24 year old defenceman Harrison Lillis returns to the Invicta Dynamos for 2018/19 making him the longest serving player on the club’s current roster as he enters his eighth term at Planet Ice Gillingham.
Harrison Lillis is a product of the junior setup in Kent where he rose through the ranks before making his senior debut aged just 16 for the Invicta Mustangs in the NIHL South Division 2 come 2009/10. By 2011/12 the blue liner had made the step up to the league above and began a relationship with the Dynamos that continues to this day. But for a half season stint with Streatham IHC towards the end of 2013/14, Lillis has been a one club man chalking up 275 appearances for the Mos over 7 seasons in Gillingham.
Since first pulling on a Dynamos jersey in 2011, Harrison Lillis has represented the side as both a defenceman and a forward and been a part of teams that lifted the NIHL Southern Cup in 2015 and the NIHL South Playoff trophy in 2017. The utility man’s tally of appearances is only surpassed by 11 other players in the club’s 21 season history and in that time he has found the target 12 times, chipped in with 25 assists and so amassed 37 points. The skater has also proven himself willing to drop the gloves and has 338 penalty minutes from his stints with the Mos so far.
Last season Harrison Lillis featured for the Dynamos 34 times across all competitions notching a goal, two assists and 89 penalty minutes as the Mos attempted to establish themselves having been thrust into British ice hockey’s second tier. Playing predominantly on the blue line, Lillis took on the challenge of the league’s best forwards and continued to develop his game in the face of his toughest competition yet. Now he will look to carry on making forward strides as he commits to an eighth season with the Mos under Head Coach Kevin Parrish.
Speaking on the re-signing of Harrison Lillis, Kevin Parrish told the club’s official website “Harry is a local lad who has a long history with the side and a great passion for the team. At just 24 he is already entering his eighth season with the Mos and that’s a demonstration of his great commitment to this organisation.”
“He works hard and has developed year on year both in terms of performance and confidence. Harry is primarily a defenceman but is equally happy to play as a forward should the team need it. He plays and literally fights for the badge and I’ve no doubt the supporters will be pleased to see one of their own back with the team for 2018/19”.
Harrison Lillis, who will continue to wear the number 87 in Gillingham, takes the Invicta Dynamos roster to 10 ahead of the new campaign with further player news to follow in the coming weeks.