Thrilling home wins against reigning champions, Durham Wasps, and runners up, Cardiff Devils, backed up bench coach Peter Johnson's bold claim that they would be battling in the top four, not against relegation.
Few doubt the season might have been more successful had it not been for long-term injuries to star imports Jim Lynch, Scott Morrison and Ross Lambert, who was also fined and suspended for threatening revenge on Wasp Stephen Cooper.
Despite finishing 7th in the league – a feat no doubt inspired by the pre-season turmoil that saw first Ross Lambert and then Peter Johnson assume the role of head coach – Seahawks secured a 6–5 victory over the Wasps to win the Castle Eden Cup, a traditional two-day tournament held in February and featuring four teams based in the North East of England.
The semi-final against the Nottingham Panthers was a see-saw affair which saw the Seahawks leading 4–2 in the third period when a section of the surrounding Plexi-glass was broken, necessitating a 25-minute stoppage in play.
With both sets of fans on the edge of their seats (and the overtime period causing the live snooker coverage to be delayed on BBC1) a Panthers turnover fell to Seahawks' Dan Dorion (and ex-Panther himself) who was cruising the blue line.
Ukrainians Alexei Kuznetsov and Alexandr Koulikov joined returning heroes Frank Killen, Brian Cox, Mike Bishop and the Johnson brothers, to inspire what has since become the norm in Hull – a season that began with such high hopes but quickly evaporated into one of spectacular failure.
John Griffith replaced the popular Peter Johnson, his sons, Stephen, Anthony and Shaun, quickly showing their anger by returning home to Tyneside and the newly renamed Newcastle Wasps.
His team was also easily the best since the Wembley class of 92–93, the Brit pack of John Wolfe, naughty Norman Pinnington and the re-classified Bishop and Graham Garden, combining well with veterans Andy Steel and Paul Simpson, and imports Phil Huber, Barclay Pearce, and ex-NHLers Derek Laxdal and Bruce Bell.
Keith Milhench's Kingston Hawks joined the newly formed Premier League and once again dared belief amongst the loyal as successive pre-season victories over the Superleague Manchester Storm suggested the likes of Chris Eimers, Oleg Synkov and Danuse Bauba might be able to emerge from the shadows of Hull greats and restore the city to the countries elite.
Instead what has happened is repeated optimism and failure, the big name signings and returns of the likes of Dale Lambert, Mike Bishop and Ron Shudra failing to compensate the constant name changes and poor league positions that until recently had become near permanent.
Widely considered to be the finest player to grace the ice in Hull, Morrison scored another 220 points before an argument saw him transfer to the Billingham Bombers, and then back to the Warriors.
Dale Lambert The big Canadian defender originally joined the Seahawks as player-coach from the Medway Bears, helping GM Adrian Florence mould the team into a successful franchise.
But Wembley was to be his swansong, the love affair ending as a trade to the Solihull Barons was followed by spells in Milton Keynes, Durham, Newcastle, and Phoenix in the WCHL.
Dan Dorion The skilful American forward first joined the Seahawks in 92–93, the former Panther and 91–92 player of the year quickly inspiring Humberside to a six-game winning streak that guaranteed seventh position and a play-off place.
Although he left for the ECHLs Roanoke Express in 1994 he again answered Peter Johnson's call and returned to replace the injured Hawk Kuznetsov, once again inspiring an immediate change in the club's fortunes.