Returning forward Owen Dell made an instant impact for the Invicta Dynamos as they swept aside Milton Keynes Thunder on Sunday night.

Dell was back with the Mos - the team who grew up with - after a spell with American side Hershey Cubs. His four goals helped the Gillingham side to a 16-4 win.

The Dynamos beat Tuesday’s transfer deadline to register Dell for the remainder of the season - a boost to a side who are already in a cup final and putting pressure on the top sides in NIHL South Division 1.

“He looked sharp throughout the whole game,” said head coach Karl Lennon when speaking about his new arrival. “He took his chances ruthlessly and he adds a different dimension to our attacking threat, his pace and his hand-eye coordination is exceptional.

“He's a really good finisher and his puck carrying is something we will look to exploit as the season progresses. We are delighted to have him onboard and what a way to start back with four goals in your first game at home, the fans were obviously very excited about his return and we are too.”

Man-of-the-match Dell fits in nicely with Lennon’s pre-season pledge to keep the Mos well connected to their roots. Their returning player - who is from Ashford - grew up in the club’s junior sides and Dell’s younger brother is currently playing alongside Lennon’s son in the under-10s. His dad Rob helps coach the juniors too.

Lennon said: “There is a deep connection from that family to this club and that is what we are trying to exploit as much as we can with the team this year, to bring back that local feel and he is a huge part of that now, which is great.”

Invicta’s home rink is now fully open and the team have a buzz about them. When the visitors turned up to Planet Ice with 10 players and one net-minder they were up against it from the off.

The Mos were ruthless and led 8-1 by the end of the first period.

Richard Harris slotted in the opener, Tom Davis added the second and Arran Strawson made it three. Thunder got one back on the powerplay but Tom Soar struck a fourth before Louis Colvin got two. Harris and Dell made it eight to the delight of the home crowd.

“In the first period the atmosphere was incredible,” said the coach.

“We were 8-1 up and then I think there was a little more sympathetic atmosphere. The crowd wasn’t quite so loud through the second and third.

“It was wonderful to have so many people in and of course they got to see a lot of goals and that is a great addition to our team for the rest of the season because it is a big advantage for us at home to have that crowd.

“To have not had it all the way through the season so far has been a big miss, but now we are in a different place it can help us massively.”

Ruskin Springer-Hughes, Dell (2) and Juraj Huska (2) struck in the second to take the score to 13-2. Colvin completed his hat-trick in the third period, Dell got his fourth and Harry Blake completed the rout with his first goal for the Dynamos.

Conceding four was a frustration for Lennon but the 16 goals was a decent tonic. He said: “When you have a night like that it’s fantastic for the team and great for morale and almost all of the players were on the scoresheet in some capacity.

“We don’t really need to be conceding goals in a game like that.

"When you play in those games you realise the chances you are going to get offensively and I think people jump into plays that maybe they shouldn’t do, whereas if they were a little more sensitive to the fact that we can still concede goals in these games then I think it would be a different story but it is what it is.

"I wasn't happy with the goals we conceded but I was happy with the win.”

There were plenty of smiles at the end of the night as the fans took advantage of a “Meet the Mos” session. The team are back on home ice this Sunday against Chelmsford Chieftains (5.15pm) following Saturday's trip to Slough Jets.