Ben Paynter knows what it takes to win in the NIHL 1 South, and his hunger is no doubt shared by the rest of his Streatham Redhawks side.

The Streatham forward has been a mainstay in the success of the club since his return for a second spell in 2019, both as a player and, since 2022, a player/coach.

Streatham are coming off the back of a fourth successive division championship, and with a couple of cups and play-off titles in the trophy cabinet too, it’s no secret that players want to come and be part of their ongoing dynasty.

Ultimately, it is this winning mentality that attracts some of the top athletes in the sport, and aids the South London club’s pursuit of perfection.

“We’ve got a really good setup from the top down, and a group that wants to win,” Paynter told the NIHL.

“I sign players who want to win. From that point of view, it’s easy to recruit from a coaching perspective.

“We have a reputation as a place that people want to play at, and a club that wants to win. The group buys in, and they do the job on the ice.”

Photo credit: Blueline Photography

It is this winning mentality and drive to be the best that has been the catalyst for so much success at the club over recent years.

While Paynter’s side failed to add a play-off title to their league and double cup success last year, they have hit the ground running this time around.

The Redhawks find themselves two points off top spot in the NIHL 1 South, behind only Solent Devils who have played four games more.

Sunday’s 15-1 thrashing of Oxford City Stars means they have also scored a remarkable 99 goals in 11 games – a tally unmatched by any team across the four regional NIHL divisions.

On only three occasions during the 2023/24 regular season did Streatham fall to defeat in regulation time.

But, despite their sheer dominance, a coveted treble has only been achieved once, with Paynter keen to establish a ruthlessness synonymous with so many great sporting teams over the years.

“If you look at the past few seasons, the amount we’ve lost in the regular season has been minimal, but there are always teams who are just a few points behind us,” Paynter added.

“You can’t take games for granted in this league, so I drive the message home that if you lose one too many, you aren’t going to win a trophy.”

While the pressure is on Streatham to retain their trophies in an ever-improving division, Paynter believes that the challenge of fending off the sides around them has made his group of players hungrier and more determined than ever.

“When you’re at the top, you’ve got guys gunning for you, but we don’t want to give up our trophies.

“Every team is strengthening around us, and that gives us extra motivation to keep pushing on.”

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