Author: Graham Ford

Attention Foodies!

It’s coming this Saturday – get ready foodies! 🥳🥘

Come and have a Burrp! 🤭 at The BURRP! – Gastronomical London Food and Drinks Festival on the July 27th which invites one and all with a fantastic lineup on the day for families & friends to join for the whole day to spend your summer 🌮 brought to you by EELAssociation📍 and its members 🌈

Venue: Hainault Recreation Ground, Ilford IG6 3HX
Timings: 11AM to 8PM

Free entry for the event to attend with one and all for the day – visit eelassociation.com for more details and free tickets 🍔

Festival Lineup on the day includes:

🍟 Delicious multi-cuisine food stalls

🧋 Fabulous range of summer drinks

👨‍🍳 Chef food demo and master classes

🎡 Kids entertainment and fun fair rides for all ages

‍️🏃Activity and Fitness Zone for Families

⛱️ Seating Areas and Chill-out Zones – BYO chairs and mats

🥳 Festival music and entertainment 💃🕺

Tommy Hugget Returns

After a season split between Invicta Dynamos and the Chelmsford Chieftains, 22 year old Tommy Huggett returns to the Sapphire to resume his career with the Romford Raiders.
Tommy made his Raiders debut in season 2018-19, making 154 appearances to date, scoring 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points.

In addition Tommy has made 56 appearances for Raiders 2/Buccaneers scoring 53 goals and 59 assists for 112 points (second in team all time figures)

Welcome back Tommy to the Romford Raiders.

Tomalin Back Full Time

The Romford Raiders are delighted to announce that Joe Tomalin has signed a full time contract for the forthcoming season! The Tomalin name is a familiar one to the fans, as Joe follows the footsteps of his father, Raiders legend Richard Tomalin! After a successful first season in senior hockey, Joe continues to pave his way at the club and we are looking forward to welcoming him back to the Sapphire.

Joe who represented Great Britain in last seasons under 18 world championship, made 25 appearances for the Romford Raiders scoring three goals and four assists for seven points. In addition, Joe made 29 appearances for the Buccaneers, scoring at almost a point a game, with 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points.

PINIHL 2024/25 Update

Planet Ice NIHL National Division Ice Hockey League 2024/25 Season Update

The Planet Ice NIHL National Division Ice Hockey League is pleased to announce significant organisational updates and improvements for the 2024/25 season. Our continued affiliation with England Ice Hockey (EIH) remains a cornerstone of our commitment to the sport, and we are excited to share the enhancements that will strengthen the league and its operations.

Enhanced Collaboration with England Ice Hockey

Building on our strong partnership with EIH, we are implementing more structured ways of working and defined service levels between the Planet Ice NIHL National Division and EIH. This initiative aims to streamline processes, enhance communication, and ensure a higher standard of operational excellence across all facets of the league.

New Operational Structure

To better manage the league’s operations and promotion, the Planet Ice NIHL National Division has established a dedicated company where all participating teams are equal shareholders. This new entity will be responsible for organising and running the league, ensuring a collaborative approach where every team has an equal voice and stake in the league’s success.

Financial Commitment from Teams

All teams within the Planet Ice NIHL National Division have committed to investing financially into the newly established company. This investment is crucial for the sustainable management and growth of the league, allowing us to deliver a superior experience for players, teams, and fans alike.

Introduction of a New Game Management System

In a move to modernise and enhance our league management, the Planet Ice NIHL National Division will be adopting a new game management system and website. This platform will be pivotal in running fixtures, providing comprehensive statistics, and offering up-to-date league information. The new system aims to improve the overall fan experience and streamline league operations.

Department of Player Safety

The Department of Player Safety will continue to be managed by EIH, ensuring consistency and fairness in the application of safety standards. However, we are currently engaged in a joint shaping and consultation process with EIH to refine the system of tariffs, mandatory suspensions, and review processes. This collaborative effort is designed to create a more efficient and transparent framework for player safety and disciplinary actions.

We are confident that these updates will not only enhance the operational efficiency of the Planet Ice NIHL National Division but also contribute to the growth and popularity of ice hockey in our community. We look forward to an exciting and successful 2024/25 season.

Shewfelt Signs

Romford Raiders are delighted to announce that Andrew Shewfelt who hails from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada has agreed to join Raiders as their third NBT for the forthcoming season.


Andrew is a 28 year old forward who joins from French 2 team Meudon, where he made 27 appearances scoring 17 goals and 14 assists for 31 points last season.


Andrew has several years experience in professional leagues in North America, playing in ECHL where he made a total of 55 appearances scoring six goals and 5 assists for 11 points for Wichita Thunder and Tulsa Oilers; and 61 appearances in SPHL for Pensacola Ice Flyers and Evansville Thunderbolts where he scored 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points.


Andrew also played in USports for Dalhousie University (same as new team mate Shaun Miller) where he made 90 appearances scoring 20 goals and 26 assists for 46 points.

“I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to join the Raiders this season and I’m very excited to get things started at the Sapphire in September.

I have heard a lot of great things about the team, the fans, and the city, so it was an easy decision to sign with the club.

I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and working together towards a successful season.”