Anthony Lennon has paid tribute to the Invicta Dynamos fans and his team-mates after making his farewell appearance for the side on Sunday night.

Lennon picked up the Man of the Match award as the Dynamos made it a four point weekend with a comprehensive 8-2 win over the Streatham Redskins at the Silver Blades Ice Bowl in Gillingham.

Goals from Callum Fowler, Callum Best and Andy Smith saw the Dynamos go into the first break 3-1 ahead with Peter Vaisanen adding the only goal of the second period.

Four goals in the third period from Justin Noble, two more from Fowler and the last from Nicky Lewis ensured Lennon hung up his blades with a win and the Number 6 left to a standing ovation from the fans leaving the 28 year old emotional about the sending off:

“We’ve got the greatest fans in the league and all the boys mean so much to me. I’ve been playing for 22 years now and I had to start thinking about my future.”

“I’m not getting any younger and I’ve had a couple of tough seasons with a couple of broken shoulders and broken ribs recently, but I have had some amazing times growing up through the juniors.”

“I’ve travelled all around the world with hockey and it’s been a great servant to me and I’d like to thank Kevin Parrish for putting up with me, making me a better player and a better individual whilst giving me the motivation to do things with my life.”

“I’ve also got to thank my parents for spending the time and money on me along with the support I have had from my brother and Andy Smith. Those guys have been a huge influence on me and I can’t thank them enough.”

Going out with a win at Cardiff on Saturday night followed by Sunday’s emphatic win couldn’t have seen Lennon end his time on the ice any better and he admitted you couldn’t have scripted it if you tried:

“It was the perfect ending and I think it was my first man of the match in four years. I know where I stand in hockey and I’d do anything for my team.”

“I’ve had my days when I was a better player and the guys that Kev has brought in are a phenomenal hockey team on paper.”

“Hockey’s not just a game, we are like a family and the time we spend together is incredible. Like on Saturday, we left at 11 in the morning and aren’t back until 3 the following morning.”

Now Lennon has hung up his boots, he told KSN how he was planning a good Christmas, but hasn’t ruled out returning to play for the side again in the future:

“I think I will be eating a few more mince pies than I’d normally do, but I will still be around for the team as I don’t think I could just pull myself away from this club.”

“My heart lies here and I will be back at some point. I’d jump at the chance to help Kev out and I will always do whatever I can to help this great club get two points.”

As for Parrish, he couldn’t praise Lennon enough for all he had done for the Dynamos since making his first appearance for the side back in 2004:

“People like Ant are not just hockey players in my eyes. I have known him for a long time and kept in touch when he went to Chelmsford and then Guildford.”

“It’s heartbreaking to see Any go, but I know why he’s doing it. He’s doing it for the right reasons and he’s been given a great opportunity with a job.”

“You can never make enough money from hockey to buy houses, so there was no way I was going to try and talk him out of it.”

“In the summer he knuckled down and got his qualification and he’s a credit to his family and to this club. He’s been a gentleman on and off the ice and it’s been a pleasure to coach the guy.”

The Dynamos are back in action again when they travel to Milton Keynes Thunder on Sunday 30th December with their next fixture back at the Silver Blades Ice Bowl in Gillingham against the Cardiff NIHL Devils on Saturday 5th January with face off at 5:15pm.

Picture supplied by David Trevallion.