Four Dunedin Thunder players have had their share of failed attempts at a New Zealand Ice Hockey League title, and are determined to finally lift the trophy at the Dunedin Ice Stadium tonight.
Luke Pickering, Aston Brookes, Mitchell Frear and Connor Harrison have made a combined 11 appearances in finals, and been on the losing side every time.
Each of those finals was with their former team, the Southern Stampede, and tonight will be their first with the Thunder, and the franchise's first final.
Pickering (20) said, even with two finals behind him, the pre-match nerves were rife.
''There is still a pressure there. It's not anything you get used to.''
Because of its youthful roster, the Thunder had been viewed as a side in a rebuilding stage at the beginning of the season.
The combination of new coach Jenel Bode and a young squad has given the former Stampede players an opportunity to play an integral role in the Thunder's success.
Harrison, who leads the Thunder and is third in the league with 20 goals for the season, said he had benefited from playing a senior role.
He said he would rather be playing against his old mates in tonight's final - purely for the possibility of bragging rights.
''It would have been pretty good to play them [Stampede] and beat them in the finals, but you can't ask for everything.''
Apart from Pickering, who is in his second season with the Thunder, the flatmates were new additions to the team this year.
Harrison said Dunedin had a mellow lead-up to tonight's final in comparison with the Stampede's 2012 campaign. He imagined things would be different in Queenstown after the Stampede was prematurely knocked out of the competition.
''We've been the team that's been winning, so we'll take that thunder from them. We stole their thunder.''
The Thunder has won seven of its home games this season. However, it could all count for nothing if it slips up tonight.
''Leave everything on the ice - it's only one game,'' Harrison said.
''You've got all that energy. You don't have to play a game the next day. You've definitely got to turn up on the day and play well.''
Brookes, last season's NZIHL player of the season, said he could not take a repeat of the Stampede's disappointing loss to the Red Devils last year, and tonight's final was a chance for redemption.
''In these one-game finals, there is just so much pressure mounting on one game and you know if you just don't show up on the day ... it's your whole season really down the drain.''
Brookes (20) said he and his team-mates were confident they could beat the Red Devils for a fourth and final time this season.
Pickering agreed and said it was likely his Queenstown friends would be supporting the Thunder from the sidelines.
''I think the general consensus is they want us to win over Canterbury. No-one likes Canterbury in the league.''
Although the four players began playing the game in Queenstown, have family in Queenstown and call Queenstown home, they are hoping to win a title for Dunedin.
''A trophy is a trophy. It's the team, not the place, that you win it with.''
