Tag: Waltham Forest

Jordan Turner & James Joseph Return

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The Lee Valley Lions are pleased to announce their next pair of signing’s with youngster Jordan Turner and, club appearance record holder James Joseph returning for the 2017/18 season.

Former junior Turner returns for his third stint as a senior player, having made his debut in 2013/14 as an Under 18. Last year Jordan’s season was limited to 7 games by a back injury and work commitments, but the 20 year old will be looking to appear more regularly this season. In 27 games Jordan has 5 points for the Lions.

“When George phoned and was keen to get me involved again this season I was extremely happy and excited to up my game and make an impact this season. The Lions are a great bunch of lads on and off the ice and I’m looking forward to working with them and George for the upcoming season.”

Club stalwart James Joseph has been playing at Lee Valley since the original Lions were roaming, and has played in every season since the team reformed in 2005. During last season he overtook Lions’ legends Steve James, Glen Moorhouse & dad Eddie to become to club’s record appearance holder. In 218 games, James has 25 points from the Lions’ blue line.

“I’m excited to be coming back this season. We learnt some valuable lessons last year and have built on those to really move forward as team that can challenge this coming season.
I’ve seen the guys move from strength to strength on the ice in short time we’ve been under coach George’s direction and it’s good to see the team keep doing so. We’ve been playing some great hockey recently and if we continue working hard as team I think we’ll perform well with the challenges new league structure is going to bring.”

With Pre-season underway, Head Coach George Alley was pleased to add more players to his squad.

“We’ve only got a few more weeks before we go to Streatham, so I’m glad more guys are throwing their names into the hat for this season.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with Jordan since he joined the Under 18’s team I coached in 2013. He’s very responsive to advice and has a work-rate that is irreplaceable, having players like Jordan keeps a lot of senior players sharp because his work ethic is so strong. If he can get a run of games under his belt I really think he will be far more effective for us than he has done previously.

James and I go way back. I started playing the year the original Lions had folded, but Eddie and Mike Smith (former Lions owner) continued to run junior sessions, James already had a couple of years under his belt at that point and he’s been around ever since, regardless of the team’s situation or league position. What’s rare in British Ice Hockey, and London in particular is loyalty for more than a few years because the city is so fluid. We don’t have many “locals” in the team who really understand what the club has been or have grown up here, James is key to that local core you have to have in any team”.

James Joseph Stats
Jordan Turner Stats 

Tickets are now on sale for our pre-season match on Sunday 3rd of September away to Streatham IHC. Face off is at 5:30pm in South London and tickets can be bought online at Streatham-Hockey.co.uk. Prices are £10 for adults & £6 for concessions.

You can keep up to date with the Lions over the summer on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for signing news other announcements using the hashtag #LeeValleyLions.

Lions Open Skates Start in June

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The Lee Valley Lions would like to announce that we will be hosting our Summer open sessions, starting on Tuesday June 6th at Lee Valley Ice Centre.

Each session begins at 8:15 pm and finishes at 9:30pm. Cost to attend is £10 per player.

Please arrive at least half an hour before each session, and ask for George Alley or Eddie Joseph.

Please note that for insurance purposes we are unable to allow any Under 18’s aged players onto the ice during these sessions.

Any players wishing to attend are free to show up and pay on the door.

Goalies are asked to get in touch before arriving to reserve a place.

You can get in touch via the Contact Us page on our website or through our Facebook Page. Please do not hesitate to do so if you need any additional information.

#LeeValleyLions

Lions End Season With Slough Win

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The end of the season was upon us and the Lions travelled to Slough, knowing that victory for either side would result in the other team finishing bottom of the league. Lee Valley hadn’t lost against their opponents all season, but the Jets in their tiny temporary rink had hit a purple patch with big wins over Haringey, Chelmsford and a surprising draw with champions Peterborough.

Lions welcomed back James Andrew from illness but were missing Oskar Horter, Ronnie O’Connor, Lee Hounslow, James Gosling, Ben Duffy and Daniel Tamasauskas. 

1st Period: Although the conditions were against the Lions, they were first to score when a penalty to Slough’s Timo Lindgren allowed Nick Alley (PP goal 3:02, assist Sin-Hidge) to score off a face off in the Slough zone. Lions were controlling the play but with Nick Alley in the penalty box, it was the Jets who equalised through Chris Hocquigny (PP goal 8:09, assists Lindgren, Darmanin). The game was being played in the Jets’ zone but the home team were dangerous on the counter, James Andrew and Matthew Smital were both making important saves to keep the game tied at 1-1 at the end of the period.

2nd Period: Both sides were creating chances but Lions were dominating the possession at this point but Smital was keeping the Jets in the match. The lack of goals started to get to the Lions and with the small rink creating more opportunities for hits, both teams took three penalties each in the first 10 minutes. Neither side could capitalise on their powerplays, and the period ended with both teams scrapping in frustration. The score still 1-1.

3rd Period: Like the first period, the Lions got off to a quick start and Nick Alley (43:40, assist Aiken) ripped a wrist shot in off the crossbar to take the lead, but Slough equalised only 30 seconds later through Jamie Chandler (44:10, assist Martin-Digby). Both teams were going back and forth but both goalies were holding strong, but space finally opened up when Sam Awoyemi and Slough’s Charlie Dobbins both sat for Roughing. Slough called a timeout but with both sides at 4-on-4, James Hepburn (51:42, assist Matt Hepburn) got the Lions’ third goal. The action was mostly in the Jets’ zone but Smital continued to keep the hosts in the game, with two minutes left Lee Valley called a timeout and stemmed any chance Slough had of equalising, closing the game out for their 6th win of the season.

GAME STATS

Final Score: Slough Jets 2-3 Lee Valley Lions

Period Score: 1-1/0-0/1-2
Shots: Slough 43-63 Lee Valley (14-22/11-20/18-21)
Penalties: Slough 20-24 Lee Valley
Scorers: Lee Valley –  Nick Alley (2+0), James Hepburn (1+0), Ross Sin-Hidge, Henry Aiken & Matt Hepburn (0+1)
Slough – Jamie Chandler & Chris Hocquigny (1+0), Nathan Darmanin, Timo Lindgren & Luke Martin-Digby (0+1)
Goaltenders: Lee Valley – James Andrew 43 shots/2 goals, 95.35%
Slough – Matthew Smital 63 shots/3 goals, 95.24%

Man of the Match: Simon Geldart

With the season now finished, the Lee Valley Lions would like to thank the players and those who have supported us throughout the season.

You can keep up to date with the Lions over the summer on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for signing news other announcements.

Thank you again for following us this season and we’ll see you in September.

#LeeValleyLions

Lions Finally Overcome Racers

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Having come close in two of the previous three meetings with Haringey, Lee Valley travelled to Alexandra Palace looking to end their losing run against their local rivals.

Illness to James Andrew meant coach George Alley stepped in to take up goaltending duties, whilst James Gosling, Jordan Turner, Ben Gillingham and Ronnie O’Connor were also missing from the line-up.

1st Period: Haringey drew first blood when a turnover in their zone saw Daniel Clayton (4:24, assist Abbott) from a 2-on-1, but Lee Valley were taking more shots and soon found their mark as James Hepburn (8:18, unassisted) went around the goal and roofed a backhand shot past Matthew Brown. Lions continued to press and a team break from their own zone saw Nick Alley (11:12, assists Hounslow, Sin-Hidge) rifling a quick wrist shot in off the bar. Both teams exchanged penalties and the hosts went close on a couple of occasions but neither side could add to their tally.

2nd Period: The first half of the period was tight as both goalies were called into action but it was Lee Valley who doubled their lead when Nick Alley (31:19, assist Jones) rounded a defence-man and buried the puck through Brown’s legs. Haringey were quick to respond as Matt Brown (32:02, assists Clayton, Abbott) caught the Lions defence napping to score on the breakaway. With the majority of the play in the period the Racers drew level when Sam Park set up Robin Martinsson (38:04, assist Park, Osborne) with a tip-in, closing the period at 3-3 with Haringey in the ascendancy but with Lee Valley on the power-play after Ryan Payne was called for Tripping.

3rd Period: Payne’s penalty saw the Lions get their first PP goal of the game, Ross Sin-Hidge (PP goal, assists Jones, Nick Alley) tapping in after a passing move around the hosts’ zone. Haringey continued to take penalties and when Stuart Appleby was penalised for Roughing, Sin-Hidge (PP goal, assist Jones) was on hand to double the Lions’ lead, the resulting play saw an injury to Haringey’s goalie Brown. Lee Valley’s dominance was undermined when a third turnover goal saw Matt Brown (51:27, assists Clayton, Ball) knock in his own rebound. Despite the set-back, the Lions controlled possession and with 27 seconds left and Haringey again short-benched, this time for Too Many Men Ross Sin-Hidge (PP goal 59:33, assist Nick Alley) was fed for an easy tap for his hat-trick, sealing the Lions first win over their neighbours since 2015.

GAME STATS

Final Score: Haringey Racers 4-6 Lee Valley Lions

Period Scores: 1-2/2-1/1-3
Shots: Haringey 31-41 Lee Valley (14-19/13-10/4-12)
Penalties: Haringey 16-8 Lee Valley
Scorers: Lee Valley – Ross Sin-Hidge (3+1), Nick Alley (2+2), Simon Jones (0+3), James Hepburn (1+0), Lee Hounslow (0+1)
Haringey – Daniel Clayton (1+2), Matt Brown (2+0), Josh Abbott (0+2), Robin Martinsson (1+0), Ben Osborne, Jack Ball & Sam Park (0+1)
Goaltenders: Lee Valley – George Alley 31 shots/4 goals, 87.10%
Haringey – Matthew Brown 33 shots/5 goals, 84.85%, Aaron Mallet 8 shots/1 goal, 87.50%

Man of the Match – Nick Alley

With a game with Chelmsford originally scheduled for January the 7th being awarded as a 0-0 draw due to no ice time being available, the Lions have one more game left this season when we travel to face Slough Jets in a re-arranged game on Saturday 8th of April.

Face off at Montem Lane is at 6:15pm.

You can follow the Lions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #LeeValleyLions for up to date news and live scores.

Lions’ Discipline Falters in Chelmsford Loss

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After three straight games with new champions Peterborough, the Lions travelled to last season’s league winners Chelmsford Warriors. The previous meeting in January saw the Lions pick up a 6-4 win but Chelmsford were going strong and had qualified for the playoffs.

Lee Valley arrived in the county town of Essex missing Jordan Turner, Ben Gillingham & James Gosling. However, Daniel Tamasauskas made his 2nd appearance for the side in as many weeks.

1st Period: Both sides created chances early as neither team got a foothold, it took a turnover on the Warriors’ blue line to break the deadlock, Brandon Webster (7:34, unassisted) scoring a breakaway goal. Lee Valley responded well, putting Billy Cook in the Chelmsford goal under pressure but their eagerness to get an equaliser boiled over, first Henry Aiken took a boarding penalty, then Matt Hepburn was called for charging. The Lions killed both penalties and then finally got the equaliser when a quick breakout allowed Lee Hounslow (17:34, assists Sin-Hidge, Alley) to race down the right hand side and rifle a wrist shot past Cook, tying the game going into the 2nd.

2nd Period: Lee Valley had the perfect start to the period when Chris Fox (20:49, assist Matt Hepburn) managed to find the net from a tight angle to give the Lions the lead. Had it not been for a couple of close chances and bad bounces, the Lee Valley could’ve doubled their lead but didn’t get the break they needed, and then the Lions’ discipline began to let them down. First Oskar Horter was called for Cross Checking then Henry Aiken was given 10 minutes for illegal equipment. With two D in the box, Chelmsford took their chance when Thomas Wilson (PP goal 33:44, assist Brears). Chelmsford then continued to put pressure on James Andrew’s goal but couldn’t score thanks to some dogged defending, a blocked shot from Nick Alley and a couple of near misses. Lions called a timeout to stem the flow of the Warriors attack, and saw out the period to keep it tied.

3rd Period: Lions’ discipline improved but they were reduced to long range shots on Cook and Chelmsford were keeping better possession of the puck. The visitors got an opportunity to add to their tally when Gary Brown was called for holding, after hitting Cook with a barrage of shots, Chelmsford managed to break free and Ross Brears (SH goal 50:17, assist Campbell) was on hand to nudge the Warriors ahead. Lions killed their only penalty of the period but another Chelmsford goal followed as Lee Valley began to tire, George Gell (53:34, assist Wicks) doubling the home side’s lead. Chelmsford had the final say in the game when Ross Brears (58:23, assists Brown, Dervish) put the result to bed.

GAME STATS

Final Score: Chelmsford Warriors 5-2 Lee Valley Lions

Period Scores: 1-1/1-1/3-0
Shots: Chelmsford 48-42 Lee Valley (16-13/15-15/17-14)
Penalties: Chelmsford 10-20 Lee Valley
Scorers: Lee Valley – Lee Hounslow & Chris Fox (1+0), Nick Alley, Ross Sin-Hidge & Matt Hepburn (0+1)
Chelmsford – Ross Brears (2+1), Thomas Wilson, Brandon Webster & George Gell (1+0), Donald Campbell, Elliot Dervish, Jonathan Wicks & Gary Brown (0+1)
Goaltenders: Lee Valley – James Andrew 48 shots/5 goals,  89.58%
Chelmsford – Billy Cook 42 shots/2 goals, 95.24%

Man of the Match: James Andrew

The Lions next fixture sees them renew acquaintances with local rivals Haringey Racers this Saturday (25/03) at Alexandra Palace. 

Face off is at 5:30pm

You can follow the Lions on Facebook & Twitter with #LeeValleyLions for up to date news and live scores.