News Article | 21st April 2007 » Spartans beat the big freeze - and the Islanders!

This weekend saw the ENL Sheffield Spartans come through what many thought would prove an impossible task, to beat the Flintshire Freeze on Saturday night at ice Sheffield, a task they had to do by more than two goals to reach the ENL Cup Final at Peterborough on Sunday night where the winners of the above game would play the home team, the Peterborough Islanders.

Against a very experienced Flintshire side on Saturday, the game started poorly and the Spartans found themselves two down early in the game. As has happened on numerous occasions this season, this only spurred this young team on and they turned in a performance that belied their tender years and inspired by dominant performances throughout the team in both defence and attack, ran out convincing winners by 7 goals to three. This performance in the face of severe intimidation tactics from Flintshire, showed to all who have underestimated the team this year what potential they have.

Sunday saw the Spartans travel to Peterborough to take on the home team AND a partisan home crowd in the now one legged final. Again the Spartans fell behind; again they dug deep and against a bigger, older more physical team drew level, then went behind again and dragged themselves level and then went in front in a second period they almost totally dominated.

In a true team performance they worked so hard for each other, each inspired by the performance of their team mates, young and older alike. They took the game to Peterborough in the last period and extended their lead.

Peterborough clawed a goal back on a 5 on 3 power play 2 minutes from the end, but the young underestimated Spartans held firm and held out to claim their second trophy in the last two weeks, a result which seemed to stun their opponents and crowd alike.

Fine performances this season have seen this team claim two trophies, but as importantly shown what potential there is in Sheffield. All this team are home grown players who have come through or are still in the junior development programme. This season has seen teams at every age group reach national play off finals. This is now extended to the ENL Spartans and the EPL Scimitars. A true reflection of what if handled correctly bodes well for the future of ice hockey in Sheffield.

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