Flames to play for 3rd / 4th place

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The Guildford Flames ice hockey club will have to settle for playing in Sunday’s 3rd/4th place game. In the 3rd period of the Playoff semi final, a pair of Belfast Giants goals helped them recover a 1-0 deficit and eliminate the Flames from Sunday’s championship final with a 2-1 win over Spectrum’s men.

The Giants had the better share of the opening period shot count with an 11-6 advantage, but the set closed without a goal thanks to Tyler Beskorowany in the Giants crease and Travis Fullerton guarding the Flames cage.

Just under 5 minutes into the 2nd, the Flames grabbed the starter when Ian Watters took a John Dunbar feed and snapped a high one for a lead they were able to nurse through the 40 minute mark.

Just as the game closed in on the last 10 minutes, the Giants squared it when Jonathan Ferland buried their 1st of the evening, and just under 5 minutes from time Patrick Dwyer disappointed all Flames backers when he gave them a lead they would not relinquish despite a late Flames powerplay.

“Nobody comes here to play in the 3rd/4th place final game,” conceded Paul Dixon, “so there is no doubt that we have a room full of heartbroken players.”

“Belfast is a great hockey team and once they got that goal to tie it they really stepped it up from there to go on to the win.”

“I said before this weekend that no matter what the outcome we look back on a really good season that the guys should be proud of. That doesn’t take any of the sting of what we are feeling now, but in time we can view our run this year as a great success.”