Arran Strawson received a rousing send-off on Saturday after announcing his retirement.

The long-serving Invicta Dynamos D-man iced for the Mos for the last time during the Play-off Quarter-Final tie against Solent Devils.

Strawson spent a season with the Wightlink Raiders before moving to Invicta in 2012 after many years skating in his hometown of Sheffield. He has gone on to claim legendary status with the Mos, making more than 400 appearances.

His No.61 jersey has been retired by the club after Strawson decided to hang up his skates following 11 seasons at the Gillingham club.

Strawson said: “For me, hockey is more than just a game. From the early days in Sheffield it taught me a hell of a lot away from the ice from hard work to commitment and dedication, as well as the true friendships I have made.

“I am ready to give back to my family who have sacrificed everything, allowing me to play the sport I love.”

Head coach Karl Lennon played alongside Strawson before becoming involved in the management and was grateful to have him as part of his team over the past two seasons.

Lennon said: “He is a guy I trusted from the start when I came in. He’s been down here for 11 seasons and that says a lot about him and the connection he has to this area.

“I needed and wanted people around me I could trust and he was someone I could do that with.

“He is an outstanding hockey player to start with, an absolutely gifted player, but he’s a great guy and the fans love him.

“I spoke to players at the weekend about how players come and go within your seasons that you play and coach and they leave a short memory with you but then you have players like him who are really ingrained into the DNA of your club.

“When that goes, of course you miss them, but he will still be around, he will watch games, still text or call every now and again saying he’s watched the game and that this or that could be better, he is that kind of guy, a real good guy.

“We will be sad for the loss but the send-off he got at the weekend was exceptional and he deserved every second of it.”