Phantoms 9, Telford 1 - Phantoms end on a high note
English Premier League
English Premier LeagueTELFORD Tigers played their role as sacrificial lambs to perfection last night as Phantoms brought their championship winning campaign to a compelling conclusion.
Despite the English Premier League title having been won the week before, Colin Patterson's side were determined to put on a show for their adoring public.
And no-one among another packed house at the Peterborough Arena went home disappointed as their double winners turned on the style.
With the league championship trophy waiting to be presented, Phantoms delivered the kind of performance against Tigers which showed why, over a gruelling season, they are such fitting recipients.
Such was their crushing superiority that all memories of a lacklustre performance in Milton Keynes 24 hours earlier were banished on a night when Phantoms were always going to win - and win well.
Two goals for the awesome Brent Gough and one each for Nathan Rempel, James Hutchinson, Shaun Yardley, Adam Reynolds, Craig Peacock, Callum Fowler and Andy Munroe saw that part of the job comfortably fulfilled.
And after the dust had cleared following another demolition job at Bretton HQ and both the league and EPL Cup trophies were being paraded, there was even a chance for the players to play a little joke on the man who has played such a huge role in making it all happen.
Ice hockey special report:
Peterborough Phantoms: 2009 treble winners
James Westgate relives the Phantoms' all-conquering 2009 season.
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As Patterson made his way to join his jubillant players and staff in their celebrations, top scorer Rempel and skipper Lewis Buckman decided to douse the Canadian with an enormous barrel of water.
It was a moment which could have gone badly for the pair in any other circumstances but last night even the arch disciplinarian himself could see the funny side.
He said: "At my age I really shouldn't be getting buckets of water chucked over me but I should have been expecting it - it is just as well I didn't have my flat cap on at the time as it would have been ruined.
"But the guys deserved their fun, each and everyone of them has been superb this season. They have given me everything in every game and while it has not always been easy they have found a way to make this happen.
"For me it was important to make sure we put on a show tonight for the fans who have supported us all season. They have been terrific."
And it was a night which got off to the perfect start when Gough smashed in the opener after just 18 seconds.
It was the quickest goal Phantoms have scored all season, but after Marek Hornak equalised, the baying home crowd were forced to wait until the end of the first period for their side to add another.
With a powerplay advantage, Gough worked himself just enough space to fire across goal for Rempel who lashed in a first time drive of such ferocity that it is doubtful Tigers' netminder Davey Lawrence even saw it.
Going into the second period with just a single goal lead, Phantoms soon made sure their party would not be spoiled by burying their opponents under a veritable avalanche of goals.
First James Hutchinson lifted his drive past Lawrence then Yardley nipped in to make it 4-1 as the shots began to rain down on the visitors goal.
On 27 minutes Adam Reynolds finished off James Spurr pass from behind the goal before Gough dug out the puck for number six following Dwayne Newman's pass into the slot.
Having notched an astonishing 27 shots in the middle act, Phantoms merely continued where they left off in the last twenty with Peacock and Fowler both lighting the lamp before Munroe banged in a rare goal from the blue line to complete the scoring as the champions swaggered to the final buzzer.
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Saturday 20 March 2010
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