MK Lightning were crowned Planet Ice NIHL National Division playoff champions after two thrilling days of action at the Coventry Skydome. 

Beaten in the NIHL National Cup semi-finals and finishing as runners-up to Leeds Knights during the regular season, Milton Keynes finally clinched silverware at the third time of asking, denying Peterborough Phantoms a second successive playoff crown in the process.

Peterborough kicked off the weekend in Coventry with a 4-2 victory over Swindon Wildcats, who progressed to the Final Four with a flawless six wins from six during the group stages – the only side to do so.

A blockbuster second semi-final saw Leeds Knights fail to earn their third piece of silverware for the season as they fell to an overtime defeat against Milton Keynes.

Having trailed after both the first and second period, Leeds fought back to take the game to overtime, only for Dillon Lawrence to score the all-important winning goal to send his team into the final.

Sunday’s action kicked off with a battle between Billingham Stars and Slough Jets – regular season champions of the NIHL 1 North and South – to determine who would be crowned NIHL 1 champions.

It would be the south who prevailed in Coventry as Slough raced into an unassailable 5-0 lead by midway through the second period.

Although the Stars pulled one back, Dylan Holicka netted the Jets’ sixth of the afternoon as they ran out convincing winners to add the national championship trophy to their league title and playoff crown.

The weekend concluded with the all-important grand final showdown between Milton Keynes and Peterborough, who had both qualified for the Final Four in second place in their respective groups.

Leading 3-1 at the end of the first, a Ross Venus brace gave Lightning a four-goal cushion and Harry Gulliver made sure of the playoff win with little over two minutes left on the clock.

We’d like to thank every supporter who made the journey to Coventry and helped ensure it was a weekend to remember!

Results – NIHL National Division

Sat 19th Apr Swindon Wildcats 2-4 Peterborough Phantoms PO SF
Sat 19th Apr Leeds Knights 4-5 (OT) Milton Keynes Lightning PO SF
Sun 20th Apr Billingham Stars 1-6 Slough Jets NIHL1C
Sun 20th Apr Peterborough Phantoms 1-6 Milton Keynes Lightning PO F

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