Saturday night saw the Invicta Dynamos travel to Southwest London to take on the defending league champions.
A rivalry that goes back several years, this matchup is always highly anticipated.
Redhawks forward Josh Martin set the precedent of the game when he was ejected from the game in the first minute for checking Invicta’s young defenceman Gregor Mcallan from behind.
An end to end first period saw the Redhawks take the advantage as Luke Brittle buried a rebound after 12 minutes of play.
A bad tempered first period led to a post buzzer brawl due to Dynamos forward Josh Condren raising his stick at another player. The Dynamos made the decision to abandon the game due to player safety concerns.
Earlier today Dynamos confirmed the immediate release of Condren. In a statement the Dynamos said, “We cannot condone the raising of a stick to any player. This goes against our code of conduct as a club and as such had to be dealt with accordingly.”
Both teams now await confirmation of any further disciplinary sanctions that may be handed out by English Ice Hockey’s Department of Player Safety.
On Sunday, the Redhawks travelled down to Planet Ice Gillingham for the second meeting between the teams of the weekend.
All players involved in Saturday’s game missed Sunday’s match to prevent any further problems.
The Redhawks got on the front foot early, finding the net twice in the first five minutes. The first goal was scored after 2 minutes by Redhawks import Tomasz Skokan. Just 2 minutes later Josh Ealey Newman doubled the visitors’ lead.
An additional goal at the ten-minute mark of the first period gave the London side a three-goal advantage going into the first break. Despite being three goals behind the Dynamos were creating chances, however Redhawks netminder Danny Milton had all the answers so far.
The Redhawks added their fourth of the game after just twenty-eight seconds of the second period, this time scored by veteran defenceman Sam Waller.
Invicta netted their first goal of the game on the powerplay three minutes into the second period. After a low shot from Thomas Soar went between the legs of Milton.
Despite the pressure the hosts were applying, the reigning champions found a way to hold off the pressure and added another three goals to their tally all 5 minutes apart.
Ealey Newman scored his second of the game, followed by Ethan Lane and another from Skokan giving the visitors a 7-1 advantage.
To start the period Kieran Wyatt replaced Owen Rider. Another slow start from Invicta allowed Ealey Newman to score his third and Streatham’s eighth. 8-1 Redhawks.
Unfortunately, after 5 minutes of play in the third period Wyatt picked up an ankle injury. He left the game and did not return.
Soar netted his second of the game after 48 minutes of play. A smart shot of the back of Milton bounced over the line. 8-2 Redhawks. Ten minutes later Stanislav added a consolation goal. A fast break was nicely finished off by Lascek who fired it over the left shoulder of Milton.
The game ended 8-3, a disappointing weekend for the Dynamos who will look to bounce back immediately. Man of the match awards were awarded to Dynamos number 14 Samuel Oliver as well as Josh Ealey Newman who scored a hattrick for the visitors.
The Mos next face the young and energetic Romford Buccaneers on Sunday 21st.
Pictures supplied by David Trevallion.