Deeside Dragons secured their first silverware in 23 years on Sunday night after a draw at rivals Widnes Wild provided them with the points needed to lift the Laidler Conference title.

Head coach Lol Paul’s side went into a weekend double-header needing a win and a draw against Hull Jets and the Wild to make the title safe with three games to spare.

Saturday’s 10-3 success over the Jets and a 7-7 tie at Widnes on Sunday was enough to ensure the Dragons’ long wait for silverware came to an end and book their place in the end-of-season play offs as they look to gain promotion to the Moralee Conference.

“We did what we set out to do and won the championship and I am immensely proud of what the players have achieved this season, said Paul.

“We knew it was in our own hands but we really wanted to win both games, so it didn’t go entirely to plan at the weekend.

“A little bit of ill discipline cost us near the end but we still did what we had to do and we’ve managed to win some silverware for these Deeside fans who haven’t seen an awful lot in recent years.”

Adrian Palak hit five against the Wild with the other goals coming from Fillip Supa and James Parsons.

Widnes fought back to earn a draw in the dying seconds of the game but it was not enough to stop the Dragons taking the title and earning themselves a play-off berth in Sheffield on April 9-10.

“It’s a huge testament to the players and staff that we’ve managed to do this,” said Paul, who managed to keep the squad together following the departure of backers Red Hockey in January following a disagreement with Flintshire County Council, the club’s owners.

“We have tried to keep the players out of all the politics but we do have to hand a lot of credit to Red Hockey. I wouldn’t be here without them and neither would the likes of Adrian Palak and Filip Supa. We wouldn’t have won the title without those two.

“We have stayed together as a group, though and we now have three games left and we want to finish the season in style and then look forward to the play-offs.”

And if the Dragons are to make the step-up to the Moralee Conference, Paul acknowledges he will need to strengthen come the summer.

“The gulf in class each time you go up is massive in ice hockey and I think I’ll probably have to look at maybe seven or eight new players,” said Paul.

“But the big thing for us is that we need to get some sponsorship now, while the iron’s hot. It costs £50,000-£60,000 to run the Dragons each year and we need some more help, as well as keeping bums on seats.

“But we’ll just enjoy this success for now and think about that when the time comes.”