FINISH THE STORY
2 FOR FLINCHING LOOKS BACK ON 23/24
AND AHEAD TO THE NATIONAL FINAL
CAN STREATHAM FINISH THE STORY IN COVENTRY?
Something that fascinates me in life, is the butterfly effect theory, and causality. It likely stems from my love of Doctor Who. How one action creates waves that travel outward causing reactions. The shorthand being a butterfly flaps its wings in central park and you get rain in the Philippines. Many years ago, a young man was born in Pensacola Florida. Born into a family who were royalty in the world of professional wrestling. This event and its ripples would lead to one of the greatest wrestling storylines in the last decade. As he and his Bloodline would enter a long-term war with the son of another of wrestling’s dynasty families. All leading to these two men Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes battling for the WWE Title at this year’s wrestlemania. All through this Cody Rhodes a man who back in 2016 had been released by the company, had left and gone on a storied journey to rise to the top of the pro wrestling world in other federations would, say that winning the WWE title would be the final chapter, it would finish his story.
The reason I’ve just tried to compact 4 years of wrestling story line into a paragraph in a post about hockey is this. Just as Cody came up on the losing end to Reigns many times in the course of his story. Streatham have been on the receiving end of two heavy and hard to take losses at the hands of the Solway Sharks. Denying them the one trophy they have been unable to secure, in the NIHL 1 National title. But on April 28th the RedHawks will get another chance to claim this title, to finish their story against the Billingham Stars.
On that April day in 2023, fresh off losing 4-0 to the Solway Sharks for the second season in a row. I had to interview head coach Ben Paynter; it wasn’t easy for me to find the questions to ask him about what had just happened. But it was plain to see behind the disappointment on Ben’s face. There was some form of a plan forming, he would be back here next season, he would rebuild and retool to not just make this final for a third time. But to win it at the third asking. Now that outcome is still to be decided of course. But the way it could be done was decided I think that day.
For 3 seasons the game plan in Streatham had been, victory by overwhelming firepower. Win games by 12 to the oppositions 11. And while the defence had always been strong and able to ensure that the opposition rarely got the better of the team. It was apparent in both final appearances that Solway was able to pick the defence apart, and the team struggled against the strong opponents on the penalty kill. So, I believe Ben decided there and then, it was no good scoring over a hundred goals in a season as a team if you can’t score them when it matters, but equally if you can’t stop the team that’s shutting you down from scoring them. Defence wins championships he told me in an interview. A philosophy made famous by American Football coach Bear Bryant, it’s a sound one that has this season carried the RedHawks to 2 cups and a 4th league title in a row. While also possessing the lowest Goals against and statistically making Danny Milton the number 1 netminder in NIHL 1.
Those defensive numbers translated into a close shot at the grand slam, as the RedHawks have ended this season with the challenge cup, Britton cup and the league title. But unlike previous seasons this one hasn’t been one where the team had it all its own way. Early season results suggested the dominance may be coming to a close as Invicta spoiled the party on the opening night of pre-season and then also scoring 3 past us and shutting us out a month later.
The road to triumph can often be paved with overcoming adversity. In Streathams case these early season losses to Invicta and others to Oxford and Chelmsford, while shattering the myth of the all-conquering RedHawks to some. Where all part of the adversity that has forged this team this season. Of course Ben had to make some changes, releasing Ewan Hill, and bringing back Jared Lane, along with adding another Lane in Ethan Lane(no relation) these changes were an instant boost to the team. As it went on a run into the new year that set Streatham up perfectly for another run at the title.
But it was the games in the new year that truly tested this team’s ability to triumph through adversity. The infamous brawl between Streatham and the Dynamos lead to several long suspensions and an injury to a key forward. Losing JJ Pitchely, Josh Martin,Nate Gregory ,Brandon Miles and Josh Ealey Newman at a time when the team was pushing for the league title, and was prepping for the challenge cup semi-finals was far from ideal timing. Being down to 6 forwards heading into the 2 semi-finals the team had to put in a gargantuan effort in Invicta to come away 3-2 winners before sealing the tie with a 4-2 win on home ice. Granted in that home tie both Miles and Pitchley made returns. But now there was to be new adversity to overcome.
In Invicta Jordan Gregory would go down injured, a week later James Warman would suffer a dislocated shoulder in a fight in slough. Down to 4 defencemen Streatham would see themselves double shifting for several games. The prospect loomed that the RedHawks would have to face the Slough Jets potent offence with only 4 D-Men. Enter a returning Michael Farn, and James Warman returning from injury surprisingly early to bolster the D core ahead of the biggest challenge the team would face all season. The Slough Jets, in the challenge cup final.
The week before Streatham sealed the league championship with a 4-1 win over Romford. Streatham would just about escape Slough with a 3-2 lead over the Jets after a defensive battle of wills between the 2 sides. Before possibly the greatest 60 minutes of hockey seen in South 1 for some time. As the Jets and RedHawks battled for 58 minutes holding each other at bay. Until Lukas Smital’s choice to pull Brett Massey for an extra attacker backfired giving Streatham the go-ahead goal.
The league has improved all round this past season, meaning the team has not had it all its own way. But it has made it through the adversities and controversies to come away with 3 trophies. The playoffs and that chance of a grand slam has eluded us, but that in itself. Is just one more adversity to have to overcome in the long run. Because for this team, it’s now about how they pick themselves up from that disappointment, how they fight back, how they find a way to finally win. To find a way to finally win the big one and finally FINISH THE STORY
