Welsh defenceman Callum Buglass helped Peterborough Phantoms earn their second trophy of 2018-19.

Buglass, a 23-year-old from Caerphilly, played a key role for Phantoms in their 6-5 aggregate win against Basingstoke Bison in the Southern Cup final.

Peterborough had already won the National Hockey League Autumn Trophy this season, beating Sheffield Steeldogs 6-5 over two matches (4-3 and 2-2).

Corey McEwen, the son of former Cardiff Devils and Peterborough player Doug, is also in the Phantoms team.

He spent his junior career in Peterborough, before the McEwen family moved to back Canada, Doug’s native country.

Former Swindon and Telford forward Corey, a 25-year-old British player, was keen to wear #7 for Phantoms, but that number hangs above the ice in Cardiff and Peterborough.

Both clubs retired that shirt in honour of Corey’s dad, Doug.

“I’m excited to wear the Phantoms jersey,” says Corey. “I grew up in Peterborough, watched the Pirates and Phantoms while my dad played and coached. It’s home for me!”

6:42 GOAL PHANTOMS (PP 2-0 SR): #71 Corey McEwen / #77 Martins Susters (EHG) #PPvSR pic.twitter.com/z78SamSIsz

— The Waldeck Peterborough Phantoms (@GoPhantoms) March 17, 2019

Buglass came through Cardiff’s youth development system and played Elite League hockey for Devils, while he also had spells with Swindon Wildcats and now plays for Peterborough.

He was in the Great Britain team when they won gold at the World Under-20 Championships.

Buglass and McEwen both played for Phantoms in their 4-4 tie against Ashley Tait’s Basingstoke in the Southern Cup final. That was enough to hand Peterborough the trophy over two legs, having won the first game 2-1.

Basingstoke scored an empty net goal with 40 seconds left in the second leg and ensured a tense finish, but Phantoms held on. They clinched cup success after coming back from two goals behind twice in this battle and clinch a second piece of silverware this season.

Peterborough also won the Autumn Cup earlier this season, beating Sheffield Steeldogs 6-5 on aggregate (2-2 and 4-3).

Remarkably, both Southern and Autumn finals finished with the same aggregate score, Peterborough Phantoms drawing the first leg 2-2 and winning the second 4-3.

Tom Norton, Will Weldon, Petr Stepanek and Glenn Billing scored Phantoms’ second leg goals to win the Autumn Cup.

Cam Brownley, Duncan Speirs and Cam Brownley were the Sheffield scorers.

Men of the match were the netminders, Scottish goalie Jordan Marr (Phantoms) and Russian Dimitri Zimozdra (Steeldogs).

Swindon Wildcats won the NIHL South One title, finishing ahead of second-placed Peterborough.

Toms Rutkis, who is on a two-way contract with Wildcats and Devils, helped Wildcats win the championship. Former Devils players Chris Jones, Max Birbraer and goaltender Michael Crisp also play for Swindon.

National Ice Hockey League, South One play-off quarter-final fixtures:

First legs (Saturday, March 23: Streatham v Basingstoke Bison (5.30pm); MK Thunder v Peterborough Phantoms (7pm); Swindon Wildcats v Invicta Dynamos (6.15pm); Romford Raiders v Bracknell Bees (5.15pm).

Second left (Sunday, March 24): Basingstoke Bison v Streatham; Peterborough Phantoms v MK Thunder (5.30pm); Invicta Dynamos v Swindon Wildcats (5.15pm); Bracknell Bees v Romford Raiders (6pm).

National Ice Hockey League structure for 2019-20

The English Ice Hockey Association have announced a new structure the NIHL 2019-20.

At a meeting of NIHL clubs in Warwickshire the creation of a new 10-team division was approved to sit above the existing Division One in North and South.

The new National League will comprise Basingstoke Bison, Bracknell Bees, Hull Pirates, Leeds, MK Lightning, Peterborough Phantoms, Raiders, Sheffield Steeldogs, Swindon Wildcats and Telford Tigers.

Cardiff Fire will continue to play in NIHL South Two.

South Division One: Invicta Dynamos, MK Thunder, Streatham, Chelmsford Chieftains, Solent Devils, Slough Jets, Oxford City Stars, Bracknell Hornets, Raiders Juniors. A tenth team is to be confirmed.

North Division One: Solway Sharks, Whitley Warriors, Solihull Barons, Sutton Sting, Blackburn Hawks, Billingham Stars, Nottingham Lions. An eighth team is to be confirmed.

South Division Two: Guildford Phoenix, Bristol Pitbulls, Cardiff Fire, Peterborough Phantoms 2, Haringey Huskies, Invicta Mustangs, Basingstoke Buffalo, Swindon Wildcats 2, Lee Valley Lions, Solent 2, Streatham 2.

North Division Two: Widnes Wild, Hull Jets, Sheffield Senators, Bradford Bulldogs, Coventry Blaze, Dragons, Altrincham Aces, Blackburn Hawks 2, Telford Tigers 2.

English Ice Hockey Association – South One

			P	W	OW	OL	L	PIM	F	A	Pts
1		Swindon Wildcats	42	31	1	3	7	646	184	97	67
2		Peterborough Phantoms	42	24	4	6	8	536	176	110	62
3		Basingstoke Bison	42	21	8	3	10	722	161	106	61
4		Bracknell Bees	42	22	2	7	11	722	155	126	55
5		Raiders	42	21	2	2	17	847	167	151	48
6		Streatham	42	14	4	3	21	665	144	154	39
7		Milton Keynes Thunder	42	8	2	1	31	622	102	179	21
8		Invicta Dynamos	42	2	2	0	38	810	66	232	8