5 For Thinking - Return To The Rink - My article from the 18/09/21 match night magazine.

 

Return To The Rink

              Good evening, and welcome back to Streatham High Road, for another week of exciting hockey action. As the Redhawks look to continue the strong start to the season against the Oxford City Stars in NIHL 1 action. Oxford will be looking to get their league campaign going with a strong start after only facing NIHL 2 Norths Coventry Blaze in challenge matches a few weeks ago.

              Before we begin with this week’s article. I want to just say something. What’s going to follow is sort of an outpouring of how I feel after 18 months without the sport I love, and returning to the High Road 2 weeks ago. As the saying goes, you never know what battles someone else is fighting. And you never know how someone feels till you’ve walked a day in their shoes. The last 18 months has been hard on us all, and I don’t want anyone to think what follows is me putting my own struugles over that of others. I lost hockey for 18 months, others lost loved ones and their lives. And there are hockey fans who sadly will never see a puck dropped again because of the pandemic. We live in a time where we’ve realized so much was taken for granted. And this is my personal story from the past 18 months, how life without these weekly hockey games felt, and the impact it had on me as a person. And how I feel, now that hockey’s back

              It does feel good though, to be able to start these with the words, “Welcome, back to Streatham High Road” every week when I write these articles I rely on the hockey landscape, my own loudmouth opinions on the sport, and talking points around the team to come up with something I hope you the readers will enjoy. But this week, I find myself reflecting upon that sentence “welcome back to Streatham High Road” and what being able to say it again, means to me, my mental health, and all of us who have spent 18 months wondering if we’d ever see a puck dropped again.

              I hope you’ll forgive that this week’s article is going to be, a little self-indulgent in places. But I hope at the same time I reflect what some have been feeling. And I hope you will forgive that I’m going to talk about the world of the last 18 months, I know we all want to escape the new cycle were so daily bombarded with by press briefings and statistical analysis and experts. That these few hours in the rink should be a sacred haven from such things, but sometimes we have to talk about things we don’t want to.

              As I write this, I am sipping tea from a mug with the words, “warning may start talking about hockey” printed on it. This mug served as a warning to all my colleagues at work that I may unprovoked begin talking about my favourite sport, or to engage me about it when UK hockey made the headlines, such as when Petr Cech signed for the NIHL 2 Guildford Phoenix. Or as one colleague learned, to remind me that my NHL team had lost to a Zamboni driver was not a good idea. My point here is, I love hockey, and everything that comes with it. And over the 25 years the sports been in my life. Its become woven in to the very fabric of my person and my mental health.  

              The sports been such a big part of my life that my dad often remarks I studied hockey not media production at Coventry Uni. This stems from the fact that when asked if I’d be coming home to visit in the winter months. I would always say I was either filming games, watching games, or playing for the university team. My 3 years at Coventry uni I did immerse myself in the sport. I owe my career in media to it as I learned the skills I use today in those 3 years working on  hockey projects. My first flat was with a friend I had made attending hockey in Basingstoke. Every year I cleared my schedule and put friends on notice that from September till April invites to weekend activities would be met with the response “sorry I have hockey” The game is for lack of a better term my escape. Its like my version of attending church every week. And much the same as those who take solace in faith. I take solace in the escape it allows me. My friends and family know this, so well by now that they know if I’m dating someone, and I invite them to hockey. Things must be getting serious. While others dreamed of a Caribbean get away or a trip to Disney World. I spent my life dreaming of seeing hockey games in all manner of arenas around the world. That’s how much hockey means to me in my life. In part it is my life.

              18 Months ago, I packed up my bag, having watched the Redhawks pick up another home win. The following weekend was due to be the single biggest test of the league campaign so far. The Solent devils on Saturday, followed by the Chelmsford Chieftains on Sunday. A 4-point weekend would all but guarantee the team would lift the league title on home ice two weeks later. But as I left that night there were questions in the air, Vanya Antonov despite reports of his departure had remained with the team after news out of China. A storm was brewing, black and terrible. A storm that would as we all now know, change everything.

              When the announcement was made that hockey was shutting down, at first, I didn’t realize it would change things for me. After all, I’d gone through many an off season. Surely this was no different. But over time I realized that I’d begun to feel a part of me had been taken away from me. Because unlike every April when I said goodbye for the summer, there was no guarantee there would be a return in September. Though the clubs did their best to encourage optimism and hope by announcing rosters. I simply found myself unexcited by the announcements. I looked at every one with doubt that they would ever happen.                                                                                                             My mental health hadn’t exactly been in good shape going into that March. I’d had personal life setbacks, I wasn’t feeling satisfied in my career anymore, and I was trapped in a living situation that was progressively getting worse and worse. But all through that I’d had an escape, a way out for a few hours a week at least. Hockey, and not just the game. But everything that came with it, the found family I made that stretches from here in Southwest London, out to Swindon, Basingstoke, Coventry and all the way to Canada. I knew I wouldn’t see those people for a long time, and with the news that the virus was a killer. I began to worry if I’d see them again ever. Some I only saw at the rinks and had no contact info for, some were deeply entrenched in my life away from hockey as well as in it. Either way they all helped me forget the failures of my life when I was in a rink with them for a few hours. It was like therapy in a way for me, it was what got me through the week. Knowing the countdown to puck drop started on Saturday or Sunday and went on till the next week. But with a countdown now set to infinity, my mind went to a dark and scary place

              I found myself closing off from people, those who follow my twitter will have seen it became less whimsical and fun stuff about Nerd culture and hockey. And a place where I daily railed against the government and its handling of things. I was no longer the guy on the mug my friend got me. The next big blow came when it was announced by my employers, they were making redundancies, and I had been selected. My last day, was on a Friday, and I found myself wishing I had the rink to go to the next day to at least get away from the panic and fear in my mind. I wished I had one of these articles to write to take my mind off worrying how I’d pay rent after my severance ran out.

              Now I will say I wasn’t bereft of support mechanisms. My friends and family were always there for me. But when every phone conversation begins with, how is the job hunt going it eats away at your sanity. When there was no hockey news to discuss with my hockey friends, except going over the old stories. I began to miss the rink even more; I began to miss the escape even more.

              Luckily the story here has a happy ending. A good friend when consoling me one day said redundancy could be the best thing ever to happen to me. Because every friend she had who had gone through this, had gone on to do something they loved. And that friend was absolutely right, it sadly meant moving out of Streatham, but I now work for an international leader in my field, and in the sector, I always wanted to be in when I graduated university.

              Still despite the success, I still missed the rink. The EIHL elite series, and the NHL regular season did something to satiate the need for a live hockey game to enjoy. But without others around me yelling and shouting, without friends to laugh with it just wasn’t the same. Twitter enabled some of this, but it was never constant. At the tournaments close I found myself really missing hockey.

              So, I guess by this point, you are probably asking, Chris what point are you building to with all this maudlin history? Well, I guess the point is this, I took hockey being in my life for granted, and when it and everyone that I had in my life attached via it was taken away I felt like a part if me was gone. And I was worried it wouldn’t come back

              I don’t know if I’m the only one who felt that way. The last 18 months has shown all of us different priorities. And the importance maybe of those very things we used to say no to in favour of attending hockey.

              I’m not ashamed to admit 2 weeks ago, when I walked in the rink, . That I was emotional (I always have been an emotional soft type) I was happy to be back, but I was apprehensive as to if I would see the old familiar faces. Would everyone have come through ok, would anyone be missing. For 18 months I had pondered this. And I’m happy to say I saw so many of the old familiar faces in the old familiar places. And as I settled in to my perch at the top of the block to resume my twitter duties. I felt like I was whole again, for the next 3 hours the only reminder to me of the last 18 months was the mask over my face. Other than that, it was just another night at the High Road

              But I’m happy to say, it feels like that part of me is now back, and I hope its back for a very long time. And I hope if anyone else reading this feels that way that its back for you to. You see for me hockey’s not just about 22 players with sticks and a puck. It’s always been about the hockey family that goes with it. Who I’m so happy to have back in my life (yes that includes the referees)

              For now, hockey, something I took for granted in life is back in mine and all our lives. And for that I am grateful. Grateful to see all the familiar faces, grateful I got a game of hockey out of the evening. Grateful I got to see the arrival of Milique Martelly and Harvey Briggs on the hockey landscape. Grateful that the countdown clock has restarted, as I type this, I have 5 days to go till its game day again. Grateful that in a few weeks I’ll be heading off on the road to Swindon to see a friend and take in a Wildcats game. Grateful that even though there’s still so much uncertainty in the world, and about the coming months, that for now there is at least some sort of normalcy to our lives again. Grateful that tonight we get to see a game of hockey again, and for the time being an escape from the world outside.

Taking The High Road Martelly Magic

 

Taking The High Road

              After 18 months, the long wait was finally over on Sunday the 5^th September. As the Streatham Redhawks hosted the Romford Raider jrs in a preseason challenge game. In football they call these friendlies, but if the night befores action was anything to go by it would be anything but friendly.

              Streatham entered the game 2 men down as Danny Ingoldsby and David Millner would not be icing. As challenge games do not count towards his suspension Brandon Miles would be in the line-up. The Raiders fielded a full bench with James Hounsome, Villius Krakauskas and Alan Lack the danger men to watch. While Danny Milton would be looking to repeat the head stands that had seen him shut Streatham out on his last visit to the High Road.

              There was a great deal of buzz ahead of puck drop surrounding Streathams two new junior recruits in Millique Martelly and Harvey Briggs who had shown up quite well the night before and had made good on the extra ice time the absence of Millner and Ingoldsby had given them. With Briggs scoring his first goal at this level of play.

1ST PERIOD

              Off the draw the puck found its way into the Streatham end where an attempt to play up the boards by the Redhawks would see an icing call put them back in their own end. However, the Redhawks D would choke off the Raider attack despite a shot from Fay forcing a save from Gregory. Martelly would then make the first of many men of the match plays as he forced a blue line turnover. Releasing Antonov, Martelly matched pace with the winger and was able to link up for the shot but Milton was equal to the early attempt.

              Next it would look like Raiders would get on the board as Cooper would play it across the crease to a waiting Holicka who’s shot almost found a way under Gregory at point blank range. But Gregory covered it.

              From there the play would be all Streathams as the Redhawks choked off the neutral zone. Every Raider attempt at going forward was met by a wall of Streatham players forcing turnovers and mistakes. And it wouldn’t take long till at 5:38 Joshua Ealey-Newman was found by Sam Waller. With Raiders around him Ealey-Newman was able to spin and fire the puck by Milton to make it 1-0

              More Streatham pressure would follow till the Raiders earned a power play off Josh Baileys interference. However, the Raiders couldn’t get settled on the puck and it was Vanya Antonov with a golden chance on a breakaway that he couldn’t quite get lined up on net for that looked more dangerous in these 2 mins.

              Soon as he returned to the ice Bailey would get an up-ice rush and while he couldn’t convert on 2 chances the momentum was in full favour of the Redhawks as Ziggy Beesley set up Harvey Briggs who’s shot bounced off the post and back to a waiting Conner Smith who fired it in to make the score 2-0

              The Raiders would end the period on the Powerplay but again couldn’t gain ground and were consistently driven out by the Redhawks D with the best chance being a tight close range shot for Alan Lack that hit the side netting of Gregorys net and was cleared

2ND PERIOD

              The second period would see the Redhawks start on the back foot again as an early shot attempt created a face off. Which lead to Villius Krakauskas getting a shot away off the face off that Nathen Gregor was equal to. The Raiders began to get a little more purchase on the play here with Streatham struggling with mistakes on drop plays on break outs and at their own blue line. Forcing the D to work hard to clear the puck. Once such forced turnover off Ryan Watt would see Gian Marco Pascale break up ice. Andrew Cook would force him behind the net, but he would find a way to play it Tjay Anderson who was able to get the puck on net. Gregory had no idea in the net front chaos where the puck was but was eventually able to cover it up. 

              Harvey Briggs would then show another flash of brilliance collecting the puck in the right-side circle cutting behind the net back up and firing low from the half boards, only to be denied by Milton low glove side.

              Warman would then sit 2 for tripping after a puck battle in the corner with Wilson and Lack. On the following powerplay Lack and Donald Campbell would both find themselves with chances in the slot that they would fan on. Lack would then be called for interference ending the man advantage. The Redhawks would capitalize on this to apply some pressure that would eventually see Watt and Waller combine passes to set up Michael Farn who unleashed a shot on net that flew by Milton and in to make the score 3-0 Streatham.

              Raiders would try to fire back with Fay setting up Pascale at the point, but Gregory continued his denial of every shot coming his way.

              Then came the goal that got the biggest cheer from the home crowd, as the two junior grads linked up on the power play. Harvey Briggs would feed Millique Martelly at the point. Martelly would fire the puck netward and see it sail in for his first goal against pro level opposition.

              With the score now 4-0 the Raiders would call a time out to try and figure out a way back in the game. It seemed to work as Lack and Hounsome linked up on a 2 on 1 but neither could apply a finish. The same would happen when Dunnage and Casey Wilson got up ice 2 on 1 but again, they were closed out and neither could get a shot off.

Then would come one of the games flash points as Vanya Antonov would break on the wing at speed with 2 Raiders climbing all over him. He would cut across Milton and with an open net would be denied by the post. In the scramble for the lose puck Antonov would be felled. This would enrage Brandon Miles who would charge in and receive 5+Game for checking from behind.

3RD PERIOD

              This would leave the Redhawks starting the third on the back foot and at 41:01 the Raiders found a way to get on the board. Off the face off the Redhawks found themselves trapped in their own zone and set up work from Vilius Krakauskas Samuel Cooper found Ewan Hill alone on the doorstep able to fire it under Gregory to break the shut out.

              Still on the kill as Miles’s penalty was a major, Streatham found themselves in more penalty trouble as Josh Ealey-Newman got himself a roughing penalty to put the Redhawks on a 5 on 3 penalty kill. Fay and Lack would set up Pascale off the next face off for a point shot but it would be saved by Gregory. Before Wilson would feed Hounsome from the half boards but again Gregory would be equal to the blast from the point.

              Streatham would successfully kill the rest of the penalty minutes on the clock, Gian Luca Pascale would get 2 chances in quick succession firing off the wing before grabbing his rebound. But the Raiders would now enter penalty woes as they would be called for too many men on the ice.

              A minute later the Redhawks would capitalize at 47:34. With a series of shots on net Antonov, and Ben Ealey Newman would create enough chaos that a goal mouth scramble would find the puck on Beesley’s stick with a prone Milton at his mercy. Beesley would fire it in to make it 5-1 Streatham

              At 50:22 the game would then see its next flash point as tempers flared when Alan Lack boarded young Harvey Briggs in the corner. Briggs would fortunately spring back to his feet seemingly unaffected. But This drew the ire of Ben Ealey-Newman who would grab hold of Lack and an exchange of fists took place as Ealey-Newman showed he was more than willing to stick up for his teammate.

              The game would become bad tempered from here on both sides, but in between the Raiders continued pushing. Gian Luca Pascale would intercept an attempt to release Watt and find himself in on Gregory. But Gregory would once again save and clear, this would see chances for Bailey and Farn the other end. This would then see another moment of Martelly magic as the young defenceman did his best Rupert Quiney or Vanya Antonov impression charging from one end of the ice to the other with such speed, he left the Raiders D for dead. It was only Milton who was able to stop him. Ben Paynter would then get a cross check penalty allowing the Raiders a breather as they went on the PP

              Casey Wilson would get a shot off from a tight angle forcing a sprawled save from Gregory, before Samuel Cooper would break down the wing and fore low in to Gregory’s glove. Ultimately another fruitless PP for the Raiders though.                     

              A huge hot by James Warman on Dyaln Holicka would draw a crowd, and a charging call at 59:54. In the aftermath Daniel Fay would get mixed up with Ryan Watt. Watt would be sat for roughing, while the Raiders would receive a bench minor penalty for abuse of official. At the next face off Fay would then be ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct. Seeing there was just seconds on the clock and sensing a brewing storm the referee decided to call the game early

              Reaction

              Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to see Vanya Antonov playing for Bracknell Bees. He wasn’t the star first line forward he is today. But I remember commenting he was vicious on and off the puck, tenacious, fearless, and so skilled when on the puck combined with his speed. He looked like a player full of potential, a few years later I was lucky enough to see the same when I saw Liam Kirk play for the first time. In this game Millique Martelly put this league on notice, and I saw what I saw in Kirk and Antonov. Tenacity, fearlessness, skill, speed and so much potential, if he plays every game like that, we have found money on our hands

              Harvey Briggs wasn’t putting in flashy up ice rushes, but he put in a solid performance that showed he belongs at this level as well. It was quite wonderful that Briggs was the player to provide Martelly the service for his goal. Again, if Briggs continues to play that way more found money is on the table.

              With David Millner and Danny Ingoldsby absent, I have doubts last nights lines were the finished article. In fact I expect Michael Farn to give them some tweaks this week ahead of next.

Nathen Gregory was tremendous in net staking a claim for starting when King and Annett’s are unavailable. Sam Waller on his return looked solid and reliable. And played well in the system Streatham uses of forcing the play wide and choking the middle lane.

              All in all a sold 48 hours from the RedHawks, with plenty to be hopeful and excited about going in to regular season action next weekend against Slough and once again against the Raiders.

             

Taking Flight. THE WAITING IS OVER!!

 

TAKING FLIGHT

THE WAITING IS OVER

In the eternal words of Howie Rose, THE WAITING IS OVER!! For Streatham fans those words have a dual meaning as we approach September. When Streatham dismantled the Invicta Dynamos in February 2020 it ended a multi decade trophy drought, and just like a 109 Bus on the High Road, if you wait long enough for one another will turn up at the same time. A month later that’s exactly what would happen as after a season that saw the RedHawks demolish the opposition going 32-1 on the season to win the league title. Sadly, outside forces would mean there was no party on the pad, no joyous lifting of a trophy. And no play off run to follow. As UK jockey fans had to make the ultimate sacrifice, to keep everyone safe we had to say goodbye to the rink for 18 months.

              A sad truth of the last 18 months is that there are likely those who were among us that night, who had waited longer than any of us, who will sadly have departed us because of the pandemic. There’s a rather dark joke in sports, of a fan holding a sign up saying I can now die in peace, and the Maple Leaf fan skeleton in a lawn chair with the sign saying waiting since 67. It hits home harder when its actually true though that, there are members of our hockey family who are no longer with us because of the last 18 months, who could go to their rest knowing they’d seen the Redhawks end the drought. We must never forget them and do all we can to honour them by bringing the noise in their absence.

              If you’ll forgive the maudlin turn this article has taken, but I felt it important before looking ahead, that we look back. Because I hope when I turn up at the rink on September 5^th, that I get to see all the familiar faces I have missed these 18 months. So that we can all get away from the world and escape in to those nights of beer drinking, chirping, yelling and maybe hugging(if you feel comfortable) at the High Road again, because on September 5^th The Waiting is over.

              As is the case in UK hockey, Streatham have been the victim of the off season as much as anyone. Being a championship winner is no guarantee all of the previous seasons roster will return. And in fact, that is very much true with the 2021/2022 Streatham Redhawks roster. Key players have departed leaving gaps on the roster and behind the bench. Meaning the team will need to bring in re-enforcements to fill those gaps or even look within to fill them.

The biggest and most notable change is behind the bench, as head coach Adam Carr has opted to retire after a long and successful career. Carr has retired for much the same reasons as Jeremy Cornish, to spend time with his family. Given the length of Carrs career, combined with how much of family life the travel from MK to Streatham cost him its understandable. Carr leaves behind a continuation of the blueprint left by Cornish, one which Farn can use to bring future success. Much like Carr Farn is in his rookie season as a coach, but like Carr he knows how to lead, has the experience, and will have a list of contacts he can call on, Farn being a known quantity has seen the bulk of last season squad return as well.

As I like to build from the net out, we’ll start there. In net the Redhawks see the return of its reliable goal tending tandem of Nathen Gregory and Damien King. King brings the pedigree of not only a starting netminder, but a championship winning netminder, not only having done that with Streatham in 2020 but with Invicta long before this. King is the kind of netminder all coaches want in that he stands on his head night after night and keeps tight games tight and soaks up shots like a sponge. Waiting in the wings Gregory provides that able back up who can step up and play, not just when the teams up by 5 with 1 period to go, but who can play from the start. Gregory will look to build on what can be seen as a breakout season, that saw him record shut out performances and put in strong performances as a starter.

              Joining King and Gregory this year is new addition Tom Annetts. Due to Kings commitments away from hockey preventing him from playing in every game coach Farn has acted to give his crease some more depth. In a season where games against the likes of Chelmsford, Solent and Oxford will be expected to be tough. Being with the 1A option may be a handicap the team doesn’t want. Annetts gives the team that depth option to cover for King, or come in for relief of Gregory in a game if he struggles. Annetts also provides another experienced voice for Gregory to learn from. Depth at every position is key in a winning season

              Now while it is important to build strongly in net (and building from the net out is a philosophy I very much subscribe to) its no good having a Damien King in net if there’s no one clearing the rebounds, driving the play wide and choking off the lanes, while also providing fire support from the blue line.

              Streatham’s defence is missing two of its most key and physical components from the 19/20 roster. The physical presence and offensive capability of Rupert Quiney will be sorely missed, his up-ice rushes before firing puck into the net where a sight to behold, and in his own end he was never afraid to do the dirty work in the corners, block shots and drop the gloves if needed. Similarly, Adam Wood who has also opted to take an opportunity up North that sees him icing for the Whitley Warriors, Wood will not be missed by the rest of theSouthern league, but sadly will be  sorely missed by Streatham fans. If you cut Wood, he would bleed red and white, a player who gave his all for the team, a constant agitator and pain to opponents, Wood was a terrific transitional player able to change the flow of the game with an up ice rush from the back end much like Quiney. Right now these two leave a large hole in the Streatham D that will need to be filled either by outside signings or internally. With 2 D men set to be announced watch this space

So that is what the Redhawks are without on the back end, so what do they have currently?

Making a return is the surprise of the 19/20 season in Andrew Cook. Signed after some time away from the sport Cook was a player, I had seen playing for Whitley in my days watching up in Coventry. He impressed me then, but I had reservations he would pick up where he had left off. I love when players make me feel foolish for doubting them as Cook did exactly that, the kind of defenceman you don’t notice over the course of a game for all the right reasons. Because he does exactly what he is supposed to and does it well, he’s a solid work horse in the Streatham back end.

              Joining him in returning alongside his brother Nathen is Jordan Gregory, just as Nathen has shown great promise and development in net Jordan has shown great development playing a more and more responsible role on the back end for the Redhawks. Deceptively fast for his size, the yeti as he’s been nicknamed by some Invicta fans is not afraid to mix it up and use his size and physicality along with his fists if needed to get the job done. While both Cook and Gregory don’t net the puck often both have shown the ability to create with double digit assist scores last season.

              Returning for yet another season alongside them is another stalwart of the Redhawks team core in James Warman, just like Cook Warman is one of those defencemen who has the ability to go unnoticed because he does the little things right. Another unafraid to mix things up physically Warman saw something of a renaissance in form last season playing alongside Michael Farn, providing a strong back up as the offensive D man surged forward.

              Speaking of which, returning as head coach Michael Farn is back to carry on what he started when he first arrived in Streatham in 2017. As if carrying on the torch passed from Cornish to Carr,Farn has returned to make his debut as a head coach in the NIHL. An all-star defenseman, with a career full of trophies and success there is no doubt Farn, the former team captain is the man to lead the team from the bench. A powerplay quarterback who I liken to heavy artillery with his deadly point shots, who’s not afraid to pinch down and sneak a wrister home Farn does the job at both ends. Closing out lanes and not being afraid to get involved physically, expect more of the all star performances we have come to expect from Farn.

              The 2 newest faces on the roster are a mix of an unknown quantity and for lack of better terminology a reclamation project. Milique Martelly joins as graduate from the Streatham academy. Much the same as Conner Smith he jumps from the academy straight into the main team. Having never seen Martelly play I can only speculate, but his size fits in with the blueprint of D-Men Farn has signed and his junior numbers suggest an offensive minded defenceman(That being said Junior numbers can be widly over inflated. Martelly is a high calibre prospect having represented GB at U16 level and having been invited to the GB U18 Selection camp as well. Ultimately Farn clearly sees some potential here or he would not have signed him to fill one of the two D core spots.  

              Just as last season the team saw Andrew Cook become something of a surprise return to UK hockey, Sam Waller makes his return after 4 years in retirement. At 6ft he has the size needed to play the physical strong hockey that Streatham has played over the last few seasons. Having seen Waller play as part of a Guildford D that would choke opposition offences off, he can certainly do this if he can pick up where he left off. Waller has all the tools to be a success in Streatham and could become another key free pick up. One I was not expecting.

              The forward group sees a large majority of its number returning as well, again with 2 positions vacant due to the departures of Adam Carr and Rhys McCormick. McCormick arrived in Streatham as a player with something to prove according to my friend at Solent Devils. I remember seeing him for the first time in a preseason practice and being really impressed. He was an energy player who was eager to get on the puck and make something happen with it, I felt if he could just put himself in the right spot and improve his accuracy, he would be more dangerous than he was. That said he was a valuable addition in the bottom 6 of the team and helped ensure the bottom 6 contributed points as well as the top end.

              Adam Carr’s retirement leaves a gap in the line up that any coach will find incredibly difficult to fill. The first line centre roll is a roll that coaches from the NHL down struggle to fill, its what makes the number 1 draft choice so valuable as a franchise centremen is often there to be had. Carrs leadership and points production will be sorely missed, able to provide the quality passing a star winger like Vanya Antonov needed Carr was as deadly with his set ups as he was with his shooting. Hopefully though a solution to this problem can be found within the roster for the coming season

              The first of the new faces for 21/22 is Harvey Briggs. At 18 years old Briggs is going to be a development project of the team the same as Conner Smith. Much the same as Smith Briggs has strong high scoring seasons at junior level, which if Smith is an indication should hopefully translate into a solid developing prospect. Briggs spent part of the last full season playing in 11 games for Streatham’s NIHL 2 side. With 4 goals and 3 assists in 11 appearances that is a strong record for a young player making the jump up from junior. While there is something of a gap between NIHL 1 and 2 in terms of quality the fact Briggs bridged that gap and performed well is a good sign for his continued development at this level. Briggs describes himself as a playmaker able to slot the puck home, given he’s done both at every level he’s played I have belief he will back this up. When I saw Briggs play NIHL 2 his performances were limited by the quality of support around him, and I predict with support from the higher quality linemates available on the roster Briggs should take the next step in his development.

              Conner Smith makes his return after an impressive first season playing in the bottom half of the Streatham roster. The 18-year-olds haul of 4 goals is testament to the fact that there was and is offensive ability up and down the roster. Adapted well to the style of NIHL 1 after jumping straight from the U18 level and has a very accurate and effective shot when given the space but can also be counted on in his own end. He’ll be expected to build on last seasons development and be pushing to move up the order

Another of my personal favourites Ziggy Beesley makes his return, it was not really a secret that Beesley would be back after comments he made on social media indicated his return. The diminutive centreman is an energy player who is like a dog with a bone on the ice, when he doesn’t have the puck, he’s agitating and hassling to reclaim possession. Not only this but Beesley also has a weapon of a shot that saw him hot a career best in points production. He’ll provide the speed element of any line he ends up on but speed with truculence.

              Given his suspension Brandon Miles will start the season on the side-lines for the first 10 games or so. The result of the fallout from a bad-tempered game between the Redhawks and Devils in February. Miles surprised me on his return to Streatham, I made no lie about how I viewed Brandon in my last preview. I felt he wouldn’t contribute much beyond penalty minutes, but a season playing top line in Invicta seemed to develop him as a player. While he is still the player, we know who plays on and way over the edge, his partnership with Vanya and Carr turned him in to a scoring and set up threat. His size and physicality are an asset when used to make space and intimidate opponents. Hopefully when Miles returns, he gives Farn a selection headache and picks up where he left off.

              The first of the new arrivals David Millner presents the first potential selection headache, but also the potential solution to the Carr problem. A utility player who can play D Millner also plays centre, having played in the 3^rd tier of Swedish Hockey Millner is of a better quality than a lot of imports at this level. A speedy player who could keep up with Vanya Antonov, but also more fond of creating goals than scoring them Millner gives the team some flex and an offensive threat. It will be interesting to see if he takes the first line centre position, ahead of other more established players

              Another of the new arrivals though Ben Ealey-Newman represents the second option.  While Ben isn’t strictly a centre more a forward and more a goal scorer than a set up guy, his goal scoring ability added to Antonovs on line 1 or the first PP unit could make for a pairing that gives every goalie a red severe case of red light sun burn. Newman being new I would not expect to receive a letter just yet but being a former Assistant captain of the Hornets I’d see him leading as best he can on the ice. I would suspect he will slot in on the first or second lines, unless Farn plans to have 3 free scoring top lines with a defensive 4^th.

              What though is better than one Ealey-Newman, that’s 2. With the arrival of Ben, I hoped his brother Joshua would follow. However, I suspected that despite being inseparable from his brother most of his career Josh having had a successful season with Bracknell Bee’s meant that he would be returning there. He provides something that is key to the success of any line up beyond scoring and that is chemistry. If paired up with his brother and another forward who can work well with them the potential is there for the roster to smother opponents with 3 scoring lines, not just 2. Even if they are split up the arrival of both the Ealey-Newman brothers gives the secondary scoring more depth.

              That brings us to last seasons second line, and first Ben Paynter. Paynter was one of the players who left the team for the greener pastures of Doug Shepherds Bracknell Bes rebuild. But returned last season and showed why the Bee’s had signed him for that level of hockey. His line was expected to provide the secondary scoring but he, Ingoldsby and Bailey had never really been free scoring forwards before. This all changed as Ben had a career year at pro level with 20 goals and 32 assists. The blueprint of the Redhawks is very much the same as under Carr, physical forwards on each line with speed players and in Paynter we get the physical side of hockey in spades, happy to hit agitate, mix it up in front of net and throw hands Ben is just that player. Hopefully eh kicks on and resumes the form he had in 2020

              Of course, Paynter’s success was mirrored by that of his line mate Danny Ingoldsby. Having seen Ingoldsby playing for the Bison years prior I was excited to see how he had developed, but his numbers indicated he was something of a gamble. There was obviously something Carr had seen about Danny that made him confident he would turn in to a productive second line player. He had never gotten out of single figures in the goal column before with a high of 7 in NIHL 2 and 5 in NIHL 1. But he obliterated this over a season where he evolved from simply being an agitating more defensive forward to a legitimate secondary scoring player.

              The final element of the trio who also developed well over the course of the season was Scott Bailey. Who makes his return after his own break out season for the team, signed as a development project by Jeremy Cornish, Bailey showed signs in his first season of what Cornish had seen in him, only falling short of equalling his career best by 2 points. But when paired up with Paynter and Ingoldsby his scoring exploded ending the season on 45 points. Bailey found his confidence in front of net, and like his line mates uses his size to his advantage everywhere on the ice. But he also has deceptive speed for a player of his size.

              Up Next, we have the controversial, the most loved and hated player in UK hockey depending on who you talk to, in Ryan Watt. Watt was part of Cornishes change in culture for the club when he arrived in 2017 where he excelled as a top line forward. He exceled so much that it saw him signed away b Bracknell who used him poorly in a bottom six enforcer role. Watt plays on the edge, in fact he often plays way over it. But the fact is when given a top line job Watt is a real threat, he loves nothing more than to out dangle defences and fire the puck by netminders, and he has the skill to do just that. Not only that though, his on the edge style means he’s not afraid to play a physical game and drop the gloves. Watt does need to watch himself as he’ll be a target for agitators and the league has already put the hammer down on him before. But following his quick return and then suspension last season we then saw Watt focus more on silencing critics by amassing points not penalties. I would expect Watt to feature somewhere in the top 2 lines

              And of course, we then arrive at the jewel in Streathams crown, a player I still can not believe the team has the services of in Vanya Antonov. Described as the steal of the draft during the Pandemics EIHL Elite series where teams drafted brits to rosters for a mini tournament I was thrilled to see Vanya end up on my team the Coventry Blaze(so thrilled I have both his home and away game worns one of which I sponsored) During the tournament Antonov was a talking point and no doubt Vanyas had offers for his services. But he appears to have decided to stay here in Streatham, I can only assume he’s continuing his studies. The club sadly almost lost Antonov to a business opportunity that had come up in March 2020. But of course, history intervened and it seems that chance is now gone as Antonov returns. The sight of his stick held aloft in celebration was a sight many Streatham fans became accustomed to as the free scoring forward terrorised offences up and down the league in the 19/20 season.  Able to play in the corners and behind the net where the lack of space should neutralize him Antonov always finds a way to be in the right place at the right time ready to fire in the puck. If Farn can put him with someone to feed him the puck and someone to make others think twice about taking a run at him and make the space, he will no doubt continue lighting the lamp for fun at this level

              So there you have it the 2021/2022 roster. So how do I think this team will do, well I’m fortune teller so its impossible really to know how this team will do. Every other team seems to be upgrading their armouries ahead of facing us this year. Solent have retained the bulk of a strong squad, as have Chelmsford and Invicta. The new Bristol squad has some really strong players as well, so its tough to predict just how things will shape up this season. But that said the game plan for this roster seems the same as before, victory by intimidation. If the fact the roster has 3 free scoring lines doesn’t intimidate then then teams’ physical style and abrasive on the edge approach will. Going 3 deep in net is also a strong way to guarantee success this coming season, but the team will need to find some new tricks and not just rely on heavy scoring. If the new players gel and the unknown gambles pay out this team will be fighting at the top end again.