SLOUGH Jets are the National Ice Hockey League Division Two champions this season after a 7-1 win against Widnes Wild at the Coventry Skydome.
The Jets had already won the Wilkinson division title this year but they had never played Widnes, the Laidler division champions, before.
Both sides took their time to settle into the match before Slough opened the scoring at 16.41 through Sean Norris, a wonderful backhand finish into the top corner.
The Jets took control in the middle period and man-of-the-match Norris was at the centre of everything. The forward completed a hat-trick before the half-hour mark with a well-taken brace and tapped in a fourth at 37.09.
Widnes made it onto the scoreboard before the second break as Chriss Gee forced home from close range to reduce the arrears, but the Southern champions were having the better of the play.
An early Widnes powerplay in the third period could not stem the tide as Slough forced a turnover and player-coach Lukas Smital, pictured above, set up Norris for his own and the team’s fifth goal at 42.01.
The pace then slowed with the game seemingly decided, but there was still time for the Jets to add more goals with Luke Smital finding the top corner just like his Dad has done countless times.
Liam Underdown completed the scoring four minutes from time.
Captain Dan Rose collected the trophy and the Slough Jets celebrated their National Championship with their travelling fans.
Slough had earlier secured the Wilkinson division title following their 7-2 win at Peterborough Phantoms.
A goal from Norris gave them a narrow lead heading into the first break at the Planet Ice arena.
Peterborough equalised through Jordan Liddell, before goals from Norris and captain Rose but the Jets back in front.
The Phantoms levelled the scores again via Conor Pollard, but the visitors secured the points inside the final 10 minutes with a Timo Lindgren brace plus goals from Underdown and Lukas Smital.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here