The Wightlink Raiders are now hot favourites to lift ice hockey’s English National League title after a massive win away to reigning champions Invicta Dynamos in Kent last night.
The 5-2 win was the first home defeat for the Dynamos since September 2008 and left the home fans stunned at the end.
The result means the Raiders are now eight points clear of the pack with eight games left, and have stretched their astonishing unbeaten run to 18 games.
A large and noisy away contingent travelled up from the Island for the game and weren’t disappointed as the two teams produced another cracking end to end game full of drama, fights and top drawer goals.
First blood from Watchorn
It was the Raiders who drew first blood Brad Watchorn putting them ahead with 20 seconds left in period 1. And while Invicta equalised in the second period it was two goals in the third from player coach Jeremy Cornish which killed off the Dynamos’ hopes, with a goal from Robbie Brown in between.
Jason Gorrie sealed the points with a 5th just 28 seconds from the end of the match. Another solid defensive display was rewarded with a deserved man of the match for netminder Matt Colclough.
Just 8 games to go
So the Island team continue to break records – their 18 match unbeaten run is the longest in the club’s history and eclipses even the league dominating team of the mid 1990’s. With just 8 games left of the regular league season they’ve now put themselves in the position where the league title is theirs to lose.
This weekend struggling Bristol Pitbulls are the visitors to Ryde Arena on Saturday before the Raiders make the trip to Wales to take on the in form Cardiff Devils.
Image: © Used with the kind permission of Nicky Craft
