Ice men set sights on cup success
00:00, 01 March 2002
updated: 11:33, 01 March 2002
IT'S back to business for the Gillingham-based Invicta Dynamos ice hockey team this weekend with the small matter of being presented with the English National Premier League trophy and a semi-final league cup game against Nottingham Lions.
Victory over Romford two weeks ago saw the Mos finish top of their cup group to set up this plum tie. The winners over the two legs, and the Dynamos are red hot favourites, will play the victors of the other semi-final between Solihull and Romford.
The young all-British Nottingham side have been improving all season and had some great results against much stronger sides after the Christmas break. But Dynamos team manager Andy Mason believes his players have the quality and class to go all the way. He said: "If we play to our strengths and to the best of our ability I have no doubt that we will win.
"They are not a prolific scoring side and our strong defence should contain them although they have proved they know where the net is if they're given some space.
"We on the other hand are scoring for fun but are waiting on late fitness tests on some of our players. Sean Clement (back) trained on Tuesday but Phil Chard's hip is still sore and we're hoping Duane Ward gets over his bout of flu."
Dynamos forward Elliott Andrews also believes the team will win but is not taking the opposition for granted. He said: "For some reason the Lions are the only team we have struggled to get a handle on this season. They are our bogey team and I think that's because they are workhorses and have a never say die attitude.
"We're a team that thrives on confidence so an early goal will be a great boost but hand on heart I think it will be another close game.
"Nottingham have respect for us because we've won the league and do not beat up on them like other teams who try and intimidate their young players. Instead we let our sticks do the talking on the ice and that's what we'll be doing Sunday."
Although Invicta have beaten the Lions four times this season in the league the last time the Lions came to the Ice Bowl they almost caused the upset of the season when they pushed the Mos all the way and only lost 2-1.
And they are on a high after making it into the playoffs for the first time after the summer ruling that no England team could make the playoffs due to having no home ice.
Mason said: "I have the utmost respect for the development system that Lions coach Matt Bradbury has set up. He's a level three coach, the highest in the country, and has worked hard with his players.
"No-one blows them off the ice scoring double figures over them any more and they had some real close games against the likes of Solihull and Romford near the end of the regular season.
"They now make it very difficult for teams to score against them by crowding the net and protecting their excellent young prospect in the net Alan Levers, that's what they did when they held us to two goals."
Bradbury said: "We are looking forward to savouring the moment and experience of playing such an important two legged affair, something not many of the lads have ever been involved in."
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