Tigers Head Coach Tom Watkins will target a triple crown of English Premier League Trophies, after his side won their first title in 27 years.
Saturday’s 5-4 victory over Peterborough Phantoms confirmed Telford’s status as champions, with last night’s 7-1 win at home to Basingstoke taking on the form of a title celebration.
The Tigers must now prepare for next month’s British Challenge Cup final encounter with Manchester Phoenix, before rounding off the season with the play-offs at Coventry.
Both trophies remain well within Telford’s reach and Watkins believes his side can secure an historic treble.
He said: “I am sure it will sink in eventually, but at the moment it is just a fantastic feeling. It has been building up all week, so I am really pleased that we took the league with a win.
“A couple of the players have said this is the first of three trophies, and that is very much where we are at the moment.”
“It’s been five years of really hard work and I’m really happy for the guys who were here in the trust years, like Scott McKenzie ad Nathan Salem.
“They’ve all raised their game and that is what this club is all about.”
McKenzie was Telford’s top forward in Peterborough with two goals, while Peter Szabo, Joe Miller and Nathan Salem also chipped in with crucial strikes.
On Sunday, meanwhile, Joe Miller (2), Danny Rose, McKenzie, Dan Davies, Peter Szabo and Nathan Salem were the scorers, amid a party atmosphere at Telford Ice Rink.
Watkins added: “It’s more a feeling of a relief at the moment, rather than elation. It is great to see the boys celebrating, and that is what I like to see.
“They’ve worked really hard to get here and have had a lot of pressure this year. The one thing we do as a team is work hard and if we do that every night, we’ll be very hard to beat.”
The Tigers return to action next weekend, when they host Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday night, while Sheffield Steeldogs are the visitors on Sunday.
Tigers owner Wayne Scholes confessed to feeling “a bit dreamy” after watching his side the English Premier League title.
The Red Hockey CEO was the team’s stick boy when they last won a league title in 1988, and returned in 2013 to help with the rebuilding process.
That growth took another step forward on Saturday with a 5-4 success at Bretton Road, giving Telford an unassailable lead at the top of the standings.
And they topped that off with a 7-1 win at home to Basingstoke Bison last night.
But with a month of the season left to play, Scholes expects the club’s title victory to take some time to sink in.
He said: “I am honestly ecstatic and it’s all a bit dreamy, in the sense that I’m not completely certain of where we are. It’s that definite feeling that you’re ecstatic about it and you feel excited about the win.
“But the reality is that there is still more of the season left to play. We want to enjoy the moment, but we know there are two more cups we want to win.
“It feels a little bit like a dream, after 27 years. I was the stick boy the last time and I remember that vividly. So to be here tonight is just a fabulous experience.”
Tigers star Scott McKenzie said he “wouldn’t want to win the title anywhere else” after his side rounded off their EPL title weekend with victory over Basingstoke Bison.
Sunday’s 7-1 win was played amid a party atmosphere at Telford Ice Rink, as supporters marked the club’s first league championship in 27 years.
McKenzie has been a virtual ever-present since joining The Tigers in 2009 and believes those early struggles have made this year’s success extra special.
He said: “It is just unbelievable and this is a massive year for everyone here at the club. It is quite emotional for me, after being here for five years.
“To win the EPL here in Telford is fantastic. I wouldn’t want to win the title anywhere else and this is my home.
“I will let it all sink in, go for a few beers with the boys, hit the town and make sure we all enjoy ourselves.”
Saturday night saw Telford confirm their status as English Premier League champions with a 5-4 victory over Peterborough Phantoms.
McKenzie was Telford’s top forward in that game with two goals, while Peter Szabo, Joe Miller and Nathan Salem also chipped in with crucial strikes.
On Sunday Joe Miller (2), Danny Rose, McKenzie and Dan Davies were the scorers.
Tigers captain Jason Silverthorn, meanwhile, paid tribute to his side’s hard work in finally collecting that elusive league title.
He said: “It feels really good and this is the culmination of all the boys’ efforts so far this season. This is the pay-off for the hard work we’ve put in.
“It’s great for all the guys to win and finish at the top of the league. But it’s also a special achievement for those who have been here for a long time.”
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