The Invicta Dynamos have welcomed back the club’s highest points scoring Brit from 2016/17, Prohockeynews.com NIHL South Division 1 All-Star and GB field hockey Olympian Ashley Jackson after the forward returned to Kent from the Basingstoke Bison.
Ashley Jackson might be better known nationally for his outstanding field hockey pedigree, that has seen him compete in numerous Olympic and Commonwealth Games, but ice hockey was his first love and he previously trained in Gillingham as junior before turning field hockey into his career.
However, the desire to return to the ice has never left the gifted forward and, in 2014/15, he featured briefly for the Invicta Dynamos between other commitments – grabbing 4 goals and 3 assists in an 8 match spell.
Jackson’s hunger for ice hockey then saw him sign for the Mos again in 2016/17, this time for a full season, during which he was key figure in helping bring silverware back to Kent as the team secured the NIHL Southern Playoff title – a 19th honour in the club’s 20th campaign.
Despite having not previously played a full term of senior hockey as a result of his other sporting commitments, Jackson showed he was as good on the ice as he is on the grass with a formidable 27 goals and 35 assists in 35 outings. His haul of 62 points made him the highest scoring British player on the Dynamos roster with only Czech import Adam Rehak, with whom he developed a lethal partnership, bettering his total.
Jackson’s attacking prowess, work rate and leadership did not go unnoticed by the team’s supporters who voted him their Player of the Year at the club’s end of season presentation evening in April. Another accolade came his way courtesy of his peers in the NIHL South’s top tier – Jackson voted into the Prohockeynews.com All-Star line-up by opposing players and coaching staff throughout the league.
Unsurprisingly, Ashley Jackson’s success drew the attention of former EPL outfit and league newcomers Basingstoke and, in the summer, he switched to the Hampshire based side for the new season.
However, after 5 points in 11 outings for the Bison, Jackson and the club mutually agreed to end his time at Doug Sheppard’s side allowing him to return to the Invicta Dynamos where Head Coach Kevin Parrish is delighted to secure his services once again.
Speaking on the re-signing of Ashley Jackson, Parrish said, “Given the impact he had on the team in 2016/17 we were really disappointed to lose Ashely in the off season so I’m thrilled to now have him back for the remainder of 2017/18.”
“Ashley is an exceptional athlete, a fantastic character and a positive influence on this club both on and off the ice. His link-up play is excellent and his eye for goal makes him a constant threat to the opposition but his work at the other end of the ice, getting back to support the defence, is just as important.”
“Having played at Olympic and Commonwealth Games he is a role model to the rest of the guys, can handle pressure and knows what it takes to be successful. I’m delighted he is back on our roster and I look forward to working with him for the remainder of the campaign”.
Ashley Jackson will wear the number 51 jersey in Gillingham and should return to action this weekend, pending approval of his registration, as the Mos faceoff against Streatham at home on Saturday at 6.00pm.