Basingstoke Bison moved off the bottom of ice hockey's Elite League table with a 5-4 win at home to Hull on Saturday.
Bison skipper Brent Hughes opened the scoring before Jamie Thompson levelled, but Jeremy Cornish and Kurt Reynolds gave the Bison a 3-1 first-period lead.
Lee Mitchell pulled a goal back for Hull but Trevor Read and Danny Stewart extended Basingstoke's lead to 5-2.
Steve Slonina and Thompson scored late on for Hull but the Bison, inspired by goalie Kevin Reiter, held on to win.
"It's a big win for us. We've got to start gaining some ground on these guys," said Hughes.
"A lot of teams are coming in here and getting that early lead on us. This time we wanted to change that.
"We were saying, once we're up, let's start finishing some teams here. We were lazy in the third and allowed them back in the game but we stood tall at the end."
Goalscorer Cornish agreed that the Bison had, for once, started a game well.
"We came out flying with lots of energy," he told BBC Berkshire.
"We've lost the last four games, so we have to remember how to win and close games out. It should have been a 5-2 game, we should have kept the gas going.
"The next game (in Edinburgh on 30 December) is huge. We need two points on Tuesday. We'll take it one period at a time."
Cornish also paid tribute to new signing Mike Olynyk, a Canadian forward, who made his debut in the game.
"Mike is going to be a hard worker," he said. "I used to play against him back home. He's a good guy and finishes hits."
Olynyk himself said he was pleased to be back on the ice.
"It felt pretty good. I've never seen this atmosphere before with all the drums playing and I liked it," he said.
"I haven't played for a couple of months now. I just wanted to get the feel of the puck and get my legs going. Give me another week and I'll be in tip-top shape."
Both Olynyk and Hughes pointed to Reiter, who has been in superb form for the Bison this season, as the difference between the teams.
"I played with Reiter about four years ago and he's just an outstanding goalie. He gives you huge confidence," said Olynyk.
Hughes added: "He's there for us no matter what, every single game. Without him I don't know where this team would be right now.
"He's going to be an all-star, and so he should. We're proud of him and happy he's on our side."
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