WIDNES Wild player-coach Scott McKenzie paid tribute to his players as “an outstanding group of men” following the team’s performance at the NIHL play-off weekend in Sheffield.

After seeing off Nottingham Lions 3-1 to reach the final of the Laidler Conference, they were edged out 5-3 by the Deeside Dragons to deny them a first trophy in their short history.

However, despite the disappointment of losing the final, McKenzie said he was “extremely proud” of the club as a whole.

“What can I say about this group of players, they are an outstanding group of men that gave me absolutely everything they had in both games this weekend,” he said.

“On Saturday we had an extremely tough challenge against a really strong Nottingham team, they are passionate and play physically but we matched them and took our chances when we got them.

“Sunday’s game was tough. Deeside are offensively gifted, we knew that and really got punished for making one or two mistakes.

“In saying that, we were great, we never gave up, played physical, stuck up for each other and we were still in the game in the dying moments.

“I was extremely proud of the guys and also want to send out my gratitude to all the family and friends of the players that came to support us as well as the best fans in the league, our very own Wild Ones, who gave us fabulous support all weekend.”

Wild went into Saturday’s game seeded second but faced a tough prospect against a Nottingham Lions side who had beaten them twice this season.

The first period was end-to-end, but the Lions pinched it with a goal that slipped between the pads of netminder David Good.

Wild dominated the second and third periods, with Michal Fico slotting into an unguarded net to equalise before Geoff Wigglesworth gave Wild the lead.

As the Lions pulled their goalie in a desperate attempt to pull level, McKenzie was able to roll the puck into an empty net to seal their place in Sunday’s final.

Top seeds Deeside were always going to present tough opposition as they chased their second silverware of the season and the Welshmen raced into a two-goal lead in the first period.

However, Wild displayed admirable guts and they were level by the end of the period thanks to goals from McKenzie and Pavel Vales.

A string of mistakes from Wild in the second period allowed the Dragons to open up a 4-2 lead, but Danny Bullock’s goal gave Widnes hope with just two minutes of play remaining.

Wild pulled their goalie to try and use the extra man to their advantage, but Deeside were able to grab the puck back and slide it into an empty net to seal the win.