King keeps shutout as Mos inflict loss on London

Jan 18, 2016 | All News, Results

damienking_banner_160116Netminder Damien King secured his first shutout in Invicta colours as the Dynamos battled to their fifth win over the London Raiders in 2015/16 with the latest a 3-0 success on the road at Lee Valley Way.

The Mos had to make do without Callum Fowler, Bailey Wootton and Grant Baxter for the trip to London, but did welcome back Adam McNicoll after a long injury layoff. Young twins Haydn and Taylor Wootton also gained more ice time to make up a roster of 18 skaters.

The Dynamos started brightly and had a goal washed out early in the opening period as Eriks Ozollapa beat his marker and played a cutting pass across the goal for Steve Osman to score only for ref Cloutman to rule that a player was in the crease. With a few penalties going each way and shots not seemingly troubling each netminder it took a bit of magic from Adam McNicoll to break the deadlock on a powerplay later in the frame. Steve Osman found the Scotsman on the right wing and McNicoll shot the puck across the goal into the net for 1-0 on 14.05. A couple of minutes later Joshua Condren then tallied against his old team when Ozollapa skated behind the home net and cut the puck across the crease for Condren to tap-in number two. Condren was then awarded a penalty shot having been brought down whilst charging towards goal only to leave the puck behind him and fall over his own feet trying to make it count. At the other end, Damien King was on guard to deny both Bailey Chittock and Rio Grinell-Parke at the end of the first period.

The second frame was a bit busier for Damien King, mainly down to Invicta picking-up quite a few penalties. On one occasion the Mos were down to three skaters but still almost netted as Marek Nahlik lost possession and Adam McNicoll broke clear with only a good save denying him a shorthanded strike. Invicta then went 3-0 up on 28 minutes – Eriks Ozollapa notching after being set-up by Joshua Condren and Damien Welch.

Having built a firm lead, the final period would prove a busy one for Damien King who had to deny 17 shots as he marched his way to a shutout. King’s stop from a Rio Grinell-Parke drive was one of a number of good saves and he would then get the better of Bailey Chittock when London were awarded a penalty shot. There was still time towards the end of the game for Mason Webster to hold his stick with two hands and thrust it into the face of Joshua Condren but with referee David Cloutman deemed it worth a mere two minute roughing minor.

So it was two points, a shutout and three goals that gave the Invicta Dynamos the perfect start to the weekend ahead of a nail biting game at home to the Wightlink Raiders on Sunday. Unsurprisingly Damien King picked-up the man of the match beers for Invicta, remaining unbeaten despite facing a total of 39 shots. For the hosts, Jack Cooper accepted the man of the match award.

Written by Lee Allen.