Invicta Dynamos Head Coach Kevin Parrish has bolstered his ranks ahead of the weekend’s Saturday road trip to face London and Sunday’s home tie with Peterborough by securing the return of 30 year old centre Steve Osman and adding veteran Czech forward Jaroslav Cesky.
Steve Osman is no stranger to the Dynamos having first laced up his skates for the Mos in 2014/15 before returning for the majority of 2015/16 and once more in 2016/17. Across three seasons the skater has donned a Dynamos jersey 104 times and managed over a point per outing with 63 goals and 83 assists for a tally of 146 points.
In 2015/16 Osman enjoyed arguably his best season to date and finished the year as the NIHL South’s top points’ scorer with an unmatched total of 80 points in league competition alone. It was a sum that also saw him claim the ‘Forward of the Year’ award at the Dynamos end of season presentation evening. Meanwhile last term he was then a part of the Mos team that went on to lift the NIHL Southern Playoff title in Chelmsford having come alive in the post season to record 10 points in his last 6 outings and earn his winner’s medal.
Away from the Dynamos, Steve Osman has a wealth of experience including brief EPL stints in Basingstoke and Telford and a vast number of NIHL South appearances for Cardiff, Wightlink, Oxford and, most recently, Bracknell. However, after parting ways with the Bees in Berkshire, Osman will now link up with the Mos and Head Coach Kevin Parrish again for the remainder of 2017/18.
Speaking on the return of Steve Osman, Head Coach Kevin Parrish said, “I’m very pleased Steve is returning to the Mos and am looking forward to working with him again. Having spent three seasons in Kent he knows the club inside out and a lot of the other guys in the changing room. He’ll bring experience to our young roster but equally important is his record for putting up points. Steve is looking forward to getting going again in Gillingham and I’ve no doubt he’ll be a very positive addition to our roster for the remainder of the campaign”.
Joining the experienced Steve Osman at the Dynamos is the even more experienced Czech forward Jaroslav Cesky who signs for the club on an initial short term but potentially long term basis. The 39 year old, who hails from Prague, has an extensive hockey CV that includes a number of years across the pond in the NCAA III, the Central Hockey League (CHL) and the International Hockey League (IHL). Cesky also spent a year in France before a move to the UK in 2009 where he has remained ever since.
In his time on these shores the Czech import has predominantly iced in the now defunct EPL but also featured prominently in the NIHL South as well as spending a half season in the Elite League. With nearly a decade playing in the UK as a non-EIHA trained skater under his belt, Jaroslav Cesky has appeared for a number of British teams including the Bracknell Bees, Swindon Wildcats, Telford Tigers, Basingstoke Bison, Peterborough Phantoms, Manchester Phoenix, Edinburgh Capitals, Cardiff Devils, Wightlink Raiders and Oxford City Stars. In 241 EPL outings he managed 154 goals and 205 assists for 359 points whilst, in the NIHL South, he has iced 96 times and tallied 172 points courtesy of 63 goals and 109 assists. Now the Invicta Dynamos will become the Cesky’s newest team with the Czech star switching to Kent to fill the import vacancy left by the departing Adam Rehak.
Speaking on the signing of Jaroslav Cesky, Head Coach Kevin Parrish said, “Jaroslav has been around the game a long time and knows exactly what it takes to be successful with a number of team and personal accolades to his name. His experience will unquestionably be a valuable resource to his younger teammates but also provide us with that extra bit of skill out on the ice that will aid us in attack. Jaroslav initially joins us on a short term basis however this could be extended in the future. Having come up against him as an opponent numerous times I am looking forward to finally working with him and excited about what he will bring to the team over the coming weeks”.
Jaroslav Cesky and Steve Osman have both been registered by the league and should therefore appear for the Dynamos this weekend as the team travel to Lee Valley to face the London Raiders on Saturday before hosting the league leading Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday.