Streatham Redhawks v Invicta Dynamos

Sunday 21^st September 2025

Puck Drop: 18:45.

On this opening game of the 2025/2026 campaign about to get underway here in Streatham the stands are starting to fill as the crowds grow. A lovely welcome as you enter the arena upstairs and greeted by club volunteers. A poignant nod to the old Streatham Ice rink that once stood where Tesco and the Bus Station now stand.

Both sides are out for warm ups and eager to get those pucks firing around the rink and as mentioned a slapshot finds it way to the home team penalty box and leave a nice crack. I would not fancy being the netminder facing that shot as we go full Fulton Reed and get a sprinkle of Disney’s Mighty Ducks to get this magical sport underway for another action packed season down on the Streatham High Road.

A minute silence will be held before the game gets underway. In remembrance for Streatham Juniors Manager Geoff Lockwood. Quoting the Streatham IHC Instagram account, the club go on to state ‘Geoff was manager for the Streatham Juniors and a help to our club over the years. Our sympathy goes to his wife Fiona and sons Sam, Louis and Joe’. I offer my condolences to the Lockwood family.

First period:

Fast paced start to the first period, with both sides trying to create chances.

Six minutes played in the first period and lots of pressure being put on the Invicta Dynamos. Streatham proving to be a nuisance on the attack.

Number 24 for Streatham Vanya Antonov receives two minutes after being knocked down and loosing his helmet in the process. Strange call that one, it must be said.

Invicta are using the penalty well and keeping Streatham pinned in their defensive zone. Invicta unable to make anything come from the efforts created. A solid defensive display by the penalty killing unit for The Redhawk’s, with Shepherd helping his flock of four at bay whilst a man down.

Penalty killed by Streatham, showing good strength whilst a man down and pinned in their zone.  Antonov  springs out the penalty box like a jack in the box and burst straight into action regaining the puck and putting the Redhawk’s on the attack.

Streatham unable to breakthrough as they mount another attack deep in the Dynamos zone. Windebank in net for Invicta, towering over the net with some decisive saves to keep the game at 0-0 with around eight minutes left to play in the first period.

Streatham are really starting to pile on the pressure here on Invicta. The Redhawk’s set up nicely passing the puck around whilst getting a shot off requiring a great glove save from Windebank, to deny Streatham to lead.

Seven and half minutes remaining and Invicta go on the attack with a good chance created, but nothing comes from it.

Streatham go up the other end of the ice and grab the goal to take the lead! 1 -0 Streatham Redhawk’s with under seven minutes remaining on the clock in the first period. The goal coming from Danny Ingoldsby assisted by Dan Rose and Jared Lane.

The Redhawk’s double the lead in quick succession! This time it was Like Brittle with goal to make 2-0 to Streatham. Brittle with the goal 6:19 remaining in the first. Teammates on this occasion getting the assists were Harvey Stead and Louis Colvin.

Antonov has a chance to make it 3-0 but Windebank Pulling of another good save in between the pipes for Invicta.

Danny Ingoldsby receives two minutes as Invicta Dynamos go on the 5 on 4 advantage with four minutes remaining of the opening period of the first game of the season here at the Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre.

Lane with a good chance shorthanded by denied by Windebank once more.

Just fifty-four seconds remain on the powerplay and the Dynamos unable to make anything from it.

Invicta set up and try pull a goal back but unable to break into the attacking zone. Streatham are killing this penalty very well as the closing seconds of the powerplay tick by for Invicta.

Streatham back to full strength. Solid penalty kill from the Redhawk’s to keep their lead.

Under a minute remaining in the first.

Things getting heated at the end of first period as the players get up close and personal, quite possibly to catch up with their opponents and see what they got up to in the off-season, but somehow I think not on this occasion….

End of the first period 2-0 Streatham. Invicta with chances but unable to breakthrough with Shepherd with a strong performance between the pipes in the first. Dynamos with a few efforts created when on the 5 on 4 advantage but once again the Redhawk’s grind on the penalty kill is proving to be a nuisance when Invicta try and find a way to breakthrough.

Second Period:

Streatham with a few chances straight from puck drop in this second period.

Redhawk’s searching for a third goal to add to their tally tonight but Windebank providing the Dynamos with a good display in net, here on the opening night of the season.

Invicta Dynamos are creating chances when they can break into the Streatham zone but unable to capitalise. The Streatham defence continuously breaking down the play and making it hard for the Dynamos forwards to penetrate the net.

Windebank's having a good second period and keeping the Dynamos in the game as Streatham continue to pile on the pressure in the fast paced second period of hockey action.

Six minutes remain in the second period with the score two nil to Streatham.

There has been a lot attacking on display from Streatham with Invicta having a few good chances but netminder for Shepherd in net for Streatham standing tall at keeping his side in the lead with the help from a good defensive show put on by his teammates in front of him.

End of the Second period Streatham still leading 2-0. A very fast flowing period of action, with not many stoppages in play.

Third period:

Start of the third and final period of action for the opening game of 2025/2026 season, here down on Streatham High Road.

Both sides battling for the for the puck in the middle of the ice as both sides trying to breakthrough into the offensive zone.

Invicta with a chance three minutes into the third but nothing comes of it.

Streatham with a chance on the attack but puck gets stuck behind the player as he skates through on zone.

Another chance created by Ingoldsby for streatham, saved by Windebank once more.

Just thirteen minutes remain as Invicta are searching for anyway to try get a goal back in this tie, but Streatham are decisive and quick to deny any attack coming through into their defensive zone.

Offside called by the referees as Invicta try break into the zone.

Invicta with a nice bit of attacking play as they set up and keep the puck in the Redhawk’s zone, as Streatham regain possession of the puck and break out their zone.

Ethan Lane with a good effort from Streatham on net but denied by, that man again, yet again, Windebank.

Invicta on the powerplay as Streatham have player Jordan Gregory in penalty box after big hit on Harrison Prentice, a tough shift out their for Prentice as he takes a few hits from Ethan Lane before that one. Prentice standing strong out their on the that shift! (must be the BiSHA hockey in him).

Invicta with another effort but Shepherd there to make sure his shutout stays in tack.

Regan O’Neil for Invicta Dynamos finds his way into the penalty box 50 seconds remaining on the original powerplay.

10 minutes left in the final period as the action is started to heat up, with players ensuring they finish their checks off as a few more hits go in.

Streatham back to full strength and go instantly on the man advantage with O’Neil serving the remainder of his penalty.

Luca Pascale  of Invicta Dynamos receives two minutes for tripping. Harrison Lillis for Invicta gets two minutes for crosscheck as the game really starts to have an element of ‘This is about to get tasty’ to it.

With six minutes remaining as the clock counts down. Streatham find themselves on the 5 on 3 man advantage with forty-two seconds left of the powerplay, as they eagerly try capitalise on the two man advantage, bolstering their two nil lead going into the remaining five minutes of the game.

Invicta with 3 in the box now as a scuffle breaks out in front of the Dynamos net with Windebank the instigator as he goes for the Redhawk’s player and a melee ensues as the officials try to get a hold of the situation.

Antonov receives another two minutes in the penalty box this game. A Player how has had a lot of pressure on him during the game, still managing to create chances and give it back, shows why he is a favourite of the home fans here in Streatham.

Streatham kill their penalty well in order to keep the lead at two. Invicta also doing well killing off their penalty. Either side has looked strong when on the penalty kill this game, with their Shepherd and Windebank both proving to be influential in the outcome of this game.

As the clock tick down with one minute remaining, the Redhawk’s are still on the attack piling on the pressure right to the end. Forever searching for that third goal to ensure this game is put to bed in the dying moments of this season’s opener.

Game ends 2-0 to Streatham Redhawk’s against the Invicta Dynamos. Bit of a feisty end to the third period. With lots of penalty minutes racking up. Redhawk’s and Dynamos with great all-round defensive outings. Shepherd in-between the pipes getting a shutout in Streatham’s first game of the season is a great mental confidence boost not just for the netminder but the whole team going forward into next weeks tough match-up against the Slough Jets. Invicta were kept in the game by Windebank who knew how to command his are and took no prisoners in doing so…. They had chances in the offensive third but Streatham defence and forwards on the backcheck made life difficult for anything to materialise for the Dynamos.

A great first game of the season for Streatham Redhawk’s. The Ice hockey community in South London is thriving, with a genuine community touch to it. This is brought on and made possible by all the club volunteers to help make your gameday experience one to remember.  A massive thank you to Zara, Graham and everyone who made this possible and to Player-Coach Ben Paynter and his team for allowing access to get media coverage, as the team got ready for pre-match, gametime  and post-match coverage.

Streatham welcome Slough Jets to Streatham High Road this upcoming weekend. Its going to be one to watch as Slough pipped the Redhawk’s to the title by one point in the league standings in the 2024/2025 campaign.

Head Over The Bench Sports Blog YouTube Channel to catch the post-match interview with player-coach Ben Paynter and netminder Brett Shepherd. Video content will be released with footage from the game in the coming week so be sure to stay tuned with Over The Bench Sports.