PHIL CHARD, captain of the Gillingham-based ice hockey squad Invicta Dynamos, is calling on the team’s young guns to repeat last weekend’s performances against England Under-20s on Sunday.

Among them, making his debut at the Ice Bowl, will be young netminder Carl Ambler who signed from Romford last month.

Filling in for the inspirational Matt Van Der Velden, who along with Stuart Lowe is unavailable, is a daunting task but one he is well up to, says Chard.

He said: “England will come at us hard because they need to prove a point to the coaches so they continue to get selected, but Carl will be ready for them.

“We have picked up our performances recently and moving Peter Korff from defence to up front was a good move.

“He looks a lot more comfortable and is playing out of his skin. He, along with our other young players, were influential in our wins over Chelmsford and Swindon.”

With four wins against the odds under their belts in recent weekends, the team is on a roll.

Chard said: “Against England it tends to be men against boys and hopefully it stays that way and we pick up the points.”

THE INVICTA Imps are desperate for new players and kit. The under-10s side's team manager Tina Martin said: “We need help and if we don't act now or we could lose the team. If anyone has any hockey kit lying around they do not want any more we urge them to donate or loan it to the future lifeblood of Invicta hockey.

“Our idea is to get novices to give the sport we love a try. We can then use the donated or loaned kit at novice sessions and hopefully find the Dynamo stars of the future.”

If you can help email u10.manager@invictadynamos.co.uk or ask to speak to her at the Ice Bowl on matchdays.