Head Coach Kevin Parrish believes the Invicta Dynamos are capable of challenging for honours as they start the new season tonight.

The Dynamos will come face to face with last season’s league and cup winners Chelmsford Chieftains at the Silver Blades Ice Bowl in Gillingham for the curtain raiser to the new campaign.

In what is the Dynamos first NIHL Southern Cup fixture of the season, Parrish believes he has assembled a roster that will rival the likes of Chelmsford and Wightlink Raiders:

“With I think nine changes, the guys are just starting to get used to each other, on and off the ice, along with living in the area.”

“There’s been times where some of the guys don’t even remember each others names, but that will come in time.”

“We’ve already got a great team spirit and I think we’re in for a good season.”

“I want to be challenging every year and I don’t like to put us under any pressure. I know deep down, we have got a very good chance. If we keep the boys healthy, fit and in the zone, we could do something.”

“We need to keep some of the boys away from the lifestyle of the last few seasons and that’s why nine changes were made.”

“We can’t have guys turning up for practice feeling rough from the night before and I know everyone has their life away from hockey, but they’re here to do a job and if they don’t like that, they can go.”

“I can’t have any passengers this year and the guys have been told.”

The Dynamos start to the season couldn’t be any tougher facing Chelmsford, but for Parrish, it will be a good test to see where his side really are:

“When we looked at the fixtures, we thought “Why not start against the league champions and cup winners?””

“That will see where we are at and I’m not totally happy with some of the comments coming out of their camp saying about the money we have spent this summer.”

“How another coach from another team knows what I’m spending, that’s beyond me. I know exactly what I’m spending, what my budget is and I would say it’s probably one of the smallest budgets in the top four.”

Despite bringing in so many new faces to his roster, Parrish hasn’t ruled out more new signings coming to Gillingham:

“Maybe we do need a couple of extra guys, but they’re not going to come in straight away. It might take a few weeks with everyone signed up, but we can maybe make ourselves a little bit stronger.”

“Overall, I’m happy with what I’ve seen so far and there are a lot of positives to take from our pre-season games.”

One player missing this weekend is import Juraj Huska who serves the last game of his suspension and Parrish is hoping the fans see the best of him when he is back next weekend:

“Huska’s not happy about it and he’s raring to go, but we’ve got to get on with it. He will be back and he’ll be on it when he is.”

“He wants to play, but he needs to take his punishment. Hopefully he will learn from it and he isn’t here to get match penalties.”

The game against the Chelmsford Chieftains begins at 5:15pm on Sunday evening with more details at www.invictadynamos.co.uk

Pictures supplied by David Trevallion.