TILBURG, Netherlands – The Tilburg Trappers defended their national title and win their 13th Dutch championship thanks to a 3-1 final win over the Heerenveen Flyers.

It’s the third title this season for the Trappers after having won the Cup and the Super Cup. Also in the Dutch Cup and in the regular season, it was Heerenveen, which finished second.

The Tilburg Trappers defeated the Eaters Geleen, 4-2, to qualify for the final. The Heerenveen Flyers beat Hijs The Hague, 4-1, in the other semi-final series. The Trappers won the fourth and last final series game in Heerenveen with a 3-2 overtime victory in front of 3,200 fans to win the national title.

Mike Lalonde, who played in the ECHL the two seasons before, was the star, scoring all three goals for the Trappers. “I scored the championship goal but we did it as a team,” said the 27-year-old Canadian, who also was the league's top scorer.

The Trappers are qualified to the IIHF Continental Cup. This season, they won their second round group as the host against Dunaujvaros (HUN), Energija Elektrenai (LTU) and Mladost Zagreb (CRO) but finished last in the third round tournament against hosts Grenoble (FRA), Kazzinc-Torpedo (KAZ) and AaB Aalborg (DEN).

White Caps win in Belgium

The Belgium league also ended this week with the same team winning the championship. The White Caps Turnhout defended its title after a 4-2 win in the final series against Herentals YC.