Champions in town as Dynamos begin semi-final challenge

Invicta Dynamos have had little time to celebrate a thrilling quarter-final comeback win in the play-offs with the league champions up next. The Dynamos reached the semis after overcoming a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Solent Devils last Saturday to then win 7-3 in overtime when they met for the second-leg in Solent on the Sunday. More: Incredible Dynamos clinch comeback win in the quarters Karl Lennon’s men now face league champions Slough Jets in a two-legged play-off semi-final, with the winners booking themselves a place at the national finals in Sheffield the following week.

Lennon will hope the confidence gained from last weekend’s success, coupled with previous close-fought games against the Jets, will give them the confidence to go and produce the goods once again. It’s also a chance to put right some painful memories from the last meeting, the Jets emerging 11-1 winners on the second weekend of March. Lennon said: “We've had a couple of close games with them this year and a shootout win at home against them just before Christmas.



“The last time we played them was our single-worst performance of the season, where we really did not play well at all and we faced them on great form. “They had a comfortable two wins this weekend to get through. We know everything that they present.

They're a young, energetic, physical side, and we're going to have to be at our best to beat them. “I don't think I'd be a good coach if I didn't acknowledge the failures of the past. You have to accept those and learn from them.

“On that night, there were many lessons that we were given, but I think a lot of it was our failures. “They were good but as good as they were, we were bad in equal measure. It was a combination of both things but we know how they play.

“We've beaten them this year and we've beaten them when we had a depleted roster. “They're league champions for a reason. We're under no illusions that we're in for the biggest weekend of our season but they are, too.

“They've also got a lot to play for and they want to get to the finals as much as anyone. We're in the same boat, ultimately. “On any given day, this side that we have here can compete with anyone.

We've beaten Slough, we've beaten Streatham, we've beaten Solent now. The only team we haven't beaten is Chelmsford. We've been close on a couple of times there, too.

“We're there or thereabouts and that's what we've got to hold on to.” The Mos start the two-legged semi-final at home in Gillingham on Saturday before they head for the decider away against the Jets on Sunday at the Slough Ice Arena (both 5.45pm).

The other semi-final sees the Streatham Redhawks take on the Chelmsford Chieftains. The winners of the semi-finals meet next Saturday in Sheffield for the Southern play-off final and the winners of that face the North winners for a national final on the Sunday. Invicta could have senior netminder Brad Windebank available after he failed to shake off an injury in time for last weekend’s match, meaning 16-year-old Nikolai Divall took centre-stage between the pipes.

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