Blue liner Chris Cooke has recently departed the Invicta Dynamos having expressed a need to be located closer to his Guildford home due to family illness.

Chris Cooke originally signed for the Dynamos on a two-way deal with the EPL’s Guildford Flames in December 2013 and he would go on to thrive in the NIHL South’s top tier by securing 15 points in 31 outings.

In the summer the young defencemen then opted to make the Silver Blades his hockey home for 2014/15 but, after just four appearances for the club this season, the skater has asked for his release from Gillingham citing personal reasons for the decision.

Speaking on the latest development Head Coach Kevin Parrish said, “Obviously it’s a blow to lose Chris Cooke, especially so early on in the season, but Chris has informed us that he needs to be located closer to home for the foreseeable future and we can’t stand in his way.”

“Naturally we hope any off ice issues are resolved as swiftly and as best as possible for him”.

Kevin Parrish then went on to talk briefly on an upcoming weekend that will take the Dynamos to the Isle of Wight before a home tie with the Milton Keynes Lightning on Sunday.

Parrish said, “It’s going to be a very difficult road trip for us but if we can build on the performance we put together against Streatham last Saturday then we will be in a good place.”

“Whilst the loss of Chris Cooke is far from ideal we are now finally in a position to give debuts to Billy and Charlie Phillips and I’m sure their inclusion will bring a new dimension to the side”.

Ironically, Cooke has been announced as having signed for the Dynamos opponents on Saturday – the Wightlink Raiders with the defenceman expected to line up against his former side.

Picture supplied by David Trevallion