Great Britain’s gold medal-winning captain Jonathan Phillips performed the ceremonial puck drop as England Under-19s beat Scotland Under-19s 3-2 to win the Frank Dempster Memorial Trophy in Ice Sheffield.
The junior international, held as a curtain-raiser to the Conference Weekend, is one of British ice hockey’s longest-running fixtures.
England took the lead after only 63 seconds when Cole Shudra jumped onto a loose puck on the doorstep to fire a one-timer past Kyle Johnston (1:03).
Scotland went close on their first powerplay of the night as Jordan Buesa’s shot from the left circle produced a sprawling save from Ashley Smith.
England defenceman Lewis Baldwin hit the left-hand post during a spell of four-on-four with a blast from left point, while Johnston produced a fantastic point-blank save from Rio Grinell-Parke.
Jordan Kelsall’s feed from behind the net set up Joe Colton to fire in England’s second from the slot at 14:57.
Lewis Houston’s backhand shot forced a good save out of Smith as Scotland had a bright start to the second period and they were rewarded with two goals in 66 seconds from Chad Smith.
The Fife forward’s shot from left point on the powerplay took a deflection (26:03) and he then finished off a two-on-one break, converting Craig Garrigan’s inch-perfect pass (27:09), forcing England to call their timeout.
Kelsall had two chances on the same shift to put England back in front but was twice denied by Johnston.
Colton hit the left-hand post on a breakaway early in the third period, before Shudra broke right-hand side to score his second and put England 3-2 ahead at 47:18, which turned out to be the game-winner.
Scotland’s Dean Hamilton was given a 5+Game for kneeing, before Johnston produced two point-blank saves from Kelsall.
Scotland lifted netminder Johnston for the extra skater, but England’s rearguard held firm as captain Shudra lifted the Frank Dempster Memorial Trophy.
England man of the match: Cole Shudra
Scotland man of the match: Kyle Johnston.