Beckett and Goldstone Back for Legends’ Game

Lee Valley Lions are delighted to announce the return of Jon Beckett and Adam Goldstone for this month’s 30th anniversary match at the Den.

Beckett, a product of the then famed Streatham Junior Setup, made his senior playing fo the Lions in 1987, scoring 2 points in 21 games. After two seasons at Streatham and Haringey respectively Jon returned to East London where he would spend a further four seasons, adding 78 points in 145 games. Beckett would go on to have a long career with local rivals Romford, first helping them in promotion from the old Division 2, and then featuring heavily for them in the newly formed English Premier League, where they won the playoffs in 2001.

Jon Beckett at Gary Dodds’ testimonial

 

Adam Goldstone has been a stalwart of Streatham Ice Hockey for a long time. The defenceman spent his early senior career with the Redskins, West London rivals Richmond and, the newly formed Slough Jets. In 1990, after just one game with Medway Bears, Goldstone (along with older brother Tony) jumped ship north of the river to join the Lions in their final season in white, green and blue. The next year he was in the more familiar colours of red and black. In his two years at Lea Bridge Road, Goldstone played 72 games and scored 13 points from the blue line. In his final playing days he returned to the famous High Road Rink to play for the ‘Skins before they folded in 1994, he was then a pivotal figure in reforming the side a decade later, even playing a few games and scoring 4 points.

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Adam (left) with his brother Tony (right) and father Alec

Face off for the Legends Game is at 5:15 on Saturday the 30th of August at Lee Valley Ice Centre.

There will be further squad updates in the next few days, with the names dropping faster as we get closer to the big day.

Connect with the Lions on Social Media by following the links at the top of our website. You can also join in the conversation about the game on our Forum.

First Legends and Ticket Prices Announced

The Lee Valley Lions are pleased to announce our first returnees for our 30th Birthday Celebration on Saturday, August the 30th.

Firstly, coming back to the Den is Tari Suwari. The popular defenceman first debuted for the Lions in 1986 after transferring over from Sobell based London All-Stars. Suwari would go on to play 57 games for the men in green, racking up 12 points from the blue line.

Tari in his days at the Den

Tari in his days at the Den

 

 

 

 

 

Joining Tari will be current Lions head coach Gary Dodds. “Doddsy” is one of few players to have iced for both the Original Lions and the Current side, who reformed in 2005. In a combined spell of four years, Dodds (who will be returning to the ice after two years of rehab from knee surgery) has amassed 58 points in 125 games, and up until his injury, was one of the current side’s leading scorers.

(Taken from the Lions' history page)

(Taken from the Lions’ history page)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tickets for the game can all be bought on the door.

Adults: £6
Concessions: £3 (Seniors, Students & Children)
Family: £15 (includes two adults and two children)

Face off is at 5:15pm

Stay tuned for further announcements in the next few weeks as we build up to one of the biggest days in our club’s history

See you on the 30th!

Lions Old & New Come Together for Legends Game

On February the 5th 1984, Mike Smith assembled a small band of men coached by Dave Wurthman in the newly-opened Lee Valley Ice Centre. The match, against Oxford University Ice Hockey Club, began three decades of flying pucks, a lot of goals and maybe the odd scrap.

To celebrate 30 years of Ice Hockey at the Den, the Lee Valley Lions are delighted to announce that on Saturday August the 30th, the current Lions squad will take on a side made up of Original Lions from the teams that graced Lea Bridge Road in the 80’s and 90’s.

Songs like “When the Going Gets Tough” and “Welcome to the Jungle” will blare out through the speakers once more and the Clock Enders will reunite for one (or several) more beer in the rink bar.

So come to the Den, and join the celebration as the club marks 30 years of East London Ice Hockey.
You can keep up to date with player announcements and ticket prices (to be announced shortly) on our Twitter & Facebook pages.

Don’t forget you can still see the Lions on July 26th & 27th when they take on Haringey Racers in the Richards Cup.

Saturday 30/8/14
Face off: 5:15pm
Lee Valley Ice Centre
Lea Bridge Road
Leyton
E10 7QL

#ComeToTheDen #LeeValleyLions

Lions to Challenge Racers This Summer

The Lee Valley Lions are pleased to announce that they will participating in the Richards Cup this summer, with local rivals the Haringey Racers.

The double header competition to take place at the end of July, is in honour of former Lee Valley Head Coach & original Haringey Racer Dave Richards Senior, who sadly passed away a couple of years ago.

All funds will be going to the British Heart Foundation

The first leg will be played at Lee Valley Ice Centre on Saturday July the 26th, face off at 5:30pm, with the return leg at Alexandra Palace on Sunday the 27th, face off also at 5:30.

We also have huge news of another pre-season game that will be announced soon.

Keep an eye on the club’s Twitter and Facebook pages for information on that soon.

Lions Almost Shock Bristol in 12-Goal Thriller

Lee Valley made their second trip to Oxford, this time to face the currently homeless Bristol Pitbulls for the first time this season. Despite being short-benched and being on a three-game losing streak, the third period comeback against Basingstoke had left the Lions feeling confident that they get their first win since January.

First Period: Both sides created several chances but it was Bristol who broke the deadlock through Grant Richardson (11:39, assists Newton and Hargreaves). The score didn’t deter the Lions as they kept plugging away, Nick Alley having a goal disallowed for a man in the crease. A checking from behind penalty to Adam Peach left the Lions under pressure towards the close of the period, and Bristol duly took their opportunity when Jordan Smith (19:18, unassisted) netted in the final minute of the period.

Second Period: The Pitbulls continued where they left off and Robin Harrison (24:38, assist Smith) put them 3-0 up. Less than a minute later the hosts had doubled their first period lead thanks to a goal from Adrian Smith (25:17, assist Hargreaves). At this point Bristol replaced goalie John Dibble with Ross Webster. Lee Valley kept creating chances but they couldn’t find a breakthrough. Eventually Bristol came back and Matthew Thornhill (36:08, assist Egerton) scored the Pitbulls’ fifth to close the second stanza, leaving Lee Valley on the cusp of another heavy defeat.

Third Period: Lee Valley seemingly only had pride to play for but finally their hard work paid dividends and Nick Alley (41:15, assist Hodge) slotted through Webster’s legs to get their first. From here the belief began to show and as the pressure built, Bristol’s play became lacklustre, perhaps believing they had the game killed off. It was another ten minutes before Alley (51:21, assist Fedotovas) scored the Lions’ second off a Bristol defenceman’s skate; that goal however opened the floodgates and was the start of a 73-second scoring spree for the visitors. After Alley’s goal, Gennadi Yufit (51:30, assist Hatfull) netted, then Matthew Drake (52:21, assists Carson and Gerstein) got the Lions within one. This prompted Bristol to put Dibble back in net but he was off again soon after when he was rounded by Romanas Fedotovas (52:34, assist Hatfull) to tie the game. After Webster had re-replaced Dibble, he was on the end of a peppering from Lee Valley who, against all odds, scored a sixth through Joe Berry (55:56, assist Gerstein). With victory within their grasp the Lions began to hold back and Bristol, through desperation, got an equaliser from player-coach Richard Hargreaves’ (58:30, assist Shone) long-range shot. The game ended there with Lee Valley feeling they could have taken the spoils.

The Lions host the Pitbulls in the return fixture next Sunday (9/3/14) at the Den, which will be our final home game of the season.

Match Stats:
Final Score: Bristol 6-6 Lee Valley
Period Scores:
2-0/3-0/1-6
Shots on Goal: 26 on Bristol (16 on Dibble, 10 on Webster) 55 on Mallet (Lee Valley)
Penalties in Minutes: Bristol 10-30 Lee Valley
Scorers: Lee Valley – Nick Alley (2+0), Romanas Fedotovas (1+1), Max Gerstein & James Hatfull (0+2), Joe Berry & Gennadi Yufit (1+0),
Bristol – Richard Hargreaves (1+2), Adrian Smith (1+1), Matthew Thornhill, Robin Harrison, Jordan Smith & Grant Richardson (1+0), Jamie Newton, Sam Shone & Tom Egerton (0+1)
Man of The Match: Romanas Fedotovas

Photos from the game, taken by Flyfifer, are here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.649708651745020.1073741869.111920495523841&type=1

You can also follow the Lions on Twitter and Facebook.