Streatham will open the 2016/17 season with a charity challenge game against Dave Carr’s London North Stars on the 3rd September at 5.30pm.
Carr (above) will bring a host of former club favourites and special guests to play the new look Streatham team in a game that should be keenly contested.
It will be an unmissable game for any Streatham fan who has followed the team in recent seasons and of interest to other fans looking for a hockey fix ahead of the new season.
“The club offered me a retirement game at the end of last season which was very kind of them,” said Carr.
“I wasn’t very keen to be honest as a couple of the guys on the team are due testimonials, but when it was suggested we do it for charity then I agreed to put a team together as part of Streatham’s build up to the new season.”
The game will be in aid of Breast Cancer Care and the club have invited Wightlink Raiders’ sports therapist Tori Coles to be guest of honour at the game.
“Having been mixed up in the ice hockey world for the past seven years, I’m honoured Streatham and Dave are putting on this game in aid of Breast Cancer Care,” said Coles.
“Breast Cancer Care, a charity organisation, alongside the breast care unit on the island, have provided me with all the advice and support needed throughout treatment from diagnosis day in October.”
“After six months of chemotherapy, two operations and four weeks of radiotherapy, I’ve just finished my active treatment two weeks ago, and I’m awaiting to continue my three weekly hormone treatments for the next year on the chemo suite followed by 10 years of medication after that.
“I’m look forward to standing on the bench for the London North Stars in September.”
With Streatham set to finalise their line up in the coming weeks, the London North Stars will feature former Streatham players Jakub Klima, Jamie McIlroy, Dom Hopkins, Shane Kemp, Ed Koral, Fred Carnegy, Michal Oravec, Phil Manny, Stewart Tait, Stefan Nubert, Barry Spours and of course Carr himself.
Other special guests include Alan Green, Darren Elliott and Andy Cox from Oxford City Stars, Alan Armour from Cardiff Fire, Lee Mercer from London Racers and Adam Andrews of Nottingham Lions – all former teammates of Carr.
“Obviously the season will be just days away by the time we play the game, so the team needed to give the Streatham boys a good test and hopefully also give the crowd the chance to show some final appreciation to some of the players who helped turn the team around over the past few years,” said Carr.
“I would like to thank the EIHA, Chinny (Nick Chinn) and the club for agreeing to the game and to waive all costs and I hope we can get as many people as possible to come along and watch.
“I’ve told Will (Sanderson) and Euan (King) that they might be busy as I’m going to put myself up front for this one.”
Every single penny from the ticket prices will go to charity, as will the proceeds of the raffle and the North Stars jersey sale.
The rink have kindly donated the ice time, while after the game there will be a celebration in the nearby Earl Ferrers pub.
“The team features some of my old teammates from other clubs still playing league hockey and it’s great they are giving up their time to play ahead of their campaigns,” added Carr.
“The team name comes from no other reason than I made London my home, I’m Northern and I played for Oxford City Stars so it kinda works – plus black is slimming and green is my favourite colour so it’s a total indulgence for me.
“Sarah Healy Scully did a great job designing the jerseys and I think they look great with the Breast Cancer Care logo on too.”
(Image permission: Rick Webb)
