Last weekend, Sheffield Steelkings defeated Peterborough Phantoms to become the British Para Ice Hockey League Playoff Champions for the third successive time.

After defeating Cardiff Huskies in both 2023 and 2024, the Steelkings were successful in retaining the playoff crown for the third successive year as they saw off a strong Phantoms side in London.

On winning the playoffs for the third successive season, Steelkings player and chairman Jake Oakley said, “To win the playoffs again and complete the 'three-peat' is incredible. This is the fourth time in our history that we have won the playoffs and just shows how hard everyone is working.”

“We now need to keep this hard work going because we are always trying to be the best club we can be, and the trophies are a reflection of that.”

Heading into the playoffs, Sheffield had already been named the British Para Ice Hockey League Champions after winning the title in July against the Phantoms.

The Steelkings winning both the league and the playoff titles means that for the second time in the club’s history, they have finished the season with the Grand Slam.

On winning the Grand Slam for the first time since 2019, Oakley said, “It is a testament to how hard everyone works at the club. To do the double is a rare thing in this sport, and to have done it twice now is amazing.”

“Despite a tough start in this sport, our trophy cabinet has become a lot fuller in the past few years, and I am very proud.”

In the playoff semi-final, Sheffield faced off against Manchester Mayhem, who finished fourth in the league and were therefore the lowest-seeded team in the playoffs.

The Steelkings then went on to win the semi-final 3-0, and they were set to face the Peterborough Phantoms after they had defeated the Cardiff Huskies 7-3 in their own semi-final.

On the semi-final against Manchester, Oakley said, "I don't think we played our best. We controlled the game and really limited Manchester's chances, but we also could have done more with our own too.”

“But a sign of a good team is when you get the results, despite not playing at your best. We got the job done, and that meant we could concentrate on the final.”

The playoff final was therefore a repeat of the league title-winning match, as first-placed Sheffield Steelkings took on second-placed Peterborough Phantoms.

Despite an early lead for the Phantoms, it was ultimately the Steelkings who took home the crown after they fought back to claim a 5-1 victory to round out a brilliant season for the only Yorkshire team in the league.

“The Peterborough Phantoms have been nipping our heels all season, so we knew this would be a close match too.”

“The score probably isn't a true reflection on how close the game was, but in the third period, we took our chances and then started to get the psychological advantage too. It was a great game and weekend and shows how competitive British para ice hockey has become.”