After narrowly missing the league title by just 2 points the season prior, the Flames re-tooled in the off season hoping to push it over the top in 23-24. Unfortunately, a healthy dose of returnees from the previous season, and some promising new additions, were unable to re-capture the League chase magic despite a close run at the Cup and Playoff trophies. Back in the fold were netminders Eamon McAdam, Taz Burman, and Adam Long. On the blueline Bradley Lalonde, Kyle Locke, Mike Crocock, Alex Yuill, Ben O’Connor, and Jordan Klimek were joined by Canadian newcomer Marcus Tesink.
Up front, offensive stars Ian McNulty and Daniel Tedesco departed in favour of newbies Bryan Lemos, Anthony Petruzzelli, Kobe Walker, Ryan Hughes and Matt Alvaro all from North America, alongside British skaters Lewis Hook and Sam Talbot. They joined returnees that included Captain Brett Ferguson, Ryan Tait, Turner Ripplinger, Zack Milton, Peter Crinella, Logan Fredericks, and Owen Griffiths.
After opening the season with a pair of defeats to Cardiff and Sheffield, Flames took their first win of the new campaign in Cup competition against Coventry Blaze to close out September. October saw Spectrum’s men fall in 8 of 9 contests. With the departure of Lemos, Petruzzelli and Walker, space opened for incoming forwards Patrick Bajkov, Steven McParland and Austin Glover. Changes proved a spark as Spectrum’s men turned a corner of sorts with 22 games across November and December; taking wins in 16 and points in all but 3.
The quality run included a 6-3 Cup aggregate goal quarter final success over Fife Flyers leading to an eventual Cup semi final tilt with Glasgow Clan where Surrey’s side played to a scoreless draw in the Leg 1 opener before returning home to a 6-3 leg 2 win that set up a Cup Final showdown with Sheffield Steelers. In mid March, shortly after the arrival of the final roster member, Canadian forward Nicolas Ouellet, the teams went head to head for the first trophy on offer. Unfortunately for Spectrum’s men, it was the Steelers who came out on top, scoring a pair of first period goals against a single reply on their way to a 3-1 win, handing Flames their 2nd Cup final defeat since league entry.
A .500 record in January league play in follow up to the hot pair of preceding months had Flames hovering around 4th spot, flirting with 3rd place as the calendar turned to February, but further struggles in the back stretch pushed Flames down to 5th place and a date with 4th place Manchester Storm in the Playoff Quarter Final.
In the advanced playoff round, the Flames dominated the 2 game aggregate goal series, taking a 5-1 opening leg win on the road at Manchester before closing it out 4-0 on home ice the next night for a 9-1 combined score to lock up a place at the finals weekend and a date with League and Cup champion Steelers. Unfortunately for Spectrum’s men, the Sheffield juggernaut would not be stopped as they eliminated Flames with a 6-3 semi final defeat before rolling on to the Playoff Crown to complete their 2023-2024 Grand Slam glory.
