Déjà Vu: WorldVest and Dire Wolves Are Going Back to the Championship

And then there were two.

What an eventful night at the Carolina Ice Palace.

The Over-35 Summer 2026 semifinals are officially in the books, and after two games — both ending in identical 4–2 scores — we have ourselves a championship rematch.

WorldVest vs. Dire Wolves.

Again.

WorldVest 4, Shade-FOG 2

Shade-FOG’s improbable playoff journey finally came to an end Thursday night as #1 seed WorldVest prevailed 4–2.

It was a battle for the ages, but ultimately Captain Andrew Miller’s dreams of playoff glory were crushed beneath the relentless machinery of the mighty WorldVest.

We congratulate Miller on making it this far.

Truly.

Nobody expected it.

Captain Danny Tanton and his band of merry men now return to a place they’ve become quite comfortable: the Over-35 Championship Game.

And waiting for them is an old friend.

Dire Wolves 4, Holy City 2

The Dire Wolves came out hot, jumping on Holy City early and building their lead in the first period.

Then they apparently decided scoring goals was no longer necessary.

The Wolves didn’t score again for the rest of the game, instead spending the final two periods playing suffocating defensive hockey and desperately protecting what they’d already built.

It worked.

Holy City battled, pushed and made things uncomfortable, but couldn’t crack the Wolves enough to complete the comeback.

Final: Dire Wolves 4, Holy City 2.

Which means Captain Matt Bell and the Dire Wolves are headed back to the championship.

And wouldn’t you know it…

The Rematch Nobody Asked For — But Everybody Needs

WorldVest vs. Dire Wolves.

Danny Tanton vs. Matt Bell.

The defending champions vs. the team they’ve emotionally scarred.

For anyone who has successfully erased last season’s championship game from memory, allow us to reopen the wound.

WorldVest didn’t simply beat the Dire Wolves.

They abused them 7–1.

Seven.

To.

One.

It was less a championship game and more a three-period public execution.

Now the Wolves get another shot.

Will Matt Bell and the Dire Wolves finally taste the sweet nectar of championship victory?

Will they exercise the demons of last season’s humiliation?

Or will Captain Danny and his band of merry men do it again and capture back-to-back Over-35 championships — something that hasn’t been accomplished in this league in years?

There’s only one way to find out.

Thursday Night. Championship Hockey.

Two familiar teams.

Two familiar captains.

One championship.

And approximately 22 aging hockey players who will absolutely be telling everyone at work Friday morning that they’ve still got it.

WorldVest vs. Dire Wolves.

Tune in Thursday on LiveBarn for what should be one of the most entertaining games of the entire 2026 summer season.

The rematch is officially on.