This was the first season in division 1 South. Telford and Slough were the contenders for the league. Slough had strengthen themselves with players from Streatham, whilst Telford under Chuck Taylor, were more akin to something out of slapshot.
That was the first season that we had Shannon hope, and he was arguably the best player in the league. Telford had recruited Tim salmon and Kevin Conway, who had a devastating partnership at ayr.
Telford's rink was absolutely packed and the atmosphere created by the Telford fans was very uncomfortable, particularly with some of us packed around the plexiglass and surrounded by their fans.
I seem to remember that Shannon was causing havoc for the Tigers, but the physically much smaller devils players were getting an absolute physical pasting. The referee was calling very little and devils fans and players were getting frustrated about the lack of protection. Then partway through the second period whilst skating behind the goal where I stood, salmon appeared to jab Shannon's face with his stick causing a horrible injury. Absolute mayhem ensued. I'm not sure, despite lawless' and kanewischer's protests there wasn't even a penalty called. As a result the devils skated off the ice back to their changing room. There was utter confusion. Eventually it was announced that the devils would not come back and the match was abandoned. The Telford fans were livid.
While the fans' bus drove down the M5 we became aware that there was a police vehicle following us. When we reached the services we were due to stop at, a police vehicle was blocking the entrance. The same at the next one too. We eventually had to go all the way to Bristol and stop at aust services.
It eventually emerged that someone in Telford had accused the devils fans of hooliganism, and had the police treat us like football thugs. The club made a complaint about this and there was subsequently iirc an apology from West Mercia police published on the match programme.
I seem to remember that the club was fined for the walk off, but this was only £1000. Some suggested that this was a result of other clubs having their own complaints about Telford's conduct that season.
The home game against the Tigers was a powder keg, but the league assigned a premier Division ref. Unfortunately the devils couldn't complete, but after that season Telford weren't a force again.
(Thanks to Anthony Beer's book "it's funny when you win everything" for jogging my memory on a couple of things.)