Three consecutive championships is a rare milestone and the Sharks now want to accomplish that feat in local ball hockey.
The Sharks hoisted the cup for the second straight season at Kings Sports Centre. The white and blue crew beat the Barracudas 4-1 in the Cayman Islands Ball Hockey Association 2011-2012 Fall league final.
South Sound resident Derek Bruce, 37, was the hero with a pair of late goals. The winger states his Sharks are set to bite again.
“Am I thinking a three-peat? How can you not?” Bruce said. “At the start of last season, the sceptics said we got lucky to win. We came with an aim to win again so clearly it is not luck now, just talent.
“A second straight win is a little more satisfying. We had our core players from the last season, for example defenceman Robert Mahadeo (who I used to play with in Bermuda). I feel we can keep our winning ways going.”
The Sharks’ triumph is the latest chapter in a solid 12-month run. The side has played in three straight championship games, losing to the now defunct BDO Pirates last January before beating the Pirates in June.
A man with an interesting perspective on the titles is Jan-Michael Maw, a former Pirates player. He scored the first goal of this month’s title game and states a three-peat is very possible.
“I won with the Pirates last year so it has been three straight finals for me,” Maw said. “I’ve had one other finals appearance, about two years ago. It’s interesting and it feels good no matter what, as long as I end up playing on the winning team. I’m always glad when I get to beat (Barracudas captain Darryl) Hather, in everything.
“I feel good about this team, we got better as the season went on. Everyone is confident with each other. For example, our goalie Shawn Lunt was off-island prior to the final but he had big stops and one goal didn’t faze him as he kept playing strong.
“It will be tough on other teams to beat us in many games. There’s a good chance we’ll be on top in the season, head into the playoffs as the number one seed and win in the playoffs again.”
The Spring 2012 season started last Thursday with games continuing until late May. A double-header is slated for this Thursday, 2 February, with the Sharks among the four teams in action at 8pm and 9pm.
It will be interesting to see if this season ends up as compelling as the last. Behind the likes of Marty Tammemagi and Jean-Philippe Valiquette, the Sharks had a 7-5 record and a third seed heading into the playoffs. They were part of a three-way tie with Jamie Lyons’ Coconut Joes and Rob Seward’s Barracudas, who were the regular season champions.
Goalie Randy Cannon, 27, feels his Barracudas can make it back to the title game. The native of Prince Edward Island in Canada even likes his side’s chances.
“We had a chance to win and we can be back in the finals,” Cannon said. “We were number one in the season and we were a defensive team. A few more blocks or goals and we can be back. I’d take the re-match.”
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