23 year old Hull born blue liner Tommy Ralph is back with the Invicta Dynamos for 2017/18.
He has penned a deal that will keep the NIHL South Division 1 playoff champion in Gillingham for a second consecutive campaign.
Tommy Ralph’s debut term with the Dynamos in 2016/17 was his first down south after the blue liner had previously risen through the junior ranks in Kingston before going on to appear for Hull in the NIHL North Division 2, the Whitley Warriors in the NIHL North’s top tier, the Hull Stingrays and Coventry Blaze in the Elite League and Hull Pirates in the EPL. Seeking a change, he was then tempted to Kent last season having dressed for 85 games in the top tier of British hockey and a further 48 times in the division below.
Now at the SilverBlades, Tommy Ralph settled quickly for the Mos and he would feature in all but four of the team’s 46 fixtures across the league, cup and playoff competitions. In those 42 appearances the club’s number 14 managed 2 goals from back on the blue line whilst also chipping in with 16 assists for a total of 18 points and tallying 91 minutes of penalties.
Partnering with import Ondrej Zosiak, Ralph was one half of arguably the NIHL South Division 1’s strongest defensive pairing and his work at the back helped ensure the team secured a 19th honour in their 20th campaign by lifting the NIHL Southern Playoff title in April.
Having firmly found his feet in Kent the experienced defenceman will now return for a second season at the SilverBlades where he becomes the sixth player on the roster following the re-signings of Damien King, Ondrej Zosiak, Mason Webster and John Dibble and the capture of new face Bobby Chamberlain.
Speaking on Tommy Ralph’s decision to remain with the Mos, Head Coach Kevin Parrish said, “Tommy arrived with plenty of expectation last season following his spells in the Elite League and EPL and over the course of the campaign I think he settled more and more into his role at the club and became an increasingly influential member of the team.”
“His partnership with Ondrej Zosiak was hugely important for us last season and, with the NIHL restructure seeing us facing considerably stronger opposition this year, I’m delighted he has agreed to come back and be a part of our rear guard again in 2017/18.”
“Tommy’s experience will once again prove invaluable but it’s equally important to remember that he is still only 23 and so I suspect there’s still plenty more to come from him.”
“Tommy was very popular with the fans and I’ve not doubt they’re just as happy to have him returning to the Dynamos for another campaign”.
Blue liner Tommy Ralph will once again wear the number 14 jersey in Gillingham when the new season gets underway in September.
To stay up to date with news of his teammates for the upcoming campaign as they are announced stay tuned to the club’s website, Facebook page, Twitter feed or Instagram account.
Pictures supplied by David Trevallion.