BASINGSTOKE UK: The Bison completed their first championship winning season in 23 years, with a 5-4 victory on home ice over the Swindon Wildcats last weekend.
It has certainly been a long time coming with the Herd four times finishing in second spot in between their two championship wins.
“I think we have waited long enough for this and some of the guys on the teams were not born the last time this club won a championships. Doing at home in front of our own fans was extra special and we won’t forget this night in a hurry,” said Bison head coach Doug Sheppard.
However, the visitors failed to read the script early on as their super Swedish import Jonas Hoog scored twice in the final period for a 2-1 lead at the first buzzer, while Ciaran Long replied for the Bison.
Alan Lack then tied things up and man of the match Tomas Karpov who returned 2+3 on the night then scored to make it 3-2.
Hoog replied with his own hat-trick strike to keep things level, but goals from Long and Karpov made it 5-3.
Swindon still would not lie down and Adam Harding scored with 70 seconds left after the Wildcats pulled their goalie.
However, they were not to be denied victory and the celebration could start.
The previous night the Bison won 5-2 at Telford, who the Herd took the league crown away from.
Long scored the only goal of the first 20 minutes, but the Tigers roared back as Max Birbaer and Peter Szabo both scored.
The Bison then scored two quick goals late in the second session from Rene Jarolin and Joe Greener.
Ryan Watt added a fourth goal from distance, before Aaron Connolly’s empty netter wrapped up the victory.
This Sunday the Herd will pick up their trophy in their final regular season game against the Guildford Flames and then they will focus on making it a double success this season, when they start their quest to win the play-offs.
The match against Guildford will be the final regular season game for British forward Joe Greener, who has been a big part of the team’s offence since they joined the EPL.
The power forward, born in Basingstoke, is third highest British goal scorer and is now moving to America to take up a coaching position.
So the Bison want to make the night a celebration for one of their star players.
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