First Tekapo ice hockey cup since 1965

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SURPRISE WINNERS: Tekapo Bull Tahr won the Erewhon Cup for the first time in over four decades. (Back row, standing) Bryn Murray, Brendon Smith, Tyler Giraundy, Jeff Brooks, Toms Nulle, Ethan Anderson, Gary Collison; (middle row, kneeling) Michi Speck (captain), Rick Parry, James Orr; (front row) Bryan North and Stefan Speck.

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Ice hockey's Erewhon Cup is back in Tekapo for the first time in 44 years after Tekapo Bull Tahr's upset victory over the Queenstown Rangers in a fiercely competed final in Gore.

The trophy is the oldest ice hockey cup in New Zealand and since the 1980s has been contested by teams from the Southern Ice Hockey League

The Queenstown Rangers, who had won the cup the previous eight times, started at a furious pace and put the Tahr under a lot of pressure.

A penalty saw Rangers score from a power play but the Tahr responded well, becoming more organised, increasing pressure on their opponents.

A piece of Canadian magic from the stick of Bryan North levelled the score in the first period.

An increasing hunger saw the Tahr begin a vigorous charge in the second period and precision passing in front of the Rangers goal saw a slap shot from Jeff Brooks leave the goal keeper no chance.

A mistake by the Rangers keeper towards the end of the second period saw the Bulls up 3-1.

In the last period Rangers tried desperately to pull back the score, with opportunities missed on both sides.

Rangers' frustration spilled over when a fight started after a body check levelled one of their players and the game was interrupted for several minutes.

The Tahr, however, could smell their success and a great team effort denied the Rangers the chance to come back into the game.

The final was an exciting game played at a high skill level, and an excellent result after a 2-all draw in pool play.

Tekapo's new Winter Park has been the reason for the renaissance as it has attracted some overseas ice hockey players as seasonal workers the ideal scenario to boost the team and bring valuable coaching and playing skills into the area.

The Tahr were made up of five players working for the Winter Park, Jeff Brooks, Tyler Giraundy, Bryan North, Brendon Smith from Canada and Toms Nulle from Latvia.

They joined Tekapo locals Ethan Anderson, Bryn Murray, Michi Speck and Stefan Speck, who is in the Ice Blacks.

Longtime club member James Orr, also a Canadian and Gary Collison travel from Christchurch to be part of the team along with Dunedin's Rick Parry, the Ice Black's goal keeper.

The Erewhon Cup dates back to 1937 when Wyndham Barker donated it at the first organised ice hockey tournament in New Zealand at Opawa, near Albury.

The last time a Tekapo team won the cup was in 1965 while the Albury Kings last won in it 1992.

- © Fairfax NZ News