SHEFFIELD LASERS won the annual Swindon Junior Ice Hockey Club Under 12 International tournament for the third time.
Staged at the Link Centre over the three-day Bank Holiday period the English Under 12 play-off runners-up and Northern Champions added another trophy to their impressive haul this season.
In the one-sided 30 minute final, Sheffield, previous winners in 2003 and 2004, hammered Guildford Fireflies 6-1 with a devasting second period burst to lift the prestigious George White Superbike Centres Trophy.
Guildford, winners of the tournament in 2002, actual drew first blood in the 2006 final scoring after only 58 seconds when Brendan Perlini capitalised as Lasers failed to clear a bobbling puck in front of their goal.
Fireflies continued to press but could not find a way past Lasers' in-form young netminder Bradley Day.
Sheffield regrouped after the shock of an early goal and deservedly drew level at 4.46 as Elliott Knell's persistence paid-off in front of goal as he forced the puck over the line.
Despite several chances at each end of the ice neither side were able to score again in the first period and went into the break tied at one each.
If the first period was tight the second was completely one-way traffic as Guildford were blown away in the opening minute after the re-start.
Lasers struck after 16 seconds as Tom Proctor fired a shot from the blueline that went in off a post. And 31 seconds later Patrick Russell was picking the puck out of his net again as Sam Towner deflected a shot past him.
Sheffield continued to call the tune and added two powerplay goals through Proctor (21.41) and Jack Spotwood (29.52) with Spotwood also netting at 25.47 to seal a resounding victory.
In the semi-finals Sheffield had to work hard. They trailed 2-0 at the first break to impressive Czech Republic side Balina but fought back netting three times in the second 15 minutes for a 3-2 success and clinch a place in the final once more.
Swindon Jaguars had already beaten Guildford twice in the English Under 12 League campaign but missed out to them on this occasion in the second semi-final.
The scores were tied at 0-0 after normal time and overtime but Fireflies went forward to the final 2-0 in the penalty shoot-out.
Jaguars then suffered again as they were comprehensively beaten 5-0 by Balina in the play-off for third and fourth places.
Swindon were unable to contain the brilliant Jakub Sramek who netted a hat-trick and was a worthy winner of the Player of the Tournament Trophy.
Sheffield only the third English side to win the tournament in its ten season history received the trophy from Gary Vardy of George White.
The three-day tournament was officially opened on Saturday afternoon by the Mayor of Swindon Cllr Mike Bawden, who welcomed the 10 teams from six different countries Czech Republic, France, Belgium, Scotland, Denmark and England to the Link Centre for this year's tournament which proved once more to be a tremendous success and was well attended.
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