Today I find myself in a dilemma, as I look to begin my final preparations for Wednesday's exam.  Ultimately I wanna run the streets telling everyone I see of our glory.  The Scottish Plate has been a trophy that has eluded us since the first time we competed for it in 2006.  We ended up runners up then and then after not making the cut in 2007 got to the semi finals only to be knocked out by our bogey team the Edinburgh Knights.

This year we started the tournament with a lot of pressure, as we knew we had a shot.  However we ultimately knew that the first hurdle we would have to overcome would be the Hamilton Hawks, the team that we had never overcome before, in our first group game.  From the first drop of the puck we skated hard getting to every loose puck and winning the battles along the boards.  Our 'play smart' philosophy for the weekend really showed as we identified the stars on the Hawks and gave them no time with the puck.  Our first goal of the weekend (first of 36 goals) came from our captain Chris 'Wee Harry' Stuart who buried the rebound.  This left the game at 1-0 at the end of the first with everything to play for.  Going into the second we knew it would be important to curtail the onslaught of Hamilton who started to play with some desperation.  Defensively we have never played so well.  It would be an unlikely source that would provide the second goal for the Phoenix and ultimately kill off the Hawks.  A steal by myself on our blue which was collected by Stephen 'Big Harry' Stuart would be finished off by myself after a great pass to the back post.  The rest they as they say is history as we skated away with a 6-0 victory in the first game.

After this game came the whispers from those watching saying we were a different class and that the Plate was ours to lose.  So the pressure mounted on us to play well.

However in the next game we indeed did not play well making stupid plays and bad decisions.  However despite this we managed to pull off a 6-1 over the hard working Stirling Patriots.  Finishing day 1 with 2 victories and a semi final berth.

We ran out the final group game as 16-0 winners leaving us as the group winners.

The win left us having to face the winners out of the Edinburgh Stingers and Highland Capitals.  The Capitals won 3-2 leaving us facing them in the second of the two semi finals. 

The Capitals proved to be quite a difficult task for us as they chased for every thing and tied us twice.  We eventually managed to limp off with a 4-3 win.  Conceding the most goals we had all tournament and not looking too sharp heading into the final with the formidable Fife Ice Dogs. 

A stern discussion in the dressing room prior to the final seemed to make us return to playing smart.  We identified Fife's biggest threat and knew that without him they would struggle on offence.  Every time the Ice Dogs picked up the puck a man was on him.  Leading to Fife getting frustrating and taking penalties.  We capitalised on these opportunities through John Elkins who fired home a laser beam, which was followed quickly by another from the Finnish Phenom Sam Granlund.  Leading to a 2-0 advantage at the end of the second.  Heading into the third we knew Fife were gonna come hard, but we absorbed the pressure and Georges Necer Lisboa fired home the third goal.  Leaving Fife a huge uphill battle.  The final insurance was added by Steve Radoja leaving the Phoenix to take the plate with its third shutout 4-0.

Mike Woods would pick up Goalie of the tournament and Sam Granlund won Top Defenceman and Top Player in the tournament.  The Phoenix also should that despite their efforts they were a clean team as they won the Dave Webster Fair Play Award for the second year in a row.

With the Beagles making some serious noise in Sheffield this truly has been the most successful weekend in the club's history.  Well done everyone.

Rambo