The Invicta Dynamos were the perfect hosts to Wightlink Raiders in what could be the visitor’s last ever game.
In what was meant to be an NIHL Southern Cup clash, the game ended up being a Challenge game with Wightlink’s statistics this season to be wiped from the record books after the Isle of Wight side confirmed their season would be over at the end of the game.
This is where the sorry story of losing the use of their rink will not only end Wightlink’s season and possibly their entire future as a club, but where ice hockey will be the poorer for having one less competitive side in the league and the island will be without the use of a rink for the community.
Whether Wightlink Raiders take to the ice in the future remains to be seen, but on Sunday night they came to Gillingham for one last battle and it was only fitting the Dynamos players formed a guard of honour for the Raiders players to skate through onto the ice.
Receiving a standing ovation from the passionate Invicta fans served to set up the game nicely and even the pantomime villain, Wightlink coach Jeremy Cornish, was hailed by the home support before the game got underway.
When it did, the Dynamos looked much more like the side that had been fighting it out since the start of the season, rather than the one that lost 10-5 at London Raiders in the cup the night before.
Without the services of netminders Damien King and James Richardson, both missing due to injury, the Dynamos once again called upon 43 year old Glen Rodbourne, whilst there was a welcome return for the likes of Adam McNicoll, Nicky Lewis and Bailey Wootton.
Once the puck hit the ice for the first time, it was clear that both sides weren’t going to be swayed by the occasion and some serious ice hockey was going to be played.
Rodbourne was to be the busier of the two netminders in the opening exchanges, but it was the Dynamos that opened the scoring in the 10th minute with the home side making full use of a powerplay. Haydn Wootton was on hand to clip the puck home from close range after Elliott Dewey had fired across the crease.
Chances came and went at both ends of the ice throughout the rest of the period with Rodbourne equal to everything that came his way, whilst import Adam Rehak terrorised the Wightlink defence with some skilful forays down the ice.
It took little over a minute into the second period for Wightlink netminder Nathan Gregory to be beaten once again, this time Dynamos import Ondrej Zosiak went coast to coast, before slotting the puck home, much to the delight of the home support.
Again, the game opened up with chances coming and going for both sides, with Anthony Baskerville unfortunate not to open his Dynamos account, whilst Rodbourne pulled off some fantastic saves to keep the score at 2-0.
He was finally beaten though in the 31st minute though, beaten by a shot from Jaroslav Cesky that left him unsighted, coming through traffic and into the net.
The Dynamos restored their two goal advantage in the 39th minute when Ashley Jackson, fresh from having scored two goals for East Grinstead Hockey Club earlier in the day, tapped home after great work from Rehak.
It was to be 3-2 going into the next break though as Wightlink came roaring back into the game with Ryan Webb firing home from close range after Sam Cheema’s shot across the crease.
The third period got underway with both sides applauded back onto the ice with fans aware that it could be the last time they saw the two sides go head to head.
It took until the 54th minute of the game for the scoring to resume with Rehak showing his class, robbing the puck off the Wightlink defence and turning Gregory inside out before slotting home.
Two minutes later and the game was finally put to bed with Rehak claiming another, this time as a short handed goal with Nicky Lewis sitting for two minutes.
Within seconds it was 5-3 and it was fitting that the game’s final goal went to Wightlink with Alex Sampford drilling home from distance past an unsighted Rodbourne.
It was rather fitting that after all the years of battles between the two sides, the game would end with a titanic scrap between Mason Webster and Danny Ingoldsby. The two traded blows for some time with the Dynamos man just about edging what proved to be the last meaningful action of what turned out to be a strange game.
When the final buzzer sounded, it was rather fitting that both teams were applauded for their efforts, with the entire Wightlink team claiming the man of the match award for their side, whilst Rodbourne took the honours for the Dynamos after a great performance.
As Wightlink left the ice for what could be the final time, the entire rink stood as one, chanting “Raiders”, making the hairs on the back of your neck stand.
We can only hope this isn’t the end for the Raiders and we’ll see them back playing back in Kent again soon. Without them, ice hockey will be a poorer place.
To listen to our exclusive interviews with Kevin Parrish and Glen Rodbourne from after the game, click here:
https://audioboom.com/posts/5196851-kev-parrish-after-invicta-dynamos-beat-wightlink-raiders-5-3?t=0
