Champions again.
The Southern Stampede confirmed their status as the kings of New Zealand ice hockey with a sweep of the Botany Swarm in the national league finals in Queenstown at the weekend.
A 6-5 thriller on Friday night was followed by a more clear-cut 5-2 win on Saturday night that led to the loyal home fans erupting in joy.
The Stampede lifted the Birgel Cup for a third straight season, and the eighth time overall.
Lachlan Frear gave the Stampede the lead in game two, assisted by Brendan Walkom and Colin McIntosh, before the Swarm equalised on the power play.
McIntosh then scored his own power play goal to make it 2-1 after the first period.
Mitchell Frear’s goal made it 3-1 early in the second period before a messy stretch of the game that included a bunch of penalties and some rough play, and the Swarm pulling a goal back.
Walkom, on the power play, and McIntosh scored in the third period to seal victory for the Stampede.
Aston Brookes had a nice night out for the home team, saving 33 of the 35 shots on his goal.
The Swarm had led 1-0 before McIntosh banged in two goals, and a late Swarm goal tied the game heading into the second period.
Walkom and McIntosh continued their exceptional form with a goal apiece to make it 4-2, and after the Swarm pulled one back, Lachlan Frear made it 5-3 on the power play.
It was advantage Stampede but the Swarm dominated the end of the second period to make it 5-5.
Jeff Solow came up with the only goal in a niggly final period to seal a tense win for the Stampede.
Solow also had four assists in the game, while both McIntosh and Walkom had three assists.
Grace Harrison made history for the Swarm as she became the first female to play in an NZIHL final.
McIntosh was named finals MVP, while Swarm star Petr Stepanek was named league MVP.
Solow (best defenceman), Walkom (leading points) and Joel Hasselman (best goaltender) picked up awards for the Stampede.
