Manchester Phoenix 5 Basingstoke Bison 2

Manchester Phoenix claimed their second EPL league title after an epic, barnstorming encounter against Basingstoke Bison.

Phoenix came into the game knowing that a win by two goals or more would seal the title, but supporters’ nerves were jangling after Phoenix suffered a 2-0 defeat away at Swindon Wildcats on Saturday night, and the question was asked: could Phoenix retain their composure for a decisive 60 minutes and deliver the goods when faced with the only team that could snatch the title from them?

In the end, the answer was a resounding yes, as Phoenix and Bison tore into each other from the start, producing what was probably one of the most compelling, intense games seen at the Dome in recent years.

There was no respite for anyone on the ice as the first period flew by seemingly at a hundred miles an hour. After sustained pressure, James Archer gave Phoenix the lead on 12 minutes, but Andrew Melachrino equalised for Bison after 17 minutes.

Robert Schnabel fired Phoenix back into the lead on 29 minutes, and the anticipation rose even further when hot-shot Michal Psurny made it 3-1 on 35 minutes. Bison were not even slightly knocked by this, however, as they immediately struck back to reduce the arrears just 17 seconds later.

If Bison were at all tired as they approached the final period of their third game in a week, they showed no sign of it as they continued to pressure Phoenix in search of an equaliser, and they thought they had done it when they got the puck in the net on 43 minutes, only for it to be disallowed as the referee had already blown for an infringement.

Fans started to wonder if Phoenix would ever put clear daylight between themselves and valiant Bison, but it was Tony Hand, Phoenix’s talismanic leader who, like so many times over the past few years, was able to unlock just enough of a shooting channel to fire in a priceless fourth for Phoenix on 47 minutes.

Then came 13 unbelievably tense minutes as wave after wave of Bison attack crashed towards the Phoenix goal, forcing the defence to perform heroics and give a master class in defending a lead, while still proving dangerous on the break.

Bison pulled goalie Dean Skinns for the extra skater with just over a minute remaining, and as Phoenix fans finally started to believe as the clock ticked down the remaining seconds, Robin Kovar grabbed the puck on the Phoenix blue line and scooped it over the despairing Bison forwards, sending it down the ice and into the empty net with one second remaining as the atmosphere in the Dome exploded with joy and relief and the party started.

Phoenix conclude their league campaign next Sunday against Telford Tigers, starting at 5:30pm