The new look Invicta Dynamos side got their season off to the perfect start with victory over Bracknell Hornets on Sunday.
Kevin Parrish’s fresh faced roster were 7-4 victors in their NIHL South clash at the Gillingham Rink, making it the best way to begin the new campaign.
Captained by Nicky Lewis, the Dynamos took to the ice with nine new signings including new imports Eriks Ozollapa and Ondrej Zosiak, although it was ever so slightly confusing as the side had to don last season’s shirts.
Let down by their kit supplier, the Dynamos had to ice with names from the past and those donated by the fans, adding to the intrigue and guessing game of who was who.
It mattered not though as the Dynamos showed that it’s not the name on the back of your shirt, but your ability on the ice that counts.
With the puck dropped for the first time in over four months, the Dynamos came out of the traps the hungrier and took just over two minutes to open the scoring with Lewis showing why he has been handed the captaincy this season, rounding off a great move to make it 1-0 and in turn it was his 100th goal in a Dynamos shirt.
The Hornets made full use of a powerplay in the 6th minute with Danny Hughes following up a shot from former Dynamo Greg Chambers.
Against the run of play, the Dynamos found themselves trailing in the 15th minute as Bracknell went in front through Brandon Miles.
Less than two minutes later and it was all square once again as Jacob Ranson scored his first goal in a Dynamos shirt, much to the delight of the home support.
Just over two minutes further on and their delight was stepped up a notch when Conor Redmond made it 3-2 for his first goal for Invicta, following up on a fierce shot from Zosiak.
With just fifteen seconds left in the period, the visitors were level when Ryan Handisides scored, sending the fans into the break wondering what way the game would go.
The second period proved to be a more cagey affair with Dynamos netminder Mark McGill called upon more than once to keep it level, whilst the home side pressed for another goal.
It finally came in the 32nd minute as Bailey Wootton skipped past his marker and roofed the puck into the net leaving the home faithful stunned.
It was to stay 4-3 going into the final period and with fans nervous how the game would pan out, up stepped Ozollapa to turn it in favour of the Kent side.
Having slammed the puck into the goal frame, the import wasn’t to be denied in the 48th minute. With Jack Lee serving a penalty for the Dynamos, Ozollapa was sent free down the ice, but was hauled down.
From the resulting penalty shot, the Latvian danced down the ice before roofing past Mark Duffy for 5-3.
Less than a minute later and it was 5-4 as Danny Hughes pegged one back for the Hornets as the visitors made full use of their numerical advantage.
With just the one goal advantage, the Dynamos were hoping for something special to push further clear and they certainly got it on the 51 minute mark when Ozollapa controlled the puck, switched it and slammed it into the roof of the net for what could already be one of the goals of the season.
It took until the 55th minute for the game to be finally put to bed when Andy Henderson grabbed his first goal in a Dynamos shirt, rounding off a great move involving Joshua Condren and Ozollapa.
The game ended with Hughes sitting in the box for Bracknell, serving a six minute penalty and it just helped the Dynamos play out the remaining time in style.
So, with one game under their belts, the Dynamos will now go into next Sunday’s cup clash with London Raiders at home with a real sense of confidence and belief of what lies ahead this season.
To listen to our exclusive interviews with Kevin Parrish and Nicky Lewis click here:
https://audioboom.com/boos/3596527-nicky-lewis-after-invicta-dynamos-beat-bracknell-hornets-7-4