After discussions with Zach Yokoyama , the club have granted him permission for his release.

Since joining us as injury cover earlier this season, Zach has been an important part of our team, contributing greatly to our success, averaging over a point per game, and helping us reach the NIHL National Cup Final. 

The club thank Zach for his time in Romford, and while we are sad to see him go, we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

Raiders bench coach Lewis Jones admitted it felt good to end 2024 with back-to-back wins over Berkshire Bees in the National League.

Having snapped a five-game losing run in the league with a 4-0 victory over Bristol Pitbulls before Christmas, Raiders skated to a 6-3 success in Slough on Saturday.

And they followed that up with a 5-3 triumph on home ice at Romford’s Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre the following night to move back up to fifth in the table.

Jones said: “It’s good to get a four-point weekend, that’s the most important thing.

“Going into the new year on a three-game winning streak is really important.”

Tommy Huggett gave Raiders the lead in Slough, but the hosts hit back to level just before the break.

And powerplay goals either side of Andrew Shewfelt’s effort, as Raiders enjoyed a man advantage, put Bees 3-2 up, before Jake Sylvester levelled.

Tyler Nixon, Tjay Anderson (powerplay) and Shewfelt (empty net) struck in the final period to seal the points for the visitors, with Jones adding: “I felt we started quite well – first period was good, second period we didn’t really play great.

“I was happy to come out of that 3-3 at the end of the second, too many penalties, some odd calls here and there but we ground out a win, it was good to get the two points.”

Bees led 3-1 at the halfway stage of Sunday’s return meeting, with Shewfelt netting again for Raiders in front of a sold-out 1,200-strong crowd.

Sylvester struck either side of the second break to square matters up once again – and now sits sixth in the club’s all-time scoring charts on 375 points (204 goals, 171 assists) – but play was then held up after Raiders player-coach Adam Laishram suffered a nasty cut to the wrist and went off to hospital.

Shaun Miller put Raiders in front with less than 10 minutes left, then added an empty-net goal with 34 seconds remaining.

“Not a great start from us, a little bit sluggish in the middle period again, but character to come back,” said Jones, who saw Owen Rider backstop the side to both wins with Ethan James unavailable.

“Once Laish goes down hurt, which was obviously pretty horrible for both teams to see that, it took the sting out of the building a little bit.

“We just had to get the job done in the end and we made sure we got the job done for him.”

Raiders start 2025 with a three-game weekend as they play host to leaders MK Lightning on Friday (7.15pm), then visit Swindon on Saturday and welcome the Wildcats in a quick return on Sunday (5.15pm).

Having upset Lightning in the cup semi-finals, Jones is hoping Raiders can enjoy more success.

“We know they don’t always like coming here,” he added.

“We’ve got a pretty good record against them so far this season so we’ll have some confidence with that and the cup stuff.

“But it’s a new game and we’ll just go and prepare the same way we do, watch some video, look at what we’ve not done great and work on that in the week and hopefully be ready for what is going to be a long and taxing weekend for us.”

By Lee Power

@Recorder_Power

Sports editor

Raiders play a double header against Bristol Pitbulls, with the Sunday Home Game being kids fro £2.

Followed Sunday evening from 8pm, with the Teams Meet the Players Christmas party at the Ivy Tree Restaurant, 113-117 South Street (5 minute walk from the Sapphire).

Lee Power from the Romford Recorder writes; 

Raiders will look to bring some Christmas cheer as they face Bristol Pitbulls in a National League double-header this weekend.

They travel to North Somerset on Saturday, before hosting a return meeting at Romford’s Sapphire Ice & Leisure Centre on Sunday (5.15pm).

And they do so having lost both matches in their double-header with high-flying Leeds Knights last weekend.

Bench coach Lewis Jones said: “Frustrating a little bit.

“I thought we played really well first two periods [on Saturday]. A good effort.

“Here [in Romford] we never got going in the first, fall behind.

“We’re going to go to work this week and hopefully bring it next week.”

Saturday’s match at Elland Road remained scoreless until just past the midway point when Shaun Miller put Raiders ahead.

But the hosts levelled just before the end of the middle session, then edged ahead with 11 minutes remaining before netting again to seal a 3-1 win.

“Tough to go to them and obviously to get on the board first is great,” added Jones.

“Tough to go to them and obviously to get on the board first is great,” added Jones.

“Going in 1-1 it could’ve gone either way and then we just kind of went a little bit flat final 10 and just struggled.

“I think we were short which didn’t help. Not going to use it as an excuse but it’s a tough night in the end.”

Miller picked up an injury which ruled him out of Sunday’s meeting, with Leeds moving two goals up inside 10 minutes.

Raiders player-coach Adam Laishram, deputising for Miller, was then handed a 5+game penalty for a check to the head and Leeds added a third soon after.

The visitors went 4-0 up at the midway mark, before losing Bailey Perre to a 5+game penalty for cross-checking.

And Andrew Shewfelt opened the Raiders account on another powerplay in the final period, after Leeds replaced starting goalie Sam Gospel with Harrison Walker, before Tjay Anderson added a second for the hosts.

Any hopes of a comeback were dashed, though, when Zach Yokoyama was binned for hooking and Leeds completed a 5-2 win while enjoying the man advantage.

Jones said: “The hit [by Laishram which led to a game misconduct], I’m not going to comment too much.

“That changes the game, 3-0 down, not happy with the first and we don’t play until the third period, which isn’t good enough from us.”

By Lee Power

@Recorder_Power

Sports editor

The club would like to announce that by mutual consent, Jacob Ranson has left the Romford Raiders.

The club would like to place on record, our sincere thanks for all of Jacob’s efforts over the many years he has pulled on the Romford jersey and we wish all the very best for the future.

Jacob Ranson has had 3 stints at the Romford Raiders over the last 11 years, totaling 324 competitive games.