CARL Greenhous, player-coach of the Gillingham based Invicta Dynamos ice hockey team, believes one reason why the team is struggling to attract new signings is because the Ice Bowl is "an embarrassment to hockey".

After Sunday's 4-3 defeat to Swindon Lynx in the English National Premier League Shield the big Canadian admitted his side needs strengthening.

He said: “Lack of depth is our Achilles heel at the moment. We are looking to remedy the problem, but it's not as simple as it seems to sign new players with the current state affairs at this ice pad. Our rink is an embarrassment to hockey.”

The frustrated player coach said on the club's official website: “We have made overtures to several players but the truth is that it is hard to lure players away and have them sign with the Dynamos.

“Geographically we are isolated from traditional hotbeds of players, and since the quality of player we seek tends to be more experienced and older they often have family, careers and homes that they will not leave for the kind of money paid to ENPL players.

“The sad state of the Ice Bowl and the ice pad itself does not help in the recruitment of players. That said, we will not stop the search for new players and I hope that we can make a new signing or signings for the stretch run.”

The short roster has been made worse with the news that Paul Hume cracked his wrist and Duane Ward picked up a groin strain in the Swindon game. Neither trained this week, although Ward is expected to play in Sunday's game against Romford.

Carl Ambler and Stuart Low will pit their wits against their old team-mates, although former-Mo Samuli Mykkanen will not make a return after being released by the Raiders.

Greenhous said: “The team is not connecting on the ice like it was a few weeks ago. We'll have to consider shuffling the lines. On paper our first line looks as strong as any in the league but it's just not happening.

“Our second line has performed well so far this year, but when compared to the second lines of Swindon and Milton Keynes it is the consistency of play that sets them and us apart.”

He continued: “There are a few areas of our game that we need to work on, like our powerplay efficiency and the fact we're not converting enough chances.

“We're squandering opportunities because of bad shots and poor decision making and the powerplay is always the last thing to fall into piece so its back to the chalkboard and more practice.”