This has an impact on work life and of course family life, and so it was totally understandable that Jeremy made the respectable decision to step down in order to spend time with his family. Hockey will always be there, but we don't always have all the time in the world with our loved ones. Good luck in all you do Jeremy we will miss you here in Streatham
ANOTHER OPENS
It didn't take long for the club to announce the incoming replacement for Jeremy Cornish. And instead of looking without,the club would look within. Benefiting from the change in recruitment that had taken place under Jeremy Cornish the club appointed current Captain Adam Carr as new Head Player Coach. When it comes to hockey, Carr has been there seen it all and worn multiple T-shirts. 3 time EPL champion,4 time play off champion former GB junior player and for a large part of his career in Milton Keynes, and of course here in Streatham he has been a team captain.
I am a huge fan of the player coach approach in UK hockey, it allows clubs to double the effect of resources outlayed on a single player. In this case the club has been able to exchange giving Carr his break in to coaching in exchange for a first line centre calibre player. Something which can prove costly and difficult to find but is a necessity to challenge for trophies. Certainly something Carr's firepower will provide as he is showing no signs of slowing down his totals in the points columns.
Carr is no stranger to leadership having been a Captain of hockey teams for the better part of 12 years now. Of course while coaching a team is very different to wearing the C, Carr will find there are more similarities than differences. While Captain he was expected to be a leader in the locker room, the same will be expected now as a coach but with the added edge that he sets the line ups, the plays and recruits the roster. Some may worry that tactics and recruitment may be an area he will struggle with, but when you consider Carr has played under Nick Poole, Pete Russell and Jeremy Cornish in his career I don't think there is anything to worry about. As he will no doubt have picked up a trick or two from these 3 legends of the British game.
Similarly Carr's ability to recruit shouldn't be a worry at all either. While new to the recruiting game, and while not carrying the aura that Jeremy Cornish does that made players want to travel to Streatham. He does have a long careers worth of contacts to call upon for scouting and potential recruitment targets. This makes the possibility of returns to the roster of groups like the MK connection(Farn,Russell and Jamieson) a good possibility. Being a member of the roster over the last 2 seasons and a leader in the locker room who no doubt had the respect of his team mates. Means that the possibility for retention of a large group of the teams core from the last 2 seasons could be quite high. Carr could possibly benefit from the strong foundations built by Jeremy Cornish.
Carr has no intention of his team being also rans as he has stated in press releases. But of course all championships are won in part by the teams construction. And Carr has hardly been inactive since the announcement of his signing.
Adam Carr made quite a splash with his first signing as head coach. In a move I don't think anyone could have predicted. 2 time NIHL 1 all star defence man Michael Farn was announced a s returning to the club for the 2019/20 season. At 30 years old Farn is in what could be termed as the prime years for a D man. And as a 2 time member of the All Star team in NIHL 1 and with a wealth of championship winning experience behind him higher levels. It came as no surprise that Farn had received offers from clubs heading up to the new National league. However for some there is more to hockey than just money. And so Farn has opted to stay and help his friend and head coach finish what he feels they started when they signed here 2 seasons ago.
In Farn the club gets exactly what it needs, a no nonsense offensive D man who can stabilise and quarterback both the power play and the penalty kill. Having lead the league in assists and points for a defenseman over the last 2 seasons he brings a creative edge that will drive the play in all situations. Not only that but with Carr stepping up to the coaching role there is a vacancy for a new Captain. And Farn in my opinion fits the bill as an excellent candidate for the role. Having been an assistant captain last season he already has the experience of a leader. If the club can find a good stay at home D man to pair alongside him the first pairing will be hard for any team to deal with next season.
There is an old axiom in Hockey "build from the net out" what is meant by this is the first player you sign should be your starting goalie. Its an understandable approach, you can sign an entire team of all star defence men but if none of them can stop the player with the puck getting through its up to the goalie to be the last line of defence. In that event a coach needs to have a goalie who he knows will come up big in that situation. Damien King is certainly a goalie that fits in to that category.
Now while Kings numbers for the last two season do not look pretty, a .914 and .899 save percentage over the last two season on the surface would indicate a goalie in decline. But when you consider that most nights King was facing EPL calibre players we can excuse this. While his stats may not be pretty King came up with many huge saves that kept the Redhawks in games on many occasions last season, such as the 1-0 loss to Brackenll early in the season where King and Milton engaged in a goalie duel. But it is not just his play that will be invaluable for the team going forward, likely Nathan Gregory and Brett Shepperd will be returning to the team this coming season. And additionally with an NIHL 2 team coming in an experienced goalie with a championship winning calibre will be vital in helping the young goalies in the clubs system to develop.
The teams intent to compete for silverware this season has been stated by Michael Farn in his signing release. King is a goalie who has done just this, famously breaking the hearts of Chelmsford Cheiftan fans 3 years ago in the old NIHL play off final. With the way the "new look" NIHL is shaping up Kings pedigree and ability could certainly see him bounce back and help the team be challenging at the top end of the table.
I am a huge fan of the player coach approach in UK hockey, it allows clubs to double the effect of resources outlayed on a single player. In this case the club has been able to exchange giving Carr his break in to coaching in exchange for a first line centre calibre player. Something which can prove costly and difficult to find but is a necessity to challenge for trophies. Certainly something Carr's firepower will provide as he is showing no signs of slowing down his totals in the points columns.
Carr is no stranger to leadership having been a Captain of hockey teams for the better part of 12 years now. Of course while coaching a team is very different to wearing the C, Carr will find there are more similarities than differences. While Captain he was expected to be a leader in the locker room, the same will be expected now as a coach but with the added edge that he sets the line ups, the plays and recruits the roster. Some may worry that tactics and recruitment may be an area he will struggle with, but when you consider Carr has played under Nick Poole, Pete Russell and Jeremy Cornish in his career I don't think there is anything to worry about. As he will no doubt have picked up a trick or two from these 3 legends of the British game.
Similarly Carr's ability to recruit shouldn't be a worry at all either. While new to the recruiting game, and while not carrying the aura that Jeremy Cornish does that made players want to travel to Streatham. He does have a long careers worth of contacts to call upon for scouting and potential recruitment targets. This makes the possibility of returns to the roster of groups like the MK connection(Farn,Russell and Jamieson) a good possibility. Being a member of the roster over the last 2 seasons and a leader in the locker room who no doubt had the respect of his team mates. Means that the possibility for retention of a large group of the teams core from the last 2 seasons could be quite high. Carr could possibly benefit from the strong foundations built by Jeremy Cornish.
Carr has no intention of his team being also rans as he has stated in press releases. But of course all championships are won in part by the teams construction. And Carr has hardly been inactive since the announcement of his signing.
FARNTASTIC
Adam Carr made quite a splash with his first signing as head coach. In a move I don't think anyone could have predicted. 2 time NIHL 1 all star defence man Michael Farn was announced a s returning to the club for the 2019/20 season. At 30 years old Farn is in what could be termed as the prime years for a D man. And as a 2 time member of the All Star team in NIHL 1 and with a wealth of championship winning experience behind him higher levels. It came as no surprise that Farn had received offers from clubs heading up to the new National league. However for some there is more to hockey than just money. And so Farn has opted to stay and help his friend and head coach finish what he feels they started when they signed here 2 seasons ago.
In Farn the club gets exactly what it needs, a no nonsense offensive D man who can stabilise and quarterback both the power play and the penalty kill. Having lead the league in assists and points for a defenseman over the last 2 seasons he brings a creative edge that will drive the play in all situations. Not only that but with Carr stepping up to the coaching role there is a vacancy for a new Captain. And Farn in my opinion fits the bill as an excellent candidate for the role. Having been an assistant captain last season he already has the experience of a leader. If the club can find a good stay at home D man to pair alongside him the first pairing will be hard for any team to deal with next season.
THE KING RETURNS
There is an old axiom in Hockey "build from the net out" what is meant by this is the first player you sign should be your starting goalie. Its an understandable approach, you can sign an entire team of all star defence men but if none of them can stop the player with the puck getting through its up to the goalie to be the last line of defence. In that event a coach needs to have a goalie who he knows will come up big in that situation. Damien King is certainly a goalie that fits in to that category.
Now while Kings numbers for the last two season do not look pretty, a .914 and .899 save percentage over the last two season on the surface would indicate a goalie in decline. But when you consider that most nights King was facing EPL calibre players we can excuse this. While his stats may not be pretty King came up with many huge saves that kept the Redhawks in games on many occasions last season, such as the 1-0 loss to Brackenll early in the season where King and Milton engaged in a goalie duel. But it is not just his play that will be invaluable for the team going forward, likely Nathan Gregory and Brett Shepperd will be returning to the team this coming season. And additionally with an NIHL 2 team coming in an experienced goalie with a championship winning calibre will be vital in helping the young goalies in the clubs system to develop.
The teams intent to compete for silverware this season has been stated by Michael Farn in his signing release. King is a goalie who has done just this, famously breaking the hearts of Chelmsford Cheiftan fans 3 years ago in the old NIHL play off final. With the way the "new look" NIHL is shaping up Kings pedigree and ability could certainly see him bounce back and help the team be challenging at the top end of the table.
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