#invicta dynamos

[sometimecynic]

Mason Webster vs J.J. Pitchley  |  Sept 18, 2016  |  TKO

[freezethepuck]

An Interview With Chris Cooke

Hey Chris, thanks for taking some time out on a rare Saturday off! How is the season going for you so far?

Hey Matt, Personally I'm really enjoying this season, I feel I'm progressing much more as a player trying to get myself to the best I can be, the added ice time on my two way deal between Guildford and Invicta has really been beneficial. Both teams have had a dip but are coming out strongly, hopefully on the way to winning some silverware! 

You’ve split time between the Guildford Flames and Invicta Dynamos this year, both teams that are around or at the top of their leagues, how much does the atmosphere differ from one team to the other?

To be honest, the fans at both Guildford and Invicta make a great atmosphere and really get behind you during a game. With the size of the rink at Invicta being smaller than Guildford and much more confined, the place can become electric. I believe it was definitely a factor in our win over Wightlink when we were 4-0 down and came back to win 6-4, I have never witnessed anything in the stands like it! 

You’ve grown up in the Guildford organisation, how did the time with Invicta this year come about?

I sat down with Paul Dixon and Milos Melicherik last year to talk about a two way deal, however injury prevented me playing for the last half of the season and therefore it fell through. I sat down with Paul again this year and we talked about progressing me as a player and getting much more game experience. we were approached by Kevin Parrish offering me a two way with Invicta, and the three of us thought it was the best option and I have found myself with the mo's and I'm really enjoying it. A massive thanks to both Flames and Dynamos for allowing me to do it. 

How did you first get into ice hockey?

My dad has done the programmes for the Flames from day 1, and I was taken to my first match at 13 days old! anyway, the owner John Hepburn approached my dad and questioned him, over a beer on whether I would like to start playing in which the reply was we can't afford it! however, John kindly provided me with kit and set me up with the junior programme and here we are still playing! I owe a lot to both my dad and John. 

How would you describe your role on the Flames? Does it differ in Gillingham?

I feel as a young member of the roster at Guildford, my ice time will be limited due to the calibre of players that we have, so I see myself providing energy for the team and  motivate my team mates, keeping them going. At Invicta I feel like I'm a dependable D-man who can log a lot of minutes and I feel my role is to play solid defence and contribute points wise where I can. I've never been an offensive D-man, always stay at home but you always have to adapt your game and strengthen in all areas. 

Do you follow any teams or players outside the UK Leagues?

I wouldn't say I'm a huge follower of the NHL, though do enjoy it, but I've always kept an eye on the Red Wings. Particularly when the likes of Nick Lidstrom was plying his trade, what a player to watch!

Last question, if you could line up alongside any player, past or present, who would it be and why?

To be honest, I would love to line up with my team mates from my 18's years, guys such as Andy Melachrino and George Norcliffe. We had a great team with great chemistry who would do anything for each other. A proper team! 

Anything you’d like to add Chris?

Just wanna say thanks Matt, and let's go Flames and Dynamos!

Many thanks to Chris for answering our questions. You can keep up with the Dynamos throughout the season at @InvictaDynamos and the Flames at @flamesicehockey. You can cheer Chris on at @cookie9494

If I used your photos let me know and I'll be very happy to give credit where it's due.

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter

[freezethepuck]

An Interview With Jakub Klima

Hey Jakub, you left Invicta Dynamos recently, what made you want to move away from the club?

The reason why I left is simple I couldn’t get used to it for Invicta’s “system” and also I did not get to much ice time so I had this idea long time in my head. When Dwayne Newman called me and then Danny Marshal if I would like to play for them then I said strait away yes.

You’ve made an immediate impact at London Raiders with a goal on your debut, how are you settling in?

After one training Marsh took me between him and Frankie Harvey, both are really good players which can find the net. First game on Saturday we were little bit looking for each other but Sunday was much better just we had bad luck in finish we need just a bit of time to settle down and then I believe we could be great line.

You’ve been playing in the UK for a few years now, what prompted you to come here to play?

This is my third season in the UK. The reason why I came here was challenge to change my life and I did it. I drive my life as I want, learned English especially in Chelmsford two years ago I lived with English family and they helped me so much because my English was zero when I came over here first time. Also I found a girlfriend here and we are almost two years together. 

For those who haven’t seen you on the ice, how would you describe your playing style? Are there any players you model your game on?

I’m the goon, always looking for a fight, last time I wanted beat Adam Rich from Gosport but he was scared hahaha!  Now seriously, I'm a technical player who is always looking for a team mate to prepare better position for him

You’ve been right at the top of the scoring charts since you arrived and even this year you’ve been over a point per game. Have you considered stepping up to the EPIHL or another higher tier league?

I’m actually surprised, I have this season more points than games probably referee gave me some of them, because my ice time at in Invicta was not really good.  I don’t know one day I would like to try higher league but I’m playing for London raiders now

 Off the ice is the UK starting to feel like home now? Could you see yourself staying here when your playing career comes to an end?

Yeah definitely I feel like the UK is my home and when I go back home to visit my family it is like a holiday.  I think I’m still young to think about it but I try to enjoy every day as much as I can because you never know when your last game is.

Thanks for your time Jakub, is there anything else you’d like us to mention?

I would love see more supporters on London Raiders side like they used to be last year (in Romford) because they always made a great atmosphere!

A big thank you to Jakub for giving up his time to answer our questions. You can cheer on the (other) Raiders at @LonRaiders_IHC

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog!

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter!

[freezethepuck]

An Interview With Tim Smith

We’re a little way into the season now. How are things shaping up for the Steeldogs?

The season hasn’t started too badly for the dogs. We have let ourselves down in a few games where we could have probably gone on to win if we had stayed a little more disciplined but we have a great bunch of guys that come to play for each other every night. We haven’t iced a game at full strength yet either due to injury and suspension. We have missed one of the best defenceman in the league in Morgs ( Ben Morgan) for 6 games. Then Dalibor Sedlar our import goalie took an injury and we were also missing our captain Greg Wood and other import Greg Chambers through suspension. I think once we have our full team back we will definitely surprise a few teams across the league!

  How did you first get into ice hockey?

I first got into Ice hockey when I was around 14/15 but had played roller hockey for a few years before. My first taste of any hockey was with Alex Mettam who is now goalie for the Bracknell bees, both as youngsters on the back gardens originally playing with plastic golf clubs and a tennis ball! But as our interest grew our equipment evolved into real sticks and Alex put on cricket pads and a baseball glove while I practiced slapshots, often hitting him in the head with no helmet on! We played for hours as kids then started playing roller hockey for Graves Flames. Current ‘Dogs team members Greg Wood & Steve Duncombe both played for the flames!

You were with Invicta last year, are you keeping an eye on their progress this year?

I will always keep an eye on Invicta I had many great years there and (though not for  a while) I won many trophies with the club. I have a lot of respect for the club and the fans and appreciate everything they did for me as a player and a person down there. I hope they can bring some silverware back to the ice bowl the club and fans deserve success again. They have in my eyes the best roster on paper in the league but the team needs to gel and if Kev can get them all to play the way he wants then I cant see why not.

Of all the players you’ve lined up with through your career, who would you most like to play alongside again?

If I had to choose just one player to play alongside again it would probably have to be Justin Noble. Just has to be the one of the best guys I have ever met in hockey. He worked 100% every game and was a great guy to have a round the changing room. We also had many many nights out and a lot of stories that wouldn’t be appropriate for this interview! But we defo worked well as a team. ;)

Ryan Giles reckons you might be the guy behind the NIHL Rumours twitter. Any response to that?

As you can tell by the editing you will have had to do on this interview im not NIHL rumours. As for Gilesy I don’t think it’s him either as he is busy doing care in the community work at the moment, paying special attention to those in need. He is fantastic at that job and really goes all the way. Julian smith will back me up there!

Anything you’d like to add Tim?

Yeah don’t ever take gloves from teams. They tend not to release you even though you help them out!

  Many thanks to Tim for taking the time to chat with us. Head over to twitter and say hi at @TLSmith88, you can find the team at @SteeldogsIHC

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog!

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter!

[freezethepuck]

An Interview With Ryan Giles

Responsible defenceman Ryan Giles returned to Invicta Dynamos this summer after a season in Romford. He took time out to speak to us about expectations in Gillingham, discuss former and current teammates and even answer a couple of questions sent in via Twitter.

Invicta had a good start to their season, drawing against Chelmsford in the cup before beating the London Raiders in your opening league game. Are expectations high in the locker room?

In some ways, Invicta have done the NIHL equivalent of Man City in the premier league – so people will have expectations. By bringing in arguably the best two imports in the league from the last 2-3 seasons, with top proven British players like Hammond and Disco – there are going to be expectations of the team. We have our own expectations; we aim to win some silverware this season - simple. But isn’t that every team’s ambition?

We are by no means the favourites – most would say that is Chelmsford; so really the pressure is on them. Let’s not forget they kept the majority of their title winning team and signed (in my opinion) the best two additions they could from within the league in Matt Turner and Julian Smith, as well as Brittle. Invicta get a lot of bad press for being ‘Moneybags Invicta’ but knowing what a lot of guys in the league earn; I would love to see the Chelmsford budget.. Anyway, we drew 6-6 with them last week, with one import and a short bench – so things don’t look too shabby for this season.

Any of the ‘top 4’ teams can beat each other on their day and to be fair any of the top 7 this year will turn each other over too. I think this will be the best season yet.

You’ve returned to Gillingham after a year away, how much has changed in that time?

Not much has changed at all in terms of the management, the general set up and the day to day stuff as a player. There’s still a great atmosphere on game, the dressing room is still a stupid shape and half the staff at the rink are still miserable as sin. The only difference seems to be that the team is a group of more professional guys. Maybe some of the jager bombs have been pushed aside for protein shakes? The team has had a major shake up and maybe that is exactly what was needed; only time will tell.

Invicta didn’t just bring you in from Romford, you’re joined by NIHL scoring phenomenon Juraj Huska. Just how much of an edge does he bring to the team?

Huska is the type of guy that can get you a goal out of nowhere; he can be a game changer. Huska will score goals and will rack up the points in big games over the course of the season – he has proven that. As players of the NIHL know; if you see him wind up for a slapshot, get out of the way – it’s often high (crossbar height, or for Lacky & McNiccol – head height) and it will hurt. Give him some time to settle, get to know his line mates and I am sure we will see another 80+ point season for him. Last year he said to me ‘You give me puck, I score’ which is an arrangement I’m perfectly happy with – I often remind him of this deal.

A question from twitter: Had Rom Valley Way not closed in the summer who would you be playing for this year? Invicta or Romford?

That is a difficult question to answer.. If Romford were playing out of Rom Valley way still – I would have had a decision to make. As they weren’t – it was a real simple one. There is no secret in the fact I enjoyed last year at Romford, but I also love Invicta and I’m happy to be back home. With the situation as it stands, I am where is best for me. Invicta is my home team, the team I grew up watching and the club that taught me to play. The team emblem means a lot to me and I’d do anything for the team or my teammates.

I was travelling to Romford last year with AJ Smith who ‘retired’ in the summer to spend more time with his girlfriend, under her strict orders – she absolutely runs his show. So wherever Romford/London were playing – I would have been travelling alone. The miles you rack up and the time you spend travelling takes a toll on you (financially as well as physically). This year the ‘hockey commute’ would have been alone, so would have been double the driving and double the cost for me. I have a life away from hockey (believe it or not) and my time is valuable to me.

How would you describe your style of play? What are your strengths?

I like to think of myself as a top 4 defender who is a bit of an all-rounder. I can play regular minutes against the best in the league, power play and PK – but will also scrap to stand up for my team mates and/or change the momentum of a game if needed. Although I am only 23, this is my 8th season in this league- so in a team like this year’s I am relatively experienced and honoured to wear an A on my shirt. I won’t often stand out but sometimes that is the sign of a good defender.

Just a few years ago you were involved in a nasty accident and some wondered if you’d ever return to the game. Did you consider hanging up the skates?

Of course I did. At one point I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to walk again, let alone skate or play. I played half the following season with a titanium bar in my femur (thigh bone) from my hip to my knee, holding it together. I couldn’t actually skate properly; I was unable to even extend my leg fully - as you would for a skating stride. I then had another op in the off-season to remove the bar, so had another season of recovery and sub-standard performance - in all honesty. These two years were a write off and I only played to help the team, so some criticism I took was unfair and unjust, when people didn’t really know my current situation. Last year was my first year without an operation so it felt good to get a good year under my belt and start re-building on my form. Whether I will ever get back to the level I was prior to my accident, I don’t know (I guess the next couple of years will tell) – but realistically I’m just happy to be alive and to be able to be back on the ice again.

A twitter question from a young gent called AJ: Is it true that you run the NIHL Rumours twitter account?

The ENL rumours twitter is fantastic, I love it. It is not me, but I regularly get accused of it. Whoever it is – fair play and well done, you keep me amused. I won’t lie though, I do send some tweets in. I kinda hope we don’t find out who it is, or it won’t be as funny? (So don’t come out publicly and admit it AJ..). My money is on AJ Smith himself, although other suspects include Jason Buckman, Grant Baxter and Ali Band. Tim Smith was another suspect but some of the words are too long for him to spell, plus he’s too busy looking after his bird Kes and eating gravy.

Last question from us… if you could add one player to the Dynamos squad this year who would it be and why?

I’d add my mate and ex-colleague Julian Smith. I met him at London Zoo when we were working alongside each other. I’m a volunteer Dolphin Shaver and he is a Penguin Erector. We then went on to play together at Romford last year. His real talent is with the penguins; I can’t deny that, but he can play hockey a bit too. Have you ever seen a hairy Dolphin or a Penguin laying on it’s back unable to get up? I didn’t think so…

Anything you’d like to add Ryan?

I love lamp.

Many thanks to Ryan for answering our questions. You can keep up with the Devils throughout the season at @InvictaDynamos and you can cheer Alex on at @RyanGiles90

Photographs by Grant Woolway (@GrantWoolway)

If you’ve got any feedback, you can tweet me @MattMerritt. I’d love to hear from anyone who takes the time to read the blog.

If you’re a hockey player/coach/team manager in a competitive league, I’d love to ask you some questions too, please get in touch either here or via twitter

[johnpears-blog]

Trip to Invicta Dynamos

Kents best Ice Hockey team play at the Ice Bowl in Gillingham located inside an industrial estate. Cold, isolated and dimly lit, this is is to be the base of my research project. I approached Invicta Dynamos with the possibility of using their club to base my research: Participation in Ice Hockey.

Thankfully the ice rink doesn't match the attitudes of the individuals i have met, with Jackie Mason, club owner and Kevin Parrish, head coach being warm, receptive and extremely helpful.

The project is ongoing and part of my final major, which will be followed up through this blog. On my first visit i took some photos until i was gently prodded in the back by an unhappy female questioning why i am taking them. It wasn't until later i was introduced to the owner of the club, the same lady i was prodded by, to our amusement.