RAF EASTERN CRUSADE ANGLO CUP WINNERS 2011!
Ice Hockey in the RAF is extremely healthy. Not just in the physical terms you’d expect from playing THE fastest team sport in the world, but in terms of success, and development. The RAF Aces (the full representative team) have recently steamrolled the Army and Navy at the Inter-services to become champions for the third year in a row. Ice Hockey has earned recognized status in the RAF, thousands of pounds have been raised for charity, and thousands of miles travelled to represent the Service. Yet not many people are aware the sport is accessible for those in a blue suit. Most people associate the sport with angry Canadians with no teeth, not punctilious Airmen with free dental care. But it does exist, and there is a team for just about any posting in the RAF (despite the SDSR!)
The RAF Eastern Crusade Ice Hockey Club play out of Planet Ice, Peterborough. It’s a regional club that draws players and fans from any station within reasonable driving distance from the home rink. Main contributors being: Coningsby, Marham, Wittering, Waddington and Cranwell but also including any station inbetween. The club has seen a lot of change in recent times. The swift improvement of the base level players, coupled with the arrival of new coaching staff (SGT Barnes, RAF Marham and assistant SAC Guscott, RAF Coningsby) has seen the team go from tournament ‘also rans’ to serious contenders for silverware.
The RAF Anglo Cup has been about for 3 years now. As its title suggests, it’s a competiton for teams based in England and a good opportunity for them to lock horns outside of the Tri-service and RAF Champs. This year only 3 teams took part: Cosford Stars (2009,2010 winners) Benson and Brize Bluewings and Eastern Crusade (RAF Odiham unable to take part due to operational constraints). The format is simple: play each other home and away, top 2 teams play eachother in the final. So just 4 games to get enough out of to make the final. Sounds easy, but not necessarily the case. Eastern Crusade have been perennial whipping boys for the previous (and only) 2 years in this competition. Massive improvements were required to really mount a serious challenge, and the new Coaching staff and existing players were determined to make these. It seemed to be business as usual when Benson and Brize Bluewings made the trip up to Peterborough for the opening game in April. An embarrassing 8-3 defeat at home (despite the Bluewings being short of players) saw Crusade picking up where they left off the previous year.
The next fixtures saw Crusade playing Cosford in consecutive weeks in June. The loss against Brize had been a turning point for the club, and a lot can happen in 2 months. The arrival of new players had rejuvenated the Squad, and by competing in the Tri-serive Championships, the team had gelled, fitness was good, and confidence was high going into the Double-Header with the Champions. Despite a strong start at Planet Ice, Crusade went a goal down on the first 30 seconds. They came back however, and equalized. Further goals came and Crusade ended the first period 4-2 up. After a goalless second period, the scoreline looked good, but Cosford were beginning to dictate the play. The third period saw a reversal of the first, and the game ended up 6-6.
Less than a week later it was Cosford again. Crusade travelled up to Telford and, despite playing shorthanded, took a 5-2 lead at the end of the first period. Crusade came back in the second stronger than ever, and despite Cosford pulling a goal back increased their lead to 8-3 to go in to the third period. Well-rested and raring to go after an ice cut, Crusade started well, but Cosford pulled another goal back; this was disallowed. Further goals ensued, and the game ended with a 10-5 victory for Crusade with goals coming from SAC Guscott, SAC Tomkins and A1C Hemquist.
The return fixture against Blue Wings was towards the end of August down in Oxford. The first period went well for Crusade, and in spite of Blue Wings pulling a goal back ended 3-1 in their favour. The goals came thick and fast in the second, and the period ended with an impressive 10-1 lead. With high hopes of victory, Crusade kept up the pressure and scored a further 5 goals. With only 10 seconds of the game remaining, goal number 16 went in to end the game 16-1 to Crusade with goals coming from SAC Guscott, CPL Elliott, SAC Tomkins, CPL Collins, A1C Hemquist, SSgt Hahn and CPL Wynn. This victory ensured a final place for Eastern Crusade.
The final of the Anglo Cup took place on Sunday September 11th at Oxford Ice Rink with Eastern Crusade playing Blue Wings. The match should have taken place in Milton Keynes, but due to technical issue with the Ice, the final was in danger of being postponed. Luckily the Oxford rink managed to accommodate the final and despite the late hour (2100) the final went ahead. A minute silence was held before the start of the game as a sign of respect for the victims of the 9/11 attack 10 years ago and the recent air crash involving the Russian Ice Hockey team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl.
Crusade started the final rather scrappily, but settled down and managed to secure a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period. After a robust team talk from the manager, the game went up a notch and the goals came thick and fast to end the second period
8-0. With victory in sight Crusade came out in the third period even stronger and at just over 8 minutes in double figures were reached. Further goals were scored and with less than 3½ minutes to go goal number 15 was scored. This 15-0 win secured the Anglo Cup for Crusade with goals coming from A1C Hemquist, SAC Guscott, SSgt Hahn, CPL Collins, SAC Dunn, SAC Tomkins, Matt Thompson and CPL Hodgson.
This win ended a fantastic season for Eastern Crusade. The Anglo Cup was added to the RAF plate and the silver medals won in 2 separate events in August’s RAF Championships in Dundee. And, after a massive reversal of fortunes from the start of the season, things are looking up for the team. Be proud of your Ice Hockey team, wrap up, get behind them and remember RESPECT!
18th October 2011
