In the final game of the year, Bees got off to a flying start as Ollie Bronnimann and Chris Wiggins scored inside the opening four minutes.

The hosts continued to look impressive and they stretched their advantage in the middle period with a powerplay goal from Pavel Strycek.

Flames, who edged Bees 4-3 on Boxing Day, eventually found a way past Tom Annetts when Tom Duggan netted midway through the match.

But Grant Rounding restored Bees’ three-goal cushion at 45.56 and all Flames could muster in response was a Branislav Kvetan powerplay effort.

The win sees Bees finish the year in seventh in the English Premier Ice Hockey League, level on 27 points with sixth-placed Slough Jets.

Bees travel to Swindon Wildcats on New Year’s Day (4pm ko) before hosting Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday (6pm f/o).

They then complete a busy few days with a trip to Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday (5.30pm f/o).