Lee Valley Lions
Encyclopedia
The Lee Valley Lions are an ice hockey team based in Leyton
, east London where they play out of the Lee Valley Ice Centre
They are the senior Ice Hockey team at the rink which they share with the Lee Valley Junior Ice Hockey Club, the Eastern Stars and London Devils recreational teams and, the University of London Union Ice hockey Club.
and Telford
to come an agonising 2nd place on the last day of the season following a 6-7 loss in their final game at third placed Telford but, despite the disappointment the team ended the season on a high by winning the Division One Trophy.
After this narrow failure the Lions never reached the same heights again. Although in 1986 they recorded what probably remains the biggest win in the clubs history with a 3-2 victory over Premier Division Nottingham Panthers
in the Autumn Cup.
In 1990 British Engine became the main sponsor of the Lions prompting a change in the teams colours from the original colours of white, green and blue to red, black and white (this remained the team colours until operations ceased in 1995) but the new sponsorship could not change their form as the Lions slowly descended the league tables until they disbanded in 1995 for financial reasons.
, bringing back former player Nicky Braithwaite, ex-junior Paul O'Neill and ex-Haringey Greyhound Kwabina Oppong-Addai to go with juniors from the current system like James Scott Joseph and Grant Hutcheon.
In their return season the team struggled and failed to register any points, including close games with local rivals Haringey Greyhounds
and the Cardiff ENL Devils. But inexperience showed against accomplished clubs like the Invicta Dynamos
and Basingstoke Buffalo
with only heavy defeats to show for their efforts. The Lions finished bottom of the league with a record of 0-20-0.
The 2006/07 season rang a lot of changes with coach Sergei Smolenko coming in and former Chelmsford Chieftains
captain James Hatfull joining to bolster the team's experience. There was a big improvement as the Lions became a stiffer opponent although lacklustre performances on the road again lead to heavy defeats. Six times the Lions had double figures put past them (including a 19-2 defeat in Basingstoke). In the end the team finished third bottom with 12 points from 22 games (Cardiff withdrew from the league with all their results expunged) and a record of 5-15-2 including notable wins over Oxford (twice) and Milton Keynes.
In 2007/08, Less players were brought in as the core of younger players stayed on. Joining them were former Haringey Greyhounds Nick Alley (younger brother of netminder George) and Alistair Band, American defenceman (and new captain) Scott Pollak and more notably former London Racer JJ McGrath from Wightlink Raiders
(although his stint was short lived). With registration and other paperwork issues holding some players back, a weakened Lions bench began the season in Bracknell with an 8-1 defeat to a much fancied Hornets side. Road form (or lack of) was the main criticism of the team throughout the season, of the seven games won throughout the campaign. Only two were won on the road, one of these was a surprise 4-3 win in Basingstoke (having lost 16-6 at home to the Buffalo just a month before), the other was an abandoned (due to player injury) 5-3 win at basement boys Solent & Gosport. Other disappointments included a 5-4 home loss to Haringey despite dominating their London rivals and, when a final day surprise was on the cards at home to eventual champions Invicta. The Dynamos were able to reply from 2-0 down to win 5-3, The Lions ended the year with a record of 7-11-0 in a much shortened season (due to the Southern league being split in two).
first "Ice Cube Tournament" involving an array of ENIHL and recreational teams. After going unbeaten and winning their group on goal difference ahead of the hosts, the Lions then faced former EPL side Solihull Barons in the semi final, winning 4-1. Then after a break of twenty minutes, an exhausted Lions team somehow mustered the energy to thrash fellow rink tenants London University Dragons 7-0, Joe Berry scoring six of the sides goals.
It was the first silverware since winning the old Division 1 trophy in 1985, and the clubs first since the reformation of the junior section in 1998.
Sergei Smolenko left that summer (replaced by Ian Prince) along with almost the entire playing squad, only James Hatfull and James Scott-Joseph remained. Some players from the original 05/06 squad returned (Richard Hodge and Nick Braithwaite) but, the rest of the team were all new faces acquired following summer trials, the pick of these being Great Britain's women's captain Angela Taylor who would go on the lead the side in scoring (17 points from 14 games). Lee Valley had a rough ride throughout 09/10, only winning three matches (although the Slough win was expunged following their departure from the league). Both in local derby's with Streatham Bruins and Romford Fury (the return fixtures ending in big defeats for Ian Prince's side. The team also conceded a massive average of 11.1 goals per game. New boys Bristol (returning to senior hockey after a break longer than Lee Valley's own time in hibernation) scraped the league on a tie breaker, despite runners up Swindon have the superior goal difference.
04 Kwabina Oppong-Addai
06 Glenn Roper
07 Blair Dubyk (C)
08 Calum Heath
09 Gary Dodds
10 Shane Bojenko
11 Calum Mathieson
12 Philippe Mueller
15 Joe Berry
16 Graham Lewis
19 Christian Faulkner
22 James Hatfull (A)
25 James Gosling
26 Richard Hodge
31 George Alley (NM)
32 James Scott-Joseph
37 Ruth Cattell (NM)
Vesa Pennanen
Doug McEwen
Darcy Cahill
Fred Perlini
Dave Ducharme
Eddie Joseph
Jaroslav Lycka
Steve James
Leyton
Leyton is an area of north-east London and part of the London Borough of Waltham Forest, located north east of Charing Cross. It borders Walthamstow and Leytonstone; Stratford in Newham; and Homerton and Lower Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney....
, east London where they play out of the Lee Valley Ice Centre
Lee Valley Ice Centre
The Lee Valley Ice Centre is situated in the Lee Valley Regional Park in London, England. Figure Skating, ice hockeyand public skating sessions are all available at Lee Valley Ice Centre.- Ice hockey :...
They are the senior Ice Hockey team at the rink which they share with the Lee Valley Junior Ice Hockey Club, the Eastern Stars and London Devils recreational teams and, the University of London Union Ice hockey Club.
Original Lions 1984-1995
They were originally formed in early 1984, and after a series of friendlies the 1984/85 season was their first in competition. They competed in Heineken Division 1 where they finished a credible 6th. The next season though the Lions dominated the league along with SolihullSolihull Barons
Solihull Barons are an English ice hockey team from the town of Solihull who play at Solihull Ice Rink on Hobbs Moat Road. They were formed in 2005, although they are named after the team of the same name who played at the same ice rink between 1972 and 1996...
and Telford
Telford Tigers
The Telford Tigers are an English Premier League ice hockey team that formed in 2001 under the name Telford Wild Foxes.A previous Telford Tigers team had existed between 1985 and 1999.- Early history :...
to come an agonising 2nd place on the last day of the season following a 6-7 loss in their final game at third placed Telford but, despite the disappointment the team ended the season on a high by winning the Division One Trophy.
After this narrow failure the Lions never reached the same heights again. Although in 1986 they recorded what probably remains the biggest win in the clubs history with a 3-2 victory over Premier Division Nottingham Panthers
Nottingham Panthers
The Nottingham Panthers are a British professional ice hockey club based in Nottingham, England. They are members of the Elite Ice Hockey League...
in the Autumn Cup.
In 1990 British Engine became the main sponsor of the Lions prompting a change in the teams colours from the original colours of white, green and blue to red, black and white (this remained the team colours until operations ceased in 1995) but the new sponsorship could not change their form as the Lions slowly descended the league tables until they disbanded in 1995 for financial reasons.
The New Lions (2005-2008)
In 2005 the team was reformed by Junior Head Coach Eddie Joseph to compete in the English National Ice Hockey LeagueEnglish National Ice Hockey League
The English National Ice Hockey League is an amateur ice hockey league below the English Premier Ice Hockey League which is administered by the English Ice Hockey Association. It is split into two conferences, north and south...
, bringing back former player Nicky Braithwaite, ex-junior Paul O'Neill and ex-Haringey Greyhound Kwabina Oppong-Addai to go with juniors from the current system like James Scott Joseph and Grant Hutcheon.
In their return season the team struggled and failed to register any points, including close games with local rivals Haringey Greyhounds
Haringey Greyhounds
The Haringey Greyhounds are a British ice hockey club based in Harringay, England.The team was founded in 1990, as the second team at Alexandra Palace, the first being Haringey Racers. In 1992, Racers collapsed, leaving Greyhounds as the rink's first team. They entered the English Conference and...
and the Cardiff ENL Devils. But inexperience showed against accomplished clubs like the Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos
Invicta Dynamos are the senior ice hockey team based in Gillingham in Kent.-History:The club was founded in 1997 replacing the Medway Bears as the senior team based at the Ice Bowl. The club originally competed in the EPIHL until the 2003/4 season when the club dropped down to the ENIHL due to a...
and Basingstoke Buffalo
Basingstoke Buffalo
The Basingstoke Buffalo are an ice hockey team from Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. They are members of the Southern section of the English National Ice Hockey League and play their home matches at the Planet Ice Silverdome. The Buffalo are the second senior team in Basingstoke behind the...
with only heavy defeats to show for their efforts. The Lions finished bottom of the league with a record of 0-20-0.
The 2006/07 season rang a lot of changes with coach Sergei Smolenko coming in and former Chelmsford Chieftains
Chelmsford Chieftains
The Chelmsford Chieftains are an Ice Hockey team based in Chelmsford, Essex that are currently playing in the English National Ice Hockey League. Since the team was founded in 1987, the Chieftains have played their home games at the Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre.Chelmsford played their first...
captain James Hatfull joining to bolster the team's experience. There was a big improvement as the Lions became a stiffer opponent although lacklustre performances on the road again lead to heavy defeats. Six times the Lions had double figures put past them (including a 19-2 defeat in Basingstoke). In the end the team finished third bottom with 12 points from 22 games (Cardiff withdrew from the league with all their results expunged) and a record of 5-15-2 including notable wins over Oxford (twice) and Milton Keynes.
In 2007/08, Less players were brought in as the core of younger players stayed on. Joining them were former Haringey Greyhounds Nick Alley (younger brother of netminder George) and Alistair Band, American defenceman (and new captain) Scott Pollak and more notably former London Racer JJ McGrath from Wightlink Raiders
Wightlink Raiders
The Wightlink Raiders are an ice hockey team based in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, England. They are sponsored by Wightlink and play in the third-tier English National Ice Hockey League...
(although his stint was short lived). With registration and other paperwork issues holding some players back, a weakened Lions bench began the season in Bracknell with an 8-1 defeat to a much fancied Hornets side. Road form (or lack of) was the main criticism of the team throughout the season, of the seven games won throughout the campaign. Only two were won on the road, one of these was a surprise 4-3 win in Basingstoke (having lost 16-6 at home to the Buffalo just a month before), the other was an abandoned (due to player injury) 5-3 win at basement boys Solent & Gosport. Other disappointments included a 5-4 home loss to Haringey despite dominating their London rivals and, when a final day surprise was on the cards at home to eventual champions Invicta. The Dynamos were able to reply from 2-0 down to win 5-3, The Lions ended the year with a record of 7-11-0 in a much shortened season (due to the Southern league being split in two).
Success at last
The weekend of the 10th and 11 May 2008 the Lions travelled down to the Isle of Wight for the Vectis TigersVectis Tigers
The Wightlink Tigers are an amateur English ice hockey team from the Isle of Wight, they are currently in pool A of the southern conference of the ENIHL. Although no promotion or relegation system exists between the leagues , the ENIHL is seen as the third tier of English ice hockey...
first "Ice Cube Tournament" involving an array of ENIHL and recreational teams. After going unbeaten and winning their group on goal difference ahead of the hosts, the Lions then faced former EPL side Solihull Barons in the semi final, winning 4-1. Then after a break of twenty minutes, an exhausted Lions team somehow mustered the energy to thrash fellow rink tenants London University Dragons 7-0, Joe Berry scoring six of the sides goals.
It was the first silverware since winning the old Division 1 trophy in 1985, and the clubs first since the reformation of the junior section in 1998.
Return to old ways
After showing late promise towards the end of the previous season, much was expected of Smolenko's young team in 2008/09. Despite picking up an opening game win against Vectis Tigers (albeit by forfeit) The Lions never got going, proceeding the Vectis game (in which captain Michael Ranby broke his hand) with six straight defeats. To add to the loss of Ranby, netminder George Alley two months into the season and a string of injuries kept the side short benched throughout. This was epitomised in their final game when less than two lines arrived at champions Chelmsford, resulting in a 12-0 loss. The season ended with a record of 8-21-3, scoring 121 goals but conceding 191.Sergei Smolenko left that summer (replaced by Ian Prince) along with almost the entire playing squad, only James Hatfull and James Scott-Joseph remained. Some players from the original 05/06 squad returned (Richard Hodge and Nick Braithwaite) but, the rest of the team were all new faces acquired following summer trials, the pick of these being Great Britain's women's captain Angela Taylor who would go on the lead the side in scoring (17 points from 14 games). Lee Valley had a rough ride throughout 09/10, only winning three matches (although the Slough win was expunged following their departure from the league). Both in local derby's with Streatham Bruins and Romford Fury (the return fixtures ending in big defeats for Ian Prince's side. The team also conceded a massive average of 11.1 goals per game. New boys Bristol (returning to senior hockey after a break longer than Lee Valley's own time in hibernation) scraped the league on a tie breaker, despite runners up Swindon have the superior goal difference.
2010/11 Roster
03 Phillip Carson04 Kwabina Oppong-Addai
06 Glenn Roper
07 Blair Dubyk (C)
08 Calum Heath
09 Gary Dodds
10 Shane Bojenko
11 Calum Mathieson
12 Philippe Mueller
15 Joe Berry
16 Graham Lewis
19 Christian Faulkner
22 James Hatfull (A)
25 James Gosling
26 Richard Hodge
31 George Alley (NM)
32 James Scott-Joseph
37 Ruth Cattell (NM)
Notable former players
Janne LehtiVesa Pennanen
Doug McEwen
Darcy Cahill
Fred Perlini
Dave Ducharme
Eddie Joseph
Jaroslav Lycka
Steve James