Match Report
Invicta Dynamos 1 v 4 Chelmsford Chieftains
Challenge Cup, Saturday 20th September
The 2025/26 ice hockey season kicked off after a lengthy summer break with a highly anticipated Challenge Cup clash as long-time rivals, the Chelmsford Chieftains, visited Gillingham. The visitors arrived having already played three games, while the home side was stepping onto the ice for the first time this season.
Chelmsford travelled with a 17-man roster, while the Dynamos fielded 19 players. The team featured several new faces making their debut, along with returning veteran Jacob Ranson and club legend Andy Smith, who was lacing up after a decade away. This season’s squad looked different, aiming to improve upon their 5th-place finish and semi-final run in 2024/25.
Refereeing duties were handled by Solovjovs, assisted by Hill and Myrsikov. The starting netminders were Miller for the Chieftains and Windebank for the Dynamos. With a strong crowd in attendance, the 2025/26 season was ready to begin!
Period 1
The game commenced with both teams eager to set an early tone, pushing the pace right from the start. The first notable moment came at 1:54 when a loose puck in front of Miller’s net sparked a scramble, culminating in a fight between Connolly for Invicta and Barnes-Garner for Chelmsford. The tussle was evenly matched, resulting in both players receiving five-minute fighting majors.
In the minutes that followed, the away side began to look more threatening, with shots from Maltsev and Wells testing Windebank, who handled both well to keep the game scoreless. Gradually, the home team started to find their rhythm, applying pressure on Chelmsford’s defence. This pressure nearly paid off when Thune created space for a shot, which Miller expertly saved.
However, Chelmsford struck first at 10:10, when a precise pass across the front of the net set up Cam Bartlett, who fired past Windebank, assisted by Lack and Wells. The visitors doubled their lead at 15:22 as Lack found the net in front, with assists from Cam Bartlett and Fay. Despite relentless effort from the Dynamos, they couldn’t find a way past Miller in goal.
As the period drew to a close, a scuffle broke out in front of the Dynamos’ net. Cam Bartlett and Lillis dropped the gloves, each earning five-minute fighting majors at 20:00. The first period ended with Chelmsford leading 2-0.
Period 2
The second period began with the home side eager to mount a comeback, but it was the visitors who started stronger. The Dynamos struggled to exit their own zone and generate any meaningful scoring opportunities. Chelmsford maintained their dominance, though the home team did begin to carve out some chances as the period progressed. Vigar’s long shot and Thune’s attempt tested Miller, but both were well saved. For the visitors, Bartlett and Baldock created openings, but Windebank stood tall in the net to keep the score intact.
At 35:59, Chelmsford extended their lead to 3-0 when a cross-ice pass found Maltsev, who fired a shot into the net, with assists credited to Barnes-Garner and Ben Russell. The rest of the period saw few clear-cut chances for either side, and it ended with the visitors maintaining their three-goal advantage, leaving the Dynamos with a significant challenge ahead to turn the game around.
Period 3
The Dynamos needed a strong start and an early goal to reignite their challenge. They looked increasingly threatening, with chances for Pywell and Pascale that were once again well saved by Miller in the visitors’ net. The first powerplay of the night came at 44:32 when Gatenby was assessed two minutes for an illegal check to the head. The game remained even when, at 45:37, Dervish received two minutes for interference, despite the Dynamos having a brief powerplay following Gatenby’s penalty. However, no scoring opportunities materialised during either powerplay, and play reverted to five-on-five.
The home side finally found the net at 49:21, when a pass from behind the net found Pywell, who fired a high shot past Miller, assisted by Pascale and Gatenby, reducing the deficit to 1-3. Invicta almost capitalised on a powerplay at 50:32 when Lack was called for holding, but concurrently, the Dynamos received a two-minute penalty for too many men, coincidental penalties that weren’t shown on the clock.
At 53:01, the third fight of the night broke out as O’Neil and Dervish dropped the gloves, each earning five-minute majors. The Dynamos pushed hard in the final moments, pulling Windebank for an extra skater at 58:42. Despite sustained pressure on the Chelmsford net, it was the Chieftains who broke out on a rush. At 59:41, Maltsev scored into the empty net, assisted by Baldock, sealing the final score: Dynamos 1, Chieftains 4.
Man of the Match honours went to Miller in goal for Chelmsford and Pywell, who scored for the Dynamos. These awards were presented by former Medway Bears owner Brian Smith, in recognition of the 40th anniversary of ice hockey in Gillingham. Despite the final score, there were encouraging signs for the team to build on from their first outing of the season.
Written by Jon Akers