By Tom Pink
Welcome back Haringey Huskies. All is forgiven.
That was so much more like it, an absolute cracker of a game.
It’s a more familiar performance from the Huskies, in a game they dominated for large parts. It wasn’t entirely plain sailing, however. Cardiff had moments, they hit the post a couple of times, and at 1-2 up they did threaten to pull away with the Huskies taking penalty after penalty. But from 2-2 Haringey never looked back.
Now, apologies up front as this is going to be something slightly different. We will get to Saturday.
I’d been looking forward to this game ever since the Cardiff Canucks were announced as a thing. We’ve been used to teams disappearing from South 2 for a variety of reasons, so the formation of a new team is something quite exciting and novel.
I’ve mentioned the Banners On The Wall interview with Trevor Hendrikx here before, and it’s an interesting listen if you haven’t heard it. He speaks very well, and the vision he fleshes out for the Canucks is fascinating.
Essentially, the Canucks operate purely in terms of developing young talent. Players train every day, and there are pathways in place with the Berkshire Bees in the National league allowing players to gain experience at a much higher level. Josh Poole, Morgan Garside, and others have already benefitted on 2-way deals.
What strikes me most from that interview, is Hendrikx’s admission that he’s not overly bothered about results or the league; that glory in South 2 is not a priority. Success for Hendrikx hinges on developing young players and seeing them move through the British ice hockey structure, whether with the Canucks or elsewhere.
Now, this is where I’m slightly dubious. For me, this is expectation management and an attempt to take some of the pressure off young shoulders and a newly formed team, which is definitely a sensible thing to do, by the way. On Saturday, it looked to me like results very much did matter to Cardiff, and I thought they played some great stuff for a team with so many young players who have only just been brought together.
There’s two points that come out of this that I want to cover. Firstly, what does this look like from a fan’s perspective? There were Canucks fans at the Palace on Saturday, and they were in fine voice. But they’ve been told the third senior team operating out of the Vindico isn’t overly concerned with where they finish in the league. If I think about my own fandom, for me it’s got to matter. At all levels, it has to matter. There’s got be jeopardy and I have to know that my club has the same desire for success that I do.
With nothing on the line, what’s getting me along to the Vindico to watch the Canucks, and not the Fire or the Devils, apart from the free tickets (a very shrewd idea but I wonder how sustainable it is long-term. These also aren’t mutually exclusive choices but you know what I mean)?
Secondly, I think this cuts to the heart of something I’ve been mulling for a while which is South 2’s identity crisis. We’re told on a semi-regular basis that South 2 is a development league. Now, believe that as much or as little as you like, personally I feel that it’s used too often pejoratively as a stick with which to beat the league, teams, coaches, players, fans around the head with, but that’s just me.
But at the same time, it’s competitive and just happens to be one of the lowest leagues in the British ice hockey structure. The more I watch of South 2, the more I’m convinced that everyone involved simply wants to win. The decisions that are made by teams, particularly in recruitment, the intensity and drive from coaches and players on game day, everything, all of it points to an unfaltering desire to win.
There was a social media post I saw a while ago which said that the average age of the teams in last years’ South 2 Cup final was something like 26 and 27, going on to beg the question how much ‘development’ do 26- and 27-year-olds need.
All of this is to say, I don’t have an answer for you on where the league is in terms of development versus competition. Like a lot of things, it’s probably somewhere in the middle; there is some development of young players, and everyone wants to beat everyone else. The Canucks do drag that needle back into the development camp with what they’re doing though, if all of this is the case.
I hear a lot of talk about ‘growing the game’ but it seems there’s often quite little action, so if it works this is a tangible and possibly replicable model that others could follow, and a benefit to British hockey. I think it’s a great idea, if slightly flawed, but I genuinely hope it’s successful, so good luck!
Finally, Saturday.
Dylan Phillips comes in straight away after being picked-up on a 2-way from the Streatham Redhawks in South 1. I thought it was a confident debut. There’s a double-save he makes around the middle of the first period, when Cardiff were having a spell, which showed great awareness and athleticism. Very excited to see how he progresses.
It’s all Haringey from the puck drop, and it’s 1-0 after 50 seconds. Surrounded by green jerseys, Robert Rejna shows determination and willpower to keep the puck in the offensive zone and shoot high from the slot.
I don’t think Cardiff had a shot on net for the first 10 minutes, but they do tie the game after bundling the puck all the way down the slot and poking home short side. Haringey continue to push, and there’s a flurry of opportunities at the end of the first. It bubbles along nicely, with some big hits thrown in and an element of aggro simmering under the surface. You can sense that somethings going to kick-off at some point.
Like Pete Taylor said in this week’s Coach’s Corner, Haringey lost a bit of discipline in the second, taking three penalties across two minutes, and it proved too much. Cardiff score on the power play 5-on-3, the puck rings off the iron from the right and is tapped in at the back post on the left after the rebound. Cardiff have the lead.
But not for long. Jaden Boolkah has a one-timer kicked out then Pete Toth sends a bomb on net from the blue line straight into the bottom corner. 2-2. Oof.
Haringey then kick on. James Hepburn is in the right place at the right time to capitalise on a dropped puck at the crease to make it 3-2 to Haringey. He almost scores again at the end of the period, straight out of the box and onto the puck, but he shoots low and it’s kicked around the post.
The Huskies continue to dominate. Matt Hepburn scores a lovely goal, chasing down the puck, sits down the Cardiff player in front of him and coolly slots for 4-2 and a great short-handed goal.
Conner Smith makes it five after a feed from Ben Beldecos, and Jaden caps it off with one second remaining in the game with a wrister from the right.
It ends 6-2 and there were honestly so many great performances in black and white. A tough call for Player of the Match. Ryan Payne, James Hepburn, Jaden Boolkah, I thought Leo was great again, Joe Willingham, you could name anyone and there’d be a decent case for them getting it.
It goes to Conner though for another hi-energy performance and an eighth goal in all comps. Brilliant.
There was lots to like about that game. Three goals from four power plays is fantastic, especially as the power play hasn’t always been our friend. I’d also like to give a special mention to Corey Taylor, who doesn’t often get many lines here, which probably tells you he’s doing a good job. Corey drops the gloves near the end, and I thought it was great. He’d had a solid game and it was just a brilliant moment for him and he showed his personality. A great moment for him and the fans.
There’s no Huskies game this coming weekend, but if you can get along to the Haringey Greyhounds who will be playing their first ever game at the Palace on Saturday 26th.
It’s Oxford away up next for the Huskies. If there’s 16 goals again I’ll be amazed.
Let’s Go Greyhounds.
Game sheet
NIHL2 – Haringey Huskies vs Cardiff Canucks – 19OCT24
Photos: Luke O’Donovan (lukeodonovan.pixel)
