NEWCASTLE North Stars coach Don Champagne has rated his team's latest grand final win as their best. The North Stars won their fourth Australian Ice Hockey League Goodall Cup in seven years on Sunday at the Hunter Ice Staking Stadium, beating the Western Sydney Ice Dogs 4-1. Champagne was the assistant coach in the North Stars' 2003 and 2005 victories and took over the reins for the 2006 title. The North Stars made a slow start to this season but won their last nine games, playing some brilliant attacking ice hockey led by Canadian trio BJ Pelkey, Colin Nicholson and Mickey Gilchrist. The North Stars were undefeated when all three were on the ice.

"I think we had some pretty key wins this season, and I probably think it was our best season in terms of our drive to the grand final," Champagne said. "This year we had a lot more firepower up front in terms of scoring. When those three [Pelkey, Gilchrist and Nicholson] were out there, they really dominated play."

Early in the season the club struggled with injuries and their imports arrived late.But once the final squad was settled, the North Stars were untouchable. Fourth-placed Newcastle beat minor premiers Sydney Bears for the third time in a month in their 7-5 victory in the semi-final on Saturday, setting up a grand final showdown with the Ice Dogs. The North Stars took an early lead in the decider after Gilchrist and Pelkey scored to give the home side a 2-0 advantage at the end of the first period.

The Ice Dogs, who were missing Australian representatives Andrew White (shoulder) and Scott Stephenson (broken wrist) through injury, hit back in the second period to close the gap to 2-1. Newcastle were down a defender in the third period, but it did not stop Gilchrist from scoring two more goals to seal the 4-1 grand final win.

Ray Sheffield has been the North Stars captain in their four premierships and Champagne said many had expected Sunday's win to be the last for the club stalwart. "He's talking about another year now, so hopefully he'll be back next year," he said. However, many of the North Stars will be heading overseas to continue their careers.

Australian players Matt Ezzy and Casey Minson are trialling with North American clubs and Canadian imports Gilchrist (Japan), Pelkey (Tennessee), Nicholson and Gabriel Andre (US East Coast) are leaving the club.