Former Cardiff Devils players Scott Hotham and Justin Sawyer have won the 110th Allan Cup with Stoney Creek Generals.
Scott and his brother Andrew, a key player in Cardiff’s Elite League championship team this season, played together for Devils last season, while Justin came to South Wales in 2010-11.
Now two two defenceman are playing in Stoney Creek, a community on the south shore of Lake Ontario near Hamilton.
Generals won the trophy thanks to a 7-4 victory against Lacombe Generals in Rosetown, Saskatchewan.
“This means the world to me,” said head coach Bryan Hamm. “I’ve never wanted anything more in my life. This is the most amazing group of guys I’ve ever been a part of. They deserved it.”
The Allan Cup, Canada’s National Senior Championship, is one of the oldest club hockey competitions in North America, having been first competed for in 1908.
“It’s a lot of work to get here – the last couple years, we fell way short – and this year we finally came through with a well-deserved effort,” said captain Sean Blanchard.
Lacombe, who have appeared in nine Allan Cup finals since 2008 and earned three titles, fought back from 3-1 down to make it 3-3, but Stoney Creek scored four goals during the final period.
Three Devils players were in the Great Britain team for their challenge match against Lithuania in Milton Keynes on Saturday evening.
GREAT BRITAIN ICE HOCKEY
A three-goal third period fightback saw Lithuania beat Great Britain 3-2 during the first of two international challenge matches between the two teams this weekend.
GB made six scratches for the night from their 28-man training camp roster, with Cardiff goaltender Thomas Murdy, Jeremy Lundin, Zach Sullivan, Ben Davies, Ciaran Long and Ross Venus missing out, while Lithuania included former NHL stars Dainius Zubrus and Darius Kasparaitis.
Robert Farmer scored for GB after good work by Dowd, while Mike Hammond scored the second after he pounced first on a loose puck after an awkward bounce off the backboards.
Bowns produced a top-class pad save from Edgar Rybakov’s shot from the slot and GB led 2-0 after two periods.
Lithuania closed the gap to one when Emilijus Krakauskas tipped in a shot from the point after a spell of sustained pressure and Povilas Verenis tied the game at 2-2.
The game-winning goal was scored by Mark Kaleinikovas, who buried the puck past Bowns from the left circle.
“It is never nice to lose, but I saw positive things out there,” said head coach Peter Russell. “These games are all about preparing for the World Championship and Lithuania gave us a great test.
“We started well, controlled the second period and really should have put the game to bed.
“Credit to Lithuania, who came right back at us in the third period. We just need to keep the same intensity throughout the game.
“I’d like to the thank the support for the boys tonight. To see and hear this barn full supporting Great Britain was amazing.”