Supporters have flooded through the turnstiles in the past month to cheer on the Bees, resulting in a 30-minute delay to the clash with Basingstoke due to queues outside.

Yet again it was a bumper crowd on Sunday evening as Bees avenged their Boxing Day loss to Guildford Flames by beating the defending English Premier Ice Hockey League champions 4-2.

And Thompson told the News that the support of the fans certainly does not go unnoticed by the players.

“When we were doing the national anthems on Sunday and I looked ahead I couldn’t see a free seat. But it’s not just about filling seats it’s about the atmosphere and that was brilliant again,” he said.

“We have been seeing an increase in crowds this season but it was an unbelievable atmosphere. Supporters don’t sometimes realise just how much it helps the team but if we can get those numbers for the rest of the season we can do some big things.

“I’m a Newcastle United fan and you only have to look at the atmosphere up there and see how the fans make it such a hard place to play for every team. Bracknell is a hot rink and difficult for teams to come to and if the fans can keep up their support it will be even tougher.” Victory over Guildford prevented a fifth straight loss for Bees and ensured they finished the year in seventh in the EPIHL, level on 27 points with sixth-placed Slough Jets.

Thompson, who is the team’s third highest points scorer this season, insists there is much more to come in 2014.

“The way we are playing we have to get results, you can’t work as hard as we are doing and not get results,” he said. “Karma is not that mean.

“Some of the teams have improved around us but hard work beats talent most of the time and we have to keep putting that in.

“We have been playing well since Smits [Lukas Smital] has taken over. He has been around and knows his hockey, a lot of the guys have taken it on board and really responded to what he has been doing and it seems to be getting results.” Thompson also paid tribute to some of the younger players who have stepped up in the absence of key members of the roster like Tony Redmond and Matt Foord.

Ben Paynter, Harvey Stead, Brendan Baird and Tom Fisher were all involved against Flames on Sunday and Thompson said: “The young guys have come up into the team and not looked out of place at all, they helped out a lot in the absence of big players. We played as a team and got the result.” Bees host Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday (6pm f/o) before going to Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday (5.30pm f/o).

The club have announced that the game against Peterborough will be free for children under the age of 16 along with a paying adult.

Doors open at 17.15 and tickets can be booked by calling the box office on 01344 789 000.