Ice-hockey: Mass brawl forces postponement of Streatham’s Challenge Cup tie

Streatham will have to await a decision from the EIHL after Invicta Dynamos refused to finish Saturday’s Challenge Cup tie after a mass brawl at the end of the first period, writes Christopher Beal.

The visitors refused to return to the ice citing safety grounds and under league rules a forfeit would normally mean a 5-0 win to the South Londoners.

The tone for the game and the lead up to the events had been set in the opening minute as Josh Martin was ejected for a check from behind on a Dynamos player, putting Streatham on a five-minute penalty kill.

The game would take on an edge from here, with Streatham delivering heavy body checks.

The closing eight minutes of the opening period saw a series of crunching hits by Streatham and missed calls by the officials created an environment where things took on more of an edge.

JJ Pitchley was sent to the box for roughing after a big hit by the Streatham bench and tensions boiled over at the buzzer.

The players were skating off when Pitchley began an exchange with Dynamos’ Josh Condren. Condren’s stick came up into Pitchley’s face, sparking an on-ice melee as multiple players paired off and fought -with one fight being broken up before another would begin. Eventually calm was restored and both teams were sent to the lockerrooms.

Pitchley, Nate Gregory, Josh Ealey-Newman and Brandon Miles were thrown out of the match – as were Invicta’s Matthew Bell, Harrison Lillis and Brandon Chard – but Dynamos refused to proceed.

“We will move on from last night’s incident and will continue to work both internally and with the EIHL (Elite Ice Hockey League), to deal with any disciplinary sanctions imposed,” posted Streatham on their social media platform on X.

Streatham coach Ben Paynter, speaking straight after the match, said: “I don’t want to go too much into things as I believe there’s to be an investigation by the league.

“I don’t condone players hitting other players in the face with a stick, and I believe that’s what started that, and you can’t do that.

“From a gameplay perspective I don’t think it was the best of periods – there were a lot penalties and I expect a better performance. Obviously no-one will be talking about the game it’ll be all about the altercation at the end.”

Streatham defeated Dynamos 8-3 in the league a day later with goals from Ben Ealey-Newman (three), Tomasz Skokan (two), Ethan Lane, Ziggy Beesley and Sam Waller.