Brad Watchorn joins from Bracknell.

Speaking on the arrival of Brad Watchorn ahead of the 2012/13 campaign, Invicta Dynamos Head Coach Kevin Parrish revealed that he thought the skater would bring a new dimension to the side and that he saw his latest acquisition as a key summer signing. Parrish said, “I’m delighted to have Brad joining us at the Silver Blades Ice Rink Gillingham this year and believe his capture is a major coup for us. We needed a player at the club who could take care of matters when they get physical and Brad, who arrives with a reputation as a tough guy, fits the bill perfectly. Over the last few years he has proven he’s not one to shy away from a bout as he has stepped in to defend his teammates and I see him playing an important role for us in 2012/13”. Despite lauding his latest capture’s brawling abilities, Parrish then added that he acquired Watchorn for more than his fighting prowess when he said, “I’m not bringing Brad in solely to act as an enforcer as, despite being just 22, he has years of EPL and ENIHL experience that will prove an asset to the team. He has posted strong numbers at this level before, he knows what it takes to win having picked up silverware in both Bracknell and on the Isle of Wight and he’s the sort of player that will pick up points and put in a performance on any line. He’s already raring to go in his new colours and I look forward to working with him in the new season”.

Latest capture Brad Watchorn is the Dynamos’ second signing of the off-season with the skater, who can play as a forward or back on the blue line, joining Tim Smith on the roster ahead of the 2012/13 campaign. The 6ft 3in tough guy will don the number 77 shirt when he makes his debut in Gillingham come September.

Sheffield born Tim Smith initially joined the Dynamos from the Peterborough Islanders as a promising 18 year old at the beginning of the 2007/08 campaign and has since gone on to make 165 appearances in Invicta colours. After scooping the ‘Defenceman of the Year’ Award at the close of 2010/11, he originally signed on for another term in Kent before returning north and home to Sheffield in October for personal reasons. Whilst in South Yorkshire the defenceman iced for the Steeldogs in the league above making 22 appearances in the EPL before eventually securing a return to Gillingham in late January. He saw out the remainder of the 2011/12 campaign with the Dynamos, with a total record of four goals and 27 assists for 31 points in 20 outings, and will now continue his hockey career in Kent as he pens a contract for another term.

Tim Smith back for a sixth season.

Defenceman Tim Smith is the first player to be announced by the Dynamos ahead 2012/13 as Head Coach Kevin Parrish reshapes his side in a bid to overhaul new league champions Romford. To date Smith has 19 goals, 129 assists and so 148 points from 165 outings for the team. He has also accumulated 414 minutes of penalties.

Forward of the Year – Ryan Ellis

The 27 year old Canadian arrived in Kent having spent two years out of the game but with a favourable scoring record in the NCAA III to his name. After taking time to settle in, the Georgetown Ontario born forward finished the campaign as the highest points’ scorer in the ENIHL South Division 1 having claimed 50 goals and as many assists from 35 league outings. He completed 2011/12 having made 47 appearances across all competitions and tallying 130 points in the process – a record that already places him 24th in the club’s list of all time highest scorers.

Defenceman of the Year – Andy Moffat

Dundee born shot stopper Andy Moffat had the weight of the Dynamos rear guard on his shoulders for much of the season as the team struggled to secure a long-term back-up. As a result the determined Scot played over 2500 minutes in the net and faced just under 1700 shots in the process. Despite the pressure, the former Chelmsford goalie stood firm for the Dynamos and completed the campaign with a save percentage of 90.31% across 45 appearances. The netminder also picked up the man of the match beers on six occasions.

Clubman of the Year – Anthony Lennon

The 29 year old blue liner had a difficult eighth term with the Dynamos as injuries hampered his season and restricted him to just 22 appearances. Nevertheless the dogged defenceman still managed to find the net and tally six assists for seven points from the campaign whilst also putting in the no-nonsense, uncompromising displays the fans have come to expect. Despite suffering a string of unfortunate injuries, Lennon was ever present at the team’s training sessions throughout the year, attended all the games and always remained a positive influence on the side.

Coach’s Player of the Year – Justin Noble

The second of the team’s Canadian acquisitions in the summer – Justin Noble crossed the Atlantic after four consecutive seasons in the NCAA III back home and arrived with a reputation for leading from the front and putting in the hard graft. The 24 year old forward then didn’t disappoint in Gillingham as his work rate went unmatched but he was also amongst the points – Noble finishing the season ranked seventh in the ENIHL South and with 58 goals and 38 assists for 96 points from a total of 47 outings.

Player of the Year – Nicky Lewis

24 year old Welshman Nicky Lewis had a difficult start to the 2011/12 campaign after picking up a shoulder injury against the Chelmsford Chieftains towards the end of October. However, despite facing a lengthy layoff, the lively forward returned sooner than expected and battled his way back onto the first line to partner Ryan Ellis and captain Andy Smith. Lewis finished 2011/12 with 12 goals and 34 assists from 39 fixtures and now has 135 points from his two and a half seasons with the Invicta Dynamos.

Players’ Player of the Year – Andy Smith

The club’s all-time highest points’ scorer shouldered the responsibility of captain in 2011/12 and had the respect of his teammates as they voted him Players’ Player of the Year come the close of the campaign. Smith managed 50 goals and 42 assists for 92 points in 47 outings over the season – a year that ended with him netting his 400th for the side away to the Romford Raiders in the playoffs. The 27 year old now has a total of 763 points in 293 appearances for the Dynamos to lead the club’s all time scoring charts by 158.

Supporters’ Player of the Year – Andy Moffat

Having already marked a fine individual campaign by scooping the Defenceman of the Year Award, 29 year old netminder Andy Moffat then went one better by getting the nod from the club’s supporters who voted for their star performer at the end of each month throughout the season. As the recipient of the Supporters’ Player of the Year honour, Moffat receives a week long trip for two to Paphos in Cyprus where he can enjoy a well earned rest having clocked up over 2500 minutes of ice time during the 2011/12 campaign.

The Invicta Dynamos would like to thank all those that attended the evening and all of the club’s supporters who have backed the squad so enthusiastically throughout the campaign. Make sure you keep an eye on the team’s official website, Facebook page and Twitter feed for the latest news throughout the summer as Head Coach Kevin Parrish builds ahead of 2012/13.

2011/12 proved to be a rollercoaster year for the Dynamos and the team finished the term with a fourth placed finish in the ENIHL South Division 1 and a semi-final place in the playoffs. Now the squad and behind the scenes staff will be marking the close of the campaign with the end of season presentation evening featuring a buffet and a short awards ceremony to celebrate the pick up the current line-up.

Join the 2011/12 Invicta Dynamos in marking the close of the campaign.

Venue: Bar Blu – Silver Blades Ice Rink, Gillingham
Time: 7.30pm until late (awards ceremony from approximately 9.00pm)
Tickets: £5 per person (payable on the night)
Dress Code: Smart casual

The Invicta Dynamos would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our supporters who have backed the side so tirelessly throughout the year and we hope you can join us on Friday before attentions turn to 2012/13.

Andy Smith reached 400 career goals.

Everyone at the Invicta Dynamos would like to congratulate Andy Smith on his most recent landmark and the forward has now taken his all time statistics to 400 goals, 362 assists and so 762 points in 291 outings for the team. After a season in which he collected 50 strikes and played a hand in 41 more for a tally of 91, Smith remains both the all time highest goals and points scorer in the club’s fifteen year history.

Coming into the tie 6-4 down from the night before, the Dynamos needed to make a positive start at Rom Valley Way and they commanded the opening frame as they outshot their opponents by 21 to 9. The breakthrough inevitably came in the seventh minute when a fortuitous deflection off of referee Blaine Evans allowed Jack Tarczycki to claim possession against the left boards and he picked out Justin Noble bearing down on the target – the Canadian shifting onto his backhand to ground goalie Michael Gray and firing into the net for the 1-0 lead. Despite a string of opportunities to then extend that edge the Dynamos were unable to beat the shot stopper for the remainder of the frame as Gray thwarted well placed one-timers from Noble, Ryan Ellis and Callum Fowler. So, without making their dominance show on the scoreboard, the visitors returned to the changing rooms one goal up on the night but 6-5 behind on aggregate.

Andy Smith netted his 400th for the club.

In the final frame it seemed it all was still to play for but the Raiders tallied a telling goal just eight seconds after the restart for an overall two goal cushion. Shaun Yardley’s blue line drive from deep right found the pads of Andy Moffat but then dropped to Juraj Huska close left – the Slovak sniper comfortably dispatching the easiest of chances for 3-3. The Dynamos then almost retook the lead as Justin Noble escaped his marker on the left side before darting to net but his wrist effort to the far post found the upright to the relief of goalie Michael Gray. It was to prove an important moment of misfortune as Romford tallied on their next attack to go ahead 4-3 on the night – 10-7 on aggregate. Anthony Leone initially waved his stick at an inviting pass across the crease but the Raiders’ captain gathered possession on the right side and fired to AJ Smith who poked in from right in front for a crucial strike. Midway through, the tie was then all but over when Juraj Huska escaped on a counter down the left channel and the Slovak coolly lifted over the shoulder of Andy Moffat for 5-3 – a score that gave them a cushion of four on aggregate. Despite Grant Taylor finding his way to the box on a slashing minor, that advantage would only increase as a now deflated Dynamos’ rear guard allowed a searching Huska pass from deep right in his own zone to send Billy Phillips in all alone on the left, and the Romford ‘d-man’ arrowed low across the net for 6-3. With time winding down, visiting agitator Corey Watkins then became the centre of attention as he sticked the pads of netminder Michael Gray after the whistle leading to him being jumped by three Raiders’ skaters keen on retribution. Watkins was dispatched from the tie on a spearing major and, soon after, a miserable third period for the Dynamos was all but completed eleven seconds from time when Billy Phillips sealed his hat-trick for the hosts. A spell in the final third saw the puck break back to the blue liner and he rifled in from deep to complete a 7-3 victory for Romford – a 13-7 aggregate win that put them through to the final.

So it was a defeat for the Dynamos but the final score was perhaps a little flattering for Romford whose future in the playoffs remained in doubt until the last period of the second leg. The visitors had dominated early on and ultimately were made to pay the price for not converting when on top and now find their 2011/12 campaign at an end. Nevertheless it was a valiant effort from Head Coach Kevin Parrish’s side who enjoyed the very vocal support of the swathe of travellers who had journeyed from Kent and were a credit to the team. Man of the match awards on the night went to Andy Moffat of the Dynamos whilst hat-trick hero Billy Phillips took the honours for the Raiders.

At full strength and looking to cement a lead to take into the second leg, the Dynamos were the better of the two teams in the opening frame and they eventually found a way beyond netminder Michael Gray in the fourteenth minute. Tim Smith’s foray forward over the blue line came to a halt when he was sandwiched between two defencemen but the puck broke to Ryan Ellis wide left who swept in beyond the out of position goalie for the 1-0 edge. It was all level come the buzzer though, as Juraj Huska broke free down the right wing on a counter and lashed low across net beyond the outstretched leg of Andy Moffat for 1-1 with twenty minutes played.

Ryan Ellis grabbed a brace against the Raiders.

It was 3-2 going into the last then but this time the momentum was with the hosts who hit home twice to lead 4-3 by the midway point of the final period. The first came when Nicky Lewis won a faceoff in the offensive third and the puck dropped to Ryan Ellis on the outside edge of the right circle – the Canadian rifling in before Romford’s goalie had chance to adjust. Soon after and blue liner Adam Copland then found himself in alien territory, as he was the lone man in a counter up the left wing, but the defenceman picked out the top right corner of the net with deadly accuracy to fire the Dynamos in front. However, the lead would last less than a minute when Juraj Huska again slipped free down the left channel and, though Andy Moffat denied the Slovak’s first attempt from out wide, a fortunate deflection saw the ‘import’ claim possession again before firing in beyond the grounded netminder for 4-4. The leveller spurred the visitors on and they would go ahead just two minutes later as a prolonged spell of pressure in the final third ended with the puck breaking back to Tyrone Miller back on the blue line – the defenceman smashing home off of the far post for the 5-4 edge. Just four seconds from time, the Raiders then claimed would could prove to be a killer goal as Matt Turner’s drive was followed up by Shaun Yardley who bundled in at point blank range for a two goal cushion.

So it was a 6-4 loss on home ice for the Dynamos who were unfortunate to slip to defeat in what was a bruising encounter. On a night when referee Hewitt was letting a lot go unpunished, both teams threw their weight around in hugely physical match-up in Gillingham. Ultimately though the Raiders drew first blood and are now favourites to reach the final but the Dynamos have the chance to overcome their deficit in Romford come Sunday evening.

Live goal updates from Sunday’s tie in Romford will be published on the club’s official Twitter feed. Click here to follow.

Destination: Romford.
Date: Sunday 15th April.
Price*: £15 per person.
Leaving Time: 2.30pm from the Silver Blades Ice Rink, Gillingham.

*Price includes travel to and from the game as well as entrance into the venue.

To book your place or for any enquiries please contact Liz Halford by phone on 07729 828827 or by email at Elizabeth-Halford@hotmail.co.uk OR Jackie by phone on 07710 742427 or by email at jckms9@aol.com as soon as possible.

Carrying a 7-4 lead from the night before, the Dynamos returned home optimistic of their chances of progressing to the next round of the playoffs against a Cardiff side that had not won in Gillingham since late 2008. With Andy Moffat still sidelined through illness, James Tanner stepped up to fill the void between the posts whilst Mike Brabon again started in net for the ENL Devils.

Harrison Lillis grabbed his first senior hat-trick.

After a typical opening frame of hockey that witnessed four goals, the second was madness in comparison as the teams traded 13 efforts in a frantic spell. The rush started five minutes in when Ryan Ellis dispatched a wrist shot high into the far corner from the right boards to take the home side’s lead to 4-1 – a strike that prompted Mike Brabon to withdraw from the net and be replaced by Luke Takel. Having so far watched the encounter from the safety of the Cardiff bench, Takel would then wish he was back on the sidelines as he went on to concede nine times in just 15 minutes. The first of these came when Ryan Giles lashed the puck across the crease leaving Harrison Lillis a simple back post finish to make it 5-1. The second then came just seconds later when the goalie fumbled Daniel Fudger’s slapshot from wide left allowing Lillis another tap-in from the edge of the crease. At this point the Devils responded courtesy of a close range one-timer by Jordan Powell, before their third of the evening was also bundled in – Louis Lockwood beating James Tanner from right in front. Any hopes of a comeback were soon dashed however, as the hosts tallied a trio of goals without reply to make it 9-3 on the night. Midway through the frame, Ryan Ellis teed up Nicky Lewis on the inside edge of the left circle and he rifled over the reach of Luke Takel for his second of the evening. Soon after, from behind the net, Callum Best set-up Justin Noble for a tap in at the near post for 8-3 before the Canadian then performed the same assist himself – Callum Fowler taking the Dynamos to just one shy of double figures. The gaping deficit between the teams prompted the Devils to call a timeout and they answered straight after the restart – Chris Jones firing in following a faceoff win in the final third. They continued to leak goals though, and they conceded another four before the break to trail 13-4 come the buzzer. Justin Noble’s long diagonal from deep right was tucked in on the left stick by an on-rushing Callum Fowler for 10-4 before Harrison Lillis completed his hat-trick with a fine finish from the inside edge of the left circle for his side’s eleventh. Tempers then flared when Anthony Lennon and Stephen Deacon had an impromptu scrap behind the play against the left boards – Lennon proving too tough for his Welsh opponent and landing the majority of the blows. When play restarted the scoring continued and the Dynamos tallied on the powerplay courtesy of a close Tim Smith finish before Justin Noble tucked in a one-timer on the left post to make it 13-4 – the Dynamos ahead 20-8 on aggregate.

After a frantic second period, the third merely followed suit as the two sides shared a further nine goals. Callum Fowler’s great solo skate through the centre was the pick of the evening as he skipped around one, inside another and then flicked high over Luke Takel from close left to make it 14-4. Ryan Ellis’ backhand pass across the crease then allowed Andy Smith to add a fifteenth before the second line combination of Fowler and Callum Best performed a carbon copy of the strike – Fowler claiming his fourth of the night. Cardiff would finally alter their side of the scoreboard eight minutes from time, when Stephen Deacon beat James Tanner with a one-timer from the edge of the crease, but a shorthanded reply followed from the hosts as Ryan Ellis drove in from the inside edge of the right circle. Now 17-5 up, 24-9 ahead on aggregate, the Dynamos then dropped back down through the gears in the final stages – a move that allowed the Devils to notch four times before the close of the game. Louis Lockwood took his tally to two as he rifled in from the right side, before an excellent pinpoint wrist shot by Chris Jones found the bottom far corner from the left boards. Jamie Hayes then cut the deficit to 17-8 with a one-timer inside the right upright from between the faceoff circles before Stephen Deacon brought a close to the evening with a wrister that flew beyond James Tanner from close range whilst the visitors were on a powerplay.

So it was an emphatic 17-9 victory for the Dynamos – 24-13 on aggregate – and one that booked a double date with Romford in the ENIHL South Playoff Semi-final. Defences were far from on top on the night as the final score resembled a rugby result, but the home side played some fine offensive hockey that suggests they are capable of causing an upset and progressing to the final of the competition. Man of the match awards of the evening went to Louis Lockwood of the beleaguered Devils whilst hotshot Harrison Lillis took the honours for the Dynamos after his first senior hat-trick for the side.

With netminder Andy Moffat unavailable through illness, the Dynamos journeyed west with shot stopper Joe White stepping in to fill the void for an otherwise full strength side. The visitors then started the tie in fine form and three unanswered goals had them 3-0 up with just twenty minutes played. Canadian Justin Noble fired beyond Mike Brabon in the sixth minute to break the deadlock before the first line pairing of Andy Smith and Ryan Ellis doubled that edge – captain Smith putting the puck over the line for 2-0 midway through. Just moments from time, and with his team shorthanded, Noble then claimed his second of the evening to put the visitors well in command as they headed back to the changing rooms.

Callum Fowler marked his return with a hat-trick.

With their advantage now cut to just two, the Dynamos started the third in defiant mood and tallied their sixth of the evening to lead 6-3 – Callum Fowler notching his second of the night. Though veteran blue liner Jason Stone then pulled one back for the Devils on a powerplay soon after, the visitors were in no mood to let their grip on the tie slip and they managed a seventh close to time as the in-form Fowler completed his hat-trick and sealed the 7-4 victory.

So it was an invaluable win in the Welsh capital for the Dynamos and one that gives them every chance of stretching their playoff involvement for at least another week. Jordan Powell took the man of the match honours for the hosts whilst, in an excellent team performance, Callum Fowler was the stand-out player for the visitors with his three goals giving the side a 7-4 edge to take into game two. The Dynamos now carry a three goal cushion into the second leg on Sunday with faceoff in Gillingham on 8th April at 5.15pm.