The Final table does not give a true reflection of many of the games played in the series, which were hard fought and quite close. The Norwegian League teams were hampered due to call-ups to their National Squad but despite that, were able to ice some very skilful players, which the ISL teams had to contain through hard work, grit and determination.

Commented Steinar Froysa, (President of the Norwegian Elite League), �All the Norwegian teams have enjoyed their visit to the UK, the hospitality of the home clubs and the games themselves. We played well, but overall you were better. We want to come back again in the future and look forward to that sometime. All our teams will take away happy memories of this tournament.�

Added Brian Storey, (Chief Administration Officer of ISL), �The Ahearne Trophy is now well established, once again, as a club tournament that attracts the best in entertainment with foreign team involvement. Everyone involved has had a good time and I would like to thank everyone at the host clubs for their hard work in putting the tournament together, and the players for giving us all the thrills and spills.�

Following the last game in the series, the Ahearne Trophy was presented on Sunday (9.2.03) by Albert Maasland, Chairman of ISL, to Ian McIntyre, Captain of London Knights on behalf of the Ice Hockey Superleague.

Note:
Last year (2002), the Ahearne Trophy was won by the German Ice Hockey League.

The 26 year old Canadian played his first game on Saturday evening against Norwegian team Valerenga, after 12 weeks out with a serious elbow infection which required surgery last November. After a fall in the first period, Gosselin left the ice for treatment from the team physio and doctor but was unable to return. Gosselin�s consultant orthopaedic surgeon this afternoon confirmed that the tendon is ruptured and will need surgical repair.

Following a well publicised incident that occurred recently, and the subsequent finding of the ISL Disciplinary Committee that there was �no case to answer�, an internal review of the processes of the Committee has been carried out.

Whilst everyone who has seen the incident live or on TV will have a point of view as to what occurred it is apparent that the disciplinary process is not working as anticipated and required change.

With immediate effect, the ISL Disciplinary Committee will be comprised of a total of three persons, with ISL Officials Manager, Andy French joining the Committee plus one other, yet to be identified.

Brian Storey, Chief Administration Officer of ISL stated, �As CAO, I bear the ultimate responsibility for all decisions taken on behalf of the league and like all processes of a sporting organisation, it is essential that the disciplinary process has the confidence of all those involved so that decisions taken can be seen to be consistent with previous cases and meaningful. The change will delay decisions. Whereas up to now we have been able to deal with 90% of them within one week of the incident, it follows that consultation between the three members will cause that time to be extended, in most cases into a second week. ISL will continue to have special arrangements to cover the final week of the playing season and the Play Off Finals in April.�

For the avoidance of doubt, the decisions of the Disciplinary Committee taken to date, stand.

The Tigers took the lead on the powerplay at 08.15 when Kivenmaki scored.The Bees continued to pressure and whilst shorthanded Ceman opened the Bees account poking the puck home at 10.59. Both teams have traded penalties and this has been a fast opening twenty minutes.

The second was as fast paced as the first with some great plays. Both teams traded penalties but this in no way reflected a game at a pace the Bees could cope with. The Bees managed to put themselves into the lead at 32.20 with a shorthanded effort from Arkiomaa.

The Bees extended their lead within a minute of the restart with Arkiomaa working the puck and putting it into the net at 41.42. The Bees then seemed to score again at 43.29 when Kirton dipsy doodled the puck around the defense and shot the puck home. The Tigers got straight back on it and played some creative hockey that confused the Bees and got a goal back at 56.16. But it was short lived the Bees crashed the net and scored again coming out the winners in this one. Arkiomaa deserved the man of the match award with some excellent team and individual play.

Attendance: 1324
Man of Match for Bracknell Bees: Tero ARKIOMAA
Man of Match for Frisk/Asker Tigers: Rene Sethereng

Knights missing A J Kelham, Jeff Hoad and Paul Rushforth. Valerengen lineup including three guest players as ten of their squad on national team duty.

Valerengen took the lead as Morten Fjeld scored what was a hotly disputed strike, Knights appealing it was kicked in. A fight infront of the visitors bench saw five players sin binned including a ten minute against Greg Burke. Knights levelled the score as Aronson picked up the puck behind the goal skated to the front of the net and put the puck in the back of the net . Vezio Sacratini received a misconduct following a face off at 15.01. Valerengen retook the lead as Petter Syversen scored with just under four minutes remaining.

Knights outshot 10-4 in period two still managed to score the only goal. A terrific strike from Ian McIntyre who picked up the puck in the centre circle took it route one to level with the top of the face off circle before shooting.

The third period had an increased tempo with both sides having good chances. Ceesey hit the underside of the crossbar at 52.10. The winner came from a Blanchard shot with the keeper screened with a crowd of players infront of him. Valerengen took the keeper off at 58.17 came back at 58.54 and then went off at 59.04 for good.

Man of Match for London Knights: Ian McINTYRE
Man of Match for Valerengen Vikings: Tommy Lund

Steelers skate to a comfortable win, thanks to their speed and solid netminding from both their goalies. Only Svendsberget really tested Laing when he arrived mid-slot and Laing froze the puck after a scramble. Norris arrived right and found the open net. Simpson gained possession and skated away to net top right of Ostberg. Brebant retaliated for his penalty and his angry protests earned him his misconduct.

With Prior in goal after the first interval, Sheffield broke down the left and Captain Laniel rifled a 5 hole fourth. Soon after Storhamer changed their netminder but both made some good stops despite coming in cold. Ahlund, Kirkebye and Tjallden all tested Prior but the pick of the stops came from Saxrud with a shot from close in on the left. Levins and Sessa both drove the net to no avail with Livf finding Prior's glove. Good vision from Fraser set up Levins and his shot screamed in from the right for the fourth.

Svendsberget and Brebant exchanged shots after the second interval, before indiscipline gave Sheffield a 5-on-3 play and a sweet passing move ended with a simple tap in from Brebant. Storhamer never gave up and Arntsen rounded off a neat move skating in close to stickhandle past Prior. But with both Bjornseth and Prior in fine form, that rounded out the scoring.

Attendance: 3083
Man of Match for Sheffield Steelers: Iain Fraser
Man of Match for Storhamar Dragons: Magnus Moe Bjornseth

Shane Johnson shot the Superleague leaders ahead with a blastfrom the blueline after good work from Kevin Riehl and Todd Kelman created the shooting space. It then became 2-0 a minute later when Colin Ward made up for an earlier miss with yet another cracking goal after neat play from Riehl and Paxton Schulte. The third wasn't long in following as Kelman playing a forward role instead of his usual defence shot home right in front of net after a shot from Rob Stewart was saved by Vidar Wold.

The Frisk Tigers started to show why their the third best team in Norway with some entertaining hockey at the start of the second period. They pulled a goal back on 21.04 when Stig Vesterheim shot home a rebound after Ryder saved a shot Ketil Wold. Back came the Giants though has they got back their three goal advantage possibly against the run of play as Kory Karlnder hammered home. The score then became 4-2 when Rene Sethereng shot home from the point after some nice play from Petter Saether and Christian Johansen.

Once again Frisk to come out flying and they scored after only 37 seconds into the third to make it 4-3. Kivenmaki won the puck at the blueline sketed to the net before hitting past Ryder. A forth goal then followed when Bakkene brought the Norweign's level that set up a fantic final 5 minutes of the game but the Giants were not going to be outdone as Schulte put them 5-4 ahead with three minutes to go. That goal turned out to be the but all credit to Frisk who really did put up a great exbition of hockey for the large Belfast crowd.

Attendance: 5332
Man of Match for Belfast Giants: Shane JOHNSON
Man of Match for Frisk/Asker Tigers: Stig Vesterheim

The Second was as fast paced as the first with some excellent great passing plays. Kirton could have put the Bees infront at 26.55 but he hit the post, the Vikings continued to pressure, the Bees continued to soak it up. Then at 31.57 Bees Brad Peddle was ejected from the game and this seemed to spark the Vikings to life and they were camped out in the Bees end whilst on the powerplay, they scored the go ahead goal at 36.18 when Selvik scored from close range. The Bees pressured and could not find a way through.

The Bees worked hard in the third and despite Bauba being ejected at 48.28 the Bees contnued to pressure and got their reward at 50.47 when Delilse poked the puck home.The Vikings regained the lead at 58.20 whilst on the powerplay with a wicked shot from Larsen, the Bees pulled Greer and went dfor the extra skater. The gamble did not pay off as the Vikings scored again into the empty net.

Attendance: 1103
Man of Match for Bracknell Bees: Mike McBAIN
Man of Match for Valerengen Vikings: Morten Fjeld

London opened the scoring after 27 seconds as McIntyre circled around from the left wing into the centre before firing home a wrist shot. Ahlroos made it two before Dragons hit the inside of the post at 7.19. Patterson swept home Knights third from the slot. Storhamar finally scored with a well worked goal as Persson hit the top left corner of the net. Knights fourth came as a two man breakaway finished with Aronson picked up his own rebound to score.

91 seconds into period two Ahlroos beat a Dragons defender on the boards before sending a pass to Sacratini for a one timer. Maxwell beat the keeper to his stick side for Knights sixth on a two man breakaway. Storhamar outshot Knights for a second period and but for a string of excellent saves from Trofimenkoff the score would have been closer.

Two penalties late in the second period gave Storhamar a two man advantage as the third began. They scored on the power play through Olsen. Knights only power play yielded their seventh as Ahlroos roofed an angled shot. Blanchard scored through the five hole for Knights eigth. Arntsen scored with a terrific solo effort for Dragons only even strength goal. Dragons wrapped up the scoring with their third power play goal as Olsen hit his second with a wrist shot to the keepers glove side.

Attendance: 2118
Man of Match for London Knights: Kim AHLROOS
Man of Match for Storhamar Dragons: Tom Erik Olsen

The Giants took the lead early in the first period with Paul Kruse finding the net in the forth minute after good work on the left from Kory Karlander. The Giants then went pressing in search of a second goal but the Trondheim netminder Oivind Sorli kept his team in the game with a few top drawer saves the best coming from a Rob Stewart shot as the period ended 1-0 to the Superleague leaders.

It was only a matter of time before a second Giants goal came many thought that had happened on 29 minutes but Sandrock's goal was cancelled out for a penalty call on McDonald before the puck hit the net. Five minutes later though the second goal did arrive when Ward shot home an assist from McDonald and Colin Ryder. In the final minute of the period Kevin Riehl skated nearly full length of the ice to make it 3-0 after Stevens won the puck on the left has it came from behind the net.

No further goals in the third but a few flying fists as Todd Kelman went toe to toe with Orjan Naess and Lee Sorochan dropping the gloves with Marius Andersen. All players received 2x2 plus 10 miconduct penalty's. But there was only ever going to be one winner as the Giants dominated from start to finish with only Black Panthers netminder Sorli stopping them from winning more handsomely.

Attendance: 3303
Man of Match for Belfast Giants: Colin RYDER
Man of Match for Trondheim Panthers: Jimi Helin

This will coincide with the face off time of the Bracknell Bees and Belfast Giants being played on the same date.

Iain Fraser stands at 5'10 and joins the Steelers after a 94 game NHL career, the majority of which came with Quebec. After the past 4 seasons in the German DEL, Fraser comes to Sheffield as the club tries to continue its recent good form despite losing both Rhett Gordon and Chris Szysky to long-term injury.

Coach Mike Blaisdell said "We didn't know if Iain was coming until he got on the plane in Toronto. We signed him last Thursday, well in time of the Friday 5.00pm league deadline. However, he had some issues to resolve in North America first, so we are pleased that he is on the plane and we look forward to seeing him on the ice this Saturday. I won't over-use him against Storhamar .... I want to get something out of him on the following evening against Nottingham".

Although there are concerns over next season with Hull Thunder, the FBNL were confident that an alternative solution could be discussed for next season.

During the meeting it was also confirmed that to date, 4 other expressions of interest had been received by the FBNL from other Teams to join for next season. Application packs and details of the League�s development plan have been sent out and further details will be released when the selection committee convenes in March.

The 28 year-old is 6�1� and 220lbs and has played most of his career in the East Coast Hockey League. This season he has been with Wichita Thunder and Corpus Christi Ice Rays in the Central Hockey League. Nelson has played alongside Bees� forward Scott Kirton, in 95/96 and 96/97 for Charlotte Checkers and last season for Greenville Grrrowl and was recommended to coach Enio Sacilotto as a player who will bring size and toughness.

Nelson is unlikely to be in the country in time for the Ahearne Trophy games this weekend, leaving the team short of four players, as Darren Hurley, Greg Owen and Joe Watkins join the Great Britian squad in Austria, although defenceman Christian Gosselin is expected to take to the ice for the first time in 12 weeks, against Valerengen Vikings.

All partners recognised the need for greater co-operation on a number of issues facing the sport, at all levels, including Junior and Officiating development, the National Teams Programme and the securing of funding for the future.It was agreed that all the partners would have equal status within IHUK. Processes would be put in place for the ongoing support to each other in order to achieve the overall objectives of a cohesive National and International junior development programme leading to regular national participation in top flight International Ice Hockey and UK players playing in, and officials officiating in, elite leagues worldwide.

It is recognised that adequate funding of these programmes from Government Exchequer and Lottery Grant aid will remain a problem for at least another two years, but each of the partners will lend their support and expertise to securing that objective".

It was London who started the second period all fired up after that goal at the end of the first but Bach kept the Giants in the game with some top class saves. Robbie Sandrock as he has done on many occasions this season then played a big part in turning the game in favour of the Champions. Firstly his shot from the blueline was saved by Trofinenkoff he picked up the rebound himself played it forward to Colin Ward who found the net with an unstoppable shot on 31.02. Three minutes later a Sandrock pass from right to left put Thornton free on goal and the former Knight found the corner of the net giving the London netminder no chance.

The Giants extended their lead at the start of the third as Kevin Riehl hammered home after good work from Ward and Schulte put him in the clear. Back came the Knights though a minute later as Vezio Sacratini found the net. Bach then saved the Giants on many occasions as London went in search of the equaliser their new Swedish coach even lifted netminder Trofimenkoff with two minutes to go but it didnt pay off as Dave Matos made sure of the points to put the Giants on top of the league as he shot into the empty net with one second left on the clock.

Attendance: 3325
Man of Match for Belfast Giants: Robby SANDROCK
Man of Match for London Knights: Ian McINTYRE

London took the opening initative, forcing the pace with shots from Sacratini, Ahlroos and Maxwell being foiled by Bach. Giants Riehl almost scored when left free at 5.20. It was left to Karlander to break the deadlock five minutes later. Knights drew level when Maxwell skated in taking the puck to the right before shooting past Bach.

A solo breakaway saw Kruse take the puck from the centre circle and score from just inside the blue line. Knights replied with a cross ice pass from Hoad deflected in off a Belfast skate. Belfast retook the lead as a chip shot from Matsos beat Lilljebjorn. Ward hit Giants fourth with a delayed penalty goal after Hoad had lost his helmet . Stevens had a tip in on the power play for number five before Kolessar replied with a power play strike 0.8 seconds from the conclusion of period two.

Doug MacDonald scored 58 seconds into the closing period to leave London trailing 6-3. Knights cut the deficit to two when Aronson's powerful shot beat Bach. London called a timeout at 57.29 and took Lilljebjorn off for the extra forward, they were unable to score and Giants best chance for an empty netter hit the outside of the post.

Attendance: 3465
Man of Match for London Knights: Mark KOLESAR
Man of Match for Belfast Giants: Kory KARLANDER

A fast open game in which the sharpshooters of Sparta bury their chances. Frost spotted a gap from the right "Ed Courtenay style" and edged Sparsborg ahead. Petter Witnes was first to a rebound to lob the prostrate Prior. Then Witnes found a gap between Prior and his left post to force in the third. Straight after that goal Brown jinked through but could only find Smags glove. With seconds left in the third, Levins screened shot met the same fate as Smangs turned in an impressive first period performance.

Sheffield step up a gear as they move Willman back onto defence and rotate the youngsters rather than putting them out together. Laniel broke down the left, Simpson beating his man to slot a slide rule pass to Morin at the back post and Morin opens his Steelers account. He celebrated by potting the rebound from Sessa's right wing shot, after Smangs had worked hard denying several efforts including two from apprentice Steven Weeks. Dorey added another rebound and Sparta badly needed to regroup at the second interval.

They did just that and were the faster side throughout the final session. Smangs continued to impress but most of the action was at the other end. Nilsen wrapped up the scoring with a screened shot from the left after man of the match Frost had edged Sparta ahead. In between Prior shot the puck straight out to earn a delay of game penalty giving the Norwegians 27 seconds of 5 on 3 advantage.

Attendance: 3040
Man of Match for Sheffield Steelers: Mike MORIN
Man of Match for IHK Sparta Sarpsborg: Robert Frost

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