The Invicta Dynamos have announced that Slovakian skater Tomas Banovsky will finally arrive in the UK today with the star forward set to immediately line-up with his teammates subject to the confirmation of his ITC.

Banovsky’s arrival brings a close to Stanislav Lascek’s time at the club with the forward having joined on a temporary basis to cover during Banovsky’s extended absence.

Tomas Banovsky arrived at the Dynamos in December 2019 and he was an instant hit in Gillingham with 21 goals and 17 assists in just 19 games for the club. Despite his displays catching the eye of several teams in the league above, Banovsky committed to a further season with the Mos once hockey returned post a covid enforced break but his arrival was then significantly delayed by additional administration generated by the UK’s change in relationship with the European Union.

Following UK’s departure from the EU, the club first needed to gain government approval to sign non-UK nationals who do not already reside in the UK plus Banovsky then required a visa to play hockey in this country. This has been a slow and complex process and, despite initiating and then expediting the required procedures a significant time ago, it is only now that it has finally come to an end.

In recent weeks the club finally acquired all the new accreditation required to sign non-UK based players and on Thursday Banovksy was granted a visa allowing him to travel to, and work in, the UK. As a result, he is now scheduled to arrive in Kent on Friday 19th November and he will go straight into the team to take on the Junior Raiders and Bristol Pitbulls this weekend should his ITC be confirmed in time by the relevant authorities.

With the arrival of Tomas Banovsky, and with the club strictly limited by league rules to a maximum of two ‘import’ players, we can confirm the release of Stanislav Lascek who joined on a temporary basis. In his time in Gillingham Lascek entertained supporters with 13 goals and 7 assists for 20 points in 10 games and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his efforts in a Mos jersey and wish him well for the future.

The Invicta Dynamos are next in action with an away game against the Junior Raiders on Saturday before returning to home ice in Gillingham for a meeting with the Bristol Pitbulls on Sunday.

Picture supplied by David Trevallion.