We All Start On Zero
2 For Flinchings NIHL Season Preview
So the summer is over, and it’s that wonderful time of the
year again. Hockey season is here, well nearly here. This week we’re in pre-season
mode. Tonight and last night’s game
against the Swindon Wildcats mean nothing more than simple bragging rights but
it gives Jeremy Cornish a chance to fine tune his plans for the new crop of
Redhawk’s players this season. Who works best with who. What kind of power play
set up suits which unit etc etc. Of
course Jeremy Cornish isn’t the only coach assessing his new squad this
weekend. So let’s see what has been going around the NIHL this summer.
By British hockey standards it has been a very quiet off
season. The only earth shattering news in the land scape was of a more positive
nature. That being Team GB gaining promotion to the Top tier of International
hockey, followed by the first drafting of British player to the NHL since 1986 in
Liam Kirk. While the top two UK leagues did contract sadly with the Edinburgh
Capitals being forced out of existence by a failed coup for Murrayfield’s ice time,
and Cardiff Fire opting to concentrate on NIHL. This has been a rather positive
off season in British hockey, as in both cases this was due to circumstances
out of the hands of both clubs. Leaving us with an even number,8 team league.
While 8 teams is not the most desirable set up, it does mean
one thing. We’ve all qualified for the play offs, so congratulations everyone.
My sarcasm aside, an even number of teams in the league is much better than an
odd number any day as it eliminates the need for multiple extra cup
competitions . Hopefully this off season some of NIHL 2 south’s bigger teams
can be persuaded to move up, and the Fire did say they’d be back at some point.
For now though let’s focus on our opponents for the season ahead.
Basingstoke Bison
While in the wider scheme of the land scape it was a quiet
summer, Basingstoke endured several tactical nuke strikes. It’s been bad enough
for the Bison fan base dealing with the question marks hanging over the arenas
future. But to then be dealt the body blow of Doug Sheppard leaving along with most
of the team’s core, sewed even more seeds of doom among the fans.
In his place comes Player Coach Ashley Tait, whose summer of
recruitment has seen some very interesting signings. Having had to totally
rebuild the team Tait first turned to a former team mate for help. The arrival
of experienced campaigner Russ Cowley along with Alex Mettam should help
provide experience and leadership while the team rebuilds its core and
discovers an identity. While new imports Klenja and Bordowski come in with
impressive pedigrees, that if they workout should see them become an impressive
1-2 offensive punch. The Defence is very young, but boasts top level experience
in Adam Jones and Tom Ralph who Tait will look to lead at the back, with the
help of Mettam. Christopher Cooke will be expected to continue the break out
form he had last season as the blue chip prospect on the back end, as the Bison
rebuild for the future.
Bracknell Bees
It was somewhat more of the same for the Bracknell Bee’s
last season. While early form saw them near the top end of the table, they
eventually succumbed to a December form slump that dropped them to 5th.
Even in the NIHL the Bee’s couldn’t escape finishing bottom of the EPL pile.
But Basingstoke’s loss has been Bracknell’s gain. Doug Sheppard’s arrival has
seen a transformation of the Bee’s fortunes and the players they could attract.
While stalwarts of previous Bee’s teams like James Gallazi,
Scott Spearing and Shaun Thompson have been retained to help retain the teams
core identity. Sheppard has stamped his mark on the team with a switch from big
bruising players to a team better suited to the open ice of the hive. In come
speedsters, Ivan Antonov, Aidan Doughty, Ryan Sutton and Josh Smith. Ryan Watt
comes in to provide some heavy back up alongside Roam Malanik. On the back end
aside from Joe Baird there are again skaters with speed to burn, highly touted
Brit prospects Stuart Mogg, and Edward Knaggs link up with the
Baird Brothers and Dean Skinn’s in net. A lot of these names were under Sheppard
in Basingstoke during his championship winning dynasty. And as such the DNA of
this team is no longer that of mediocrity and failure. The late departures of Hoang and Karel Richter due in the case of the later to the ghost of Frankie Bakrliks suspension still having to be served leave holes in the line up that will need to be filled. However pre-season has shown even with 1 import the Bee's are a credible threat
Invicta Dynamos
The Dynamo’s like all the other NIHL classic sides were
caught off guard last season by the EPL collapse and it showed in the way the
team was built. Having built a team designed for the old NIHL Kevin Parrish’s
squad suffered all season, the addition of Bobby Chamberlain did not last and
did little to stem the tide while he was there. But with a full season to asses
this Kevin Parrish came in to this off season with a plan to ensure things may
go differently this time
For a large part of this summer it looked like the Mo’s were
a team being picked clean, as key players departed with no replacements in
sight. Prompted by this coach Parrish had to assure fans that plans were under
way. That plan was to build a team more
capable of competing in the new NIHL. And on paper it does look stronger, only
5 players return from last season. Key among them being Assistant Captain
Ondrej Zosiak, will be an anchor of the defence. With Damien King leaving in
comes Adam Long, the rebuild of Bracknell see’s Callum Best and Matt Foord join
to bolster the forwards. The arrival of the Bartlett Brothers and Martin
Susters brings in a more credible goal threat for the Mo’s. New import Edmund
Piacka is the big question mark to me, he’s been more of a depth guy in
European leagues, but his experience in high calibre leagues in Slovakia and
Czech republic could see him be a break out offensive force for the Mo’s and
help them become competitive this year
London Raiders
Of all the NIHL classic side the London Raiders had the most
successful league campaign last year. Breaking the predicted monopoly of EPIHL
sides at the top and finishing in 4th place in the league. This
combined with a return to the Raiders home in Romford after their exile to Lee
Valley while the refurb of their rink took place meant it was a season to celebrate
for the Raiders.
Last season the Raiders built a strong base upon which to
build for future seasons, as they say if it aint broke don’t fix it. Following
this idea the Raiders have only made slight tweaks to the roster. With a strong
existing core already boasting the likes of Michael Gray, Juraj Huska,J.J
Pitchley, Brandon Ayliffe and Oliver Baldock. The Raiders already have a blue
print for further success. So Sean Easton has been prudent in his tweaks,
adding experience at a high level in Blahoslav Novak and Dan Scott. While
adding size and scoring ability in Mason Webster, import Filip Sedivy is the
question mark on offence.
Lastly bringing in the energy, leadership and scoring ability of Aaron Connolly
once again put the Raiders up there as a team to watch this year
MK Thunder
Much like the other NIHL teams the MK Thunder had a choice
last summer, stay and try to build a team to compete in the new NIHL or head to
NIHL 2. To my surprise the Thunder took the plunge and decided to stay in NIHL
1. And despite finishing in 7th Place the Thunder were far from
being the whipping boys of the league, in fact they showed to be a team full of
surprises.
With no less than 15 of the previous seasons core returning
to the team, and only 2 players departing. The Thunders core is very much intact,
with a forward group boasting Ross Bowers, Tom Carlon,Jamie Line,Grant McPherson
and Gareth O’Flaherty. All of whom boast a high level of experience. All
Thunder coach Lewis Clifford needed was to tweak the squad to make it
stronger. The additions of Oliver Stone
and Ruslan Cernych strengthen the defence. While the additions of Lewis Fisher
and Michael Stratford are young players with upside, and import Tomas Rubes
adds size and a potential goal threat . But it’s the crease area where things
get really interesting. MK Thunder have, complimented Tom Annett’s experience in
net with the addition of exciting young goalie prospect Jordan Lawday. These
signings all give the Thunder the chance to be a surprise element this season.
Peterborough Phantoms
Though their hockey was described as boring, unimaginative ,and
not entertaining by some last season. The Phantoms almost got the job done and
ground out an almost championship winning season that saw them denied a title
only on goal difference. Boring or not Slava Koulikov knows how to build a
title contender. The trick was keeping hold of enough key elements to mount a
challenge while keeping things fresh
Entering the season with the youngest average age of 20.9,
the team have invested more in youth than experience this off season. With Adam
Long departing for Invicta Slava Koulikov has brought in Jordan Marr to take
over the crease duties. Though the team is young there is still plenty of
experience in the line-up. Thomas Norton and Rob Ferrara will boss things at
the back end, while up front Ales Padelek and James Ferrara will lead the
offensive corps. With help of returning fan favourite Petr Stepanek. Though in
their 20’s Glen Billing, Corey McEwen and Will Weldon all provide youth with
plenty of experience. That will give any defence trouble on their day. This
group will be hungry to go that step further and not only challenge for the
title but win it.
Swindon Wildcats
The Wildcats trophy drought ended in 2018. The team that
always seemed to have the right tools, but none of the luck finally saw that
change as they hoisted both the Autumn and National Cups. Defeating the league
champions, of both NIHL North and the South to do it. One can only wonder how
it would have ended if a clerical error hadn’t scuppered their play-off push
and forced them to forfeit game 1 of the semi-final against the Phantoms. But 2
trophies are better than none and it seems after many seasons of trying the
Wildcats have found the winning formula
Having found the formula for winning Aaron Nell has only had
to add reinforcements to his squad, Which has only seen the physical presence
of Phil Hill leave for pastures new. The loss of Oliver Stone to MK Thunder has
been easily remedied also. Tyler Plews and Sam Jones arrive to inject youth in
to the line-up, but youth that comes with experience playing at a high level
both here and abroad. When you add these pieces to experienced campaigners on
the back end like Neil Liddiard and Stephen Whitfield and Sam Godfrey it’s safe
to say Swindon has one of the best defences in the league. In net they have exciting
goalie prospect, Renny Marr who on his day is a human brick wall that will
frustrate teams no end. Add to this forward corps boasting one of the best
imports in the league in Max Birbraer, Jan Kostal,Aaron Nell, the physical play
of Edgars Bebris and Sam Bullas and you are looking at the most likely team to
challenge Bracknell for the title.
Streatham Red Hawks
And so we arrive at our own Redhawks. Last season saw what I
like to think of as a bridge roster that had its foundations in the worlds of
the old EPL and NIHL. A roster that was high on youth and speed, with a good
level of experience. However as coach Jeremy Cornish has admitted the team was
lacking in areas. Despite this the team did not underperform, and was able to
hold its own against the rest of the league. Claiming scalps from every EPL
team except the Phantoms, even shutting out the Bison in their own rink.
If last season was a bridge between worlds Cornish fully
crossed it this summer with a total revamp of the roster. While last season’s
team was a mix of speed and size this year it’s all about size and physicality.
A style that is perfectly suited to a rink like Streathams. The redesign saw 11
players depart, however the players brought in or retained are an upgrade in
every area on the ice. Damien King, Rupert Quiney, Leigh Jamieson and Ben
Russell all arrive to compliment the experience of Adam Carr and Michael Farn.
Additionally the addition of Power Forward Alex Roberts adds a new offensive
dimension to the team and solves the issue from last year of there being only 1
import. Jacob Ranson, Thomas Beesley and Andreas Siagris all provide the speed
element for the team. Though this team
may struggle a bit on bigger size rinks, I expect it to make the High Road a
formidable fortress for any team to lay siege to this season.
PREDICTIONS
So looking at all that how do I predict things will turn out?
At the moment I see the Bee’s and the Wildcats as the stand out championship
contenders. With Peterborough dark horse to make a push. However I must say
outside the top 2, with all the additions, new imports and changes around the
league this year things look a lot closer, and a lot more competitive. Any team
that stumbles in to a strong run of form could well surprise the Bees and
Wildcats at the top, in particular I can see London/Romford or Streatham
playing this spoiler. Though I do suspect the Bison will struggle this season
as the team gels and Coach Tait finds his stride, that said I doubt they will be a Fire 2.0, the new Bison will certainly pick up points. In fact this is the maddening factor in this years set up, everyone looks like they can take points off of each other.
In the end though, we
all start on zero. But once the pucks drop, the injuries pile up and the goals
go in all this analysis will mean nothing. So let’s get this season started
already.
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