The Dunedin side was always going to struggle in Christchurch without star goaltender Matt Canaday, who was suspended for the match after a ''spearing'' incident on Red Devil Brent Vandenberg in game one last weekend.
The incident was not initially picked up by officials, but post-match evidence, including witness statements, resulted in the league suspending Canaday.
The Thunder unsuccessfully appealed the decision and was forced to use 17-year-old Hunter Waugh in goal.
Thunder captain Andre Robichaud said the decision put his team on the back foot before the puck had even dropped.
''Right off the bat we were forced to start our backup goaltender. In my opinion [the suspension] wasn't warranted but the tribunal's findings were different to what we thought.
''The spear was a non-call which had no bearing on the previous game but they deemed it to be a foul which took our keeper out of the final. It's pretty frustrating, as a player,'' he said.
After the Red Devils scored the opening goal in just 28 seconds, Robichaud took advantage of a powerplay less than three minutes later to knot it up at 1-1.
However, Chris Eaden rifled home the Devil's second after a Thunder defensive blunder two minutes later and the home side never looked back.
Down 6-4 late in the second period, the Thunder was still in with a chance. But a disastrous third period, in which the Thunder conceded eight goals, doomed them and saw Canterbury win the Birgel Cup for a third straight year.
''When you have got a 17-year-old in your net that's not first choice, it's only a matter of time before the dam breaks ... it was a rugby score,'' Robichaud said.
''He played awesome and as good as he could play but it's just not fair. He had not played in the league before and he was forced to face playoff hockey.''
Thunder and Ice Blacks coach Janos Kaszala echoed his captain, conceding the loss of Canaday affected his team.
''Scoring six goals in a hockey game is more than enough to win. In the playoffs you need a goalkeeper that can save more than 90% of shots. Unfortunately, our keeper was about 65% because of the whole situation.''
Despite the ''very disappointing'' loss, Kaszala had some positives.
''We had a great season. We had a lot of young, local players in the team. We made the final again, which is the second time in a row for the franchise, it's a great achievement.
''Obviously when you lose a final it's painful, but life goes on. We will come back next year again and look to get stronger. I told the boys they need to keep their heads held high because they played well.
''We're just going to keep working hard and the day will come when we receive the goal medal. I believe that 100%.''
By Robert van Royen.
