Devil’s Hole Diablos are the Bermuda Inline Hockey Hockey League champions after they defeated Sinky Bay Sea Turtles in the final at Pembroke Community Club.

Diablos triumphed 5-4 over Turtles 5-4 on Monday to win the best-of-three final series 2-0, and claim this season's BIHL Cup. They had won the first match 9-8, but the second could not take place as scheduled due to bad weather.

Fans were treated to a fast-paced and competitive game, with Diablos eventually successful.

In the final match, Marcel Bouwens was the lead scorer for Diablos with two goals. Captain Theo Caimassidis, Shannon Gosse and Drew Daly were the other scorers. Sea Turtles got their goals from their captain, Mathieu Desjardins, Tom Duggan, Mark Heintzman and Bill Calko.

Caimassidis praised his team-mates for their tremendous contribution to a successful season.

“I'm very proud with the way our team played all year, everyone contributed,’’ Caimassidis said.

“Our relentless play, teamwork and effort turned us into an all-around perfect team. Our overall success started at the draft and finished by winning the Cup.”

Sea Turtles captain Mathieu Desjardins praised their opponents for taking advantage of chances presented to them.

“We have to give credit to the Diablos for the win,’’ he said. “They played great and capitalised on their opportunities.

“Their team management put a solid line up at draft night, as their season and play-off record can attest to that.

“Our team played excellent and left it all on the rink. Both games in the final were a coin toss and one-goal games, the bounces just didn't land on our side.

“I'm extremely proud of our team and the way we stuck together all summer. Diablos may have won the Cup, but I wouldn't change our team at all, we drafted it that way. It was a fun summer, we’re looking forward to next season.”

Unlike the hugely popular Bermuda Ball Hockey League, which is played on ball hockey shoes from October to May, roller hockey is played on roller blades from May to September each season.

Since not all players in the BBHL can skate on roller blades, there are only four teams in the BIHL. These were, Diablos, Sea Turtles, North Rock Beacons and Smith's Storm.

At the end of the regular 12-game season, Diabolos found themselves at the top of the league standings after only losing just three matches all season.

Although battles between Beacons and Sea Turtles were close through the regular season, the latter had an easy ride in the play-offs to win 2-0.

The series between Diablos and Storm was much closer and went the full three matches. While each game was separated by just one goal, Diablos prevailed to win the series 2-1, with one of those victories secured in overtime.

Meanwhile, the Bermuda Ball Hockey Association draft is being conducted on Friday night at Docksider. This is where the seven teams in the league, led by their general managers, will get an opportunity to assemble their squads for the 2024-25 season, which starts next Wednesday.

Spine & Sport, Hamilton Princess, Positive Image, Appleby, Applied Computer Technologies, Frontier and BDA Spirits are the teams for this season. With not enough players to constitute eight sides, CG Insurance, last season’s champions, dropped out.