CRUSADERS have banished the memory of a painful league title loss last season by securing the 2021/22 crown with room to spare.
They are unbeaten with one game to go and secured Rathbones Hockey League Men’s Division I with a 3-1 win against defending champions OVs Convicts.
Crusaders were reformed two-and-a-half years ago to make the league more competitive after the dominance of OVs.
‘Every year we’ve gone in with the intention of trying to win the league or cup and it hasn’t quite happened,’ said captain Tom Millar.
‘Last season we missed out on goal difference, which was difficult to stomach.’
They were determined to build on the success that they had, as well as that disappointment, in this campaign.
This year’s challenge has been built on solidity at the back.
Young goalkeeper Piers Brandie has been ‘a rock’, according to Millar, pulling off standout saves in tight situations. Experienced defender Bobby Minty has also helped create that solid platform at the back.
Winning the title means that Crusaders will go on to play the top Sarnian club side in the Upton later this year in Guernsey.
More in Wednesday’s JEP.
