Inside the Lockeroom: Chris James

The start to the 2012 season for the Melbourne Mustangs has been up & down, dropping games that they should have won & falling short against the new boys Perth Thunder. But with things started to improve & coming off their first win of the season last weekend against the Gold Coast Blue Tongues, i was able to catch up with Mustangs alternate captain Chris James, as he discussed hockey life & the Melbourne Mustangs IHC.

1. How did your love for ice hockey come about?

 When I was younger, I used to go to roller blading lessons and at the end of the lesson, we would play a game of inline hockey. They started up a team from that class, so I joined it and starting playing inline when I was 7. After a few seasons, a guy joined our team who had come across from ice hockey so I decided I wanted to try that. That was when I was 11. I already loved playing inline so moving across to ice was an easy transition, and anyone who knows hockey will tell you once you're part of it, you rarely leave it!! 

2. At age 15 you moved to the Czech Republic to play hockey. What was the experience like playing in a different hockey culture?

 It was very different. Hockey over there is like AFL over here. Every town has an ice rink, and an ice hockey club and each game the arenas are filled. The Czech extra-liga (their top division) is huge! The clubs are supported by a massive advertising and sponsorship base as well as having world class stadiums which are filled to the brim each game. As a 15 year old it was heaven. I was living and breathing hockey. Unfortunately, at 15 it was also tough being away from home and everything I knew, so I decided to come home and finish school instead of staying and pursuing hockey.

  

3. You were involved in a motorcycle accident prior to the 2011 season. How is the body holding up? can we expect a fit & firing CJ for the entire 2012 season?

 Yeah I was quite disappointed last season after working hard over summer I was feeling fit and ready for the season. I definitely rushed back too early from the accident and didn't let my shoulder heal so ended up playing my 17 games with it still separated. I had to call it quits halfway through the season and rehab the shoulder before I did any more damage.

The Mustangs had quite an intense pre-season for this year and I think we've gone in a lot stronger and fitter than we were last year, hoping to use that as an advantage in our season. Given that strong base and a proper rehab program last year, the body is holding up well. I've had no concerns from the shoulder so far, so I'm definitely hoping to make it through the season fit and firing. 

4. It's been somewhat of a shaky start for the Mustangs this season?
We were definitely disappointed not to come away with wins in the first two games, especially when we definitely believe we could have. Looking at the positives, however, we've shown we can push the best to the line and are looking to take that mentality forward through the season.

Our new coach arrived only the week before the first game so we have been learning to play to his game plan, and he's been learning how we play. It was always going to take some time for us both to adapt to each other but things are starting to click and we're looking to move forward and add some numbers to our Wins column.

5. How important was getting that first win for locker room moral?
A win is always good for morale. Like I said above, we were disappointed not to have chalked up a couple of wins already, and it was bitter sweet to again give up a decent lead in the last period and allow the other team back in the game. That said we've proven to ourselves we are a quality team and I think that's what we needed; to prove to ourselves how good we can be. Having that confidence in ourselves and the team is a very important component to the game and if we build that up, then our on ice performance will just keep getting better.

6. Since last season we have seen a change in head coach. What has it been like working under Bill Wilkinson?
As I mentioned, it was always going to take some time to adapt, both for him and for us. Bill has unbelievable experience and massive hockey knowledge, so we were always going to come away better hockey players and a better team having him as a coach. Steve Laforet put in all the hard yards in the pre-season getting us ready before Bill arrived so that we could hit the ground running. It's still early in the season, and as we continue to learn from Bill, we'll just keep getting better.

7. You had your first taste of AIHL action in 2011 as both club & player. What is the goal for the 2012 season?
We achieved what we set out to achieve last year, and that was to show that we could take it to the teams in the league. Obviously this year we want to improve on that again, and be a finals contender. I think we have the team for it, so that's what we're aiming for.

8. You played in a very entertaining opener against the Melbourne Ice. How important are the derby games to the players?
There's always going to be a rivalry between cross-town teams and it's felt by the fans as well as the players. The games always feel that little bit more intense and with the Icehouse filled to capacity the atmosphere is crazy.

9. The loss of Scott Corbett was a big blow to the Mustangs family, his impact on the club was enormous. The replacement imports epecially Jake Ebner & James Stanford seem to be settling in well?
Yeah, it was tough to lose Corby after last year, obviously he played a huge role in the birth of the Mustangs and it was going to be a case of big skates to fill.

Last year we showed that while we were a very capable offensive team, we needed to strengthen the defensive aspect of our game. The addition of Dean Moore and James Sanford with Scott Levitt returning from last year has really strengthened our defense. They've also been working really well with our local defensive players to help them improve which is great. 

Having lost Corby and Bourke from last year, we've needed other players to step up offensively. Ebner has jumped into the scoring role with 5 points in 4 games, and we've had lots of players contributing to the scoring which is good to see.

10. We have seen the AIHL expand into Perth. How big of an impact can ice hockey have in the Australian community?
I've always said that hockey is everything Australians like about sport. It's super fast, very physical and exciting. When people come to a game, they keep coming back. It just needs the exposure. We're starting to see it with the AIHL expanding to Perth, the increased media coverage this season (including decent mainstream media coverage) and the crowd numbers increasing. If things keep accelerating the way they are then I'm expecting big things for the AIHL in the not too distant future.

11. On a lighter note, do you have any pregame rituals?
I'm not too superstitious. I generally run through the same off-ice warm up, but that's about all. I think if you get too caught up on rituals, if something prevents you from running through that ritual, it can mess up you whole mindset. I like to keep it simple.

12. Who is the biggest prankster in the Mustangs locker room?
I don't think I could pick one. Everyone thinks they're a comedian on that team.

13. Getting off the AIHL for a minute. Can you give us a tip for the Stanley Cup?
I've been saying since LA knocked out Vancouver that they'll win it. I'm standing by that!

14. Thanks for your time today. Best of luck to you and the Mustangs in season 2012.
Thank you!!!!

By Andrew  Macdougall

Thunder struck down by Knights

Perth Thunder officially entered the competition on Saturday afternoon, the stage was set, large crowd, nice arena & a new era in Australian ice hockey. But when the smoked settled on the big occasion, Perth couldn't get that lucrative first victory.

Perth fell at the last huddle with the Canberra Knights taking the honours in a shootout victory, it wasn't something to be ashamed of, as Canberra already look like the shootout kings. The Knights have been victorious in 3 recent shootouts to start the season, so losing in that vain shouldn't worry Perth all that much. 

While the result is important the occasion can & should be marked as a total success, the Perth Ice Arena is a perfect venue for hockey, it displays the professional look the AIHL strives for in it's competition & looks terrific with glass all around the rink, something which all AIHL clubs should be working towards.

Perth's squad is also assembled fairly well, they have the likes of young Canadian winger Kenny Rolp, and former UK Elite League winger Paul Graham. Key imports are a must for any team in the AIHL, but the mix must be right in order to succeed in what has become a very competitive competition. 

They also have Australian representatives Greg Hyde & Ric Del Basso to provide the right nucleolus for the squad to not only be competitive, but provide enough entertainment & fire power to bring fans back through the turn styles.

That will be the key for Perth Thunder moving forward, can they sustain the interest to make this a profitable hockey club?

I don't see any reason for it not to work, ice hockey in Australia can appeal to a vast range of people in the community. It's fast, high scoring, tough & for families wanting to have a day out, the game doesn't drag in length compared to other sports that go on throughout the country. 

They have also kept the trend from the early matches within the league going, which is goal scoring. Coming up against a goaltender in Mike Brown it wasn't going to be easy, Perth were shooting well & just couldn't get that extra edge to walk away with all the points, coach Stan Scott was still pleased & is already looking towards next week.

 "We were probably the better team on the ice, but Canberra played a good defensive structure,” 

 "we fly to Melbourne next weekend,” “We've got to hold our own against those teams."

700 peopled packed into the arena, media filled the place & Perth looked up for the match. The support for hockey is there for all to see, let's hope we can see it continue for the remainder of the season. 

The ground work had been done, now with the club officially hitting the ice, it's now time for the Thunder to take the AIHL by storm.

By Andrew Macdougall

AIHL back with a bang!

The 2012 AIHL season kicked off in style last weekend, crowds were buzzing, teams were hitting & teams were scoring. Finally the off season transactions & friendly fixtures were finished, the real stuff had arrived.

With opening weekend kicking off all eyes were on the Melbourne derby, and who could blame you? 

The inclusion of the Melbourne Mustangs last season has definitely spiced up the ice hockey talk in Melbourne, and in true Melbourne Ice fashion, their home opener was a packed house. More than 1,700 fans piled into the Medibank Icehouse to witness an entertaining match between two growing rivals, the Goodall Cup champions were tested, but they answered in emphatic style, scoring late & then getting the win in a shootout.

The derby in Melbourne was just one of many games across the weekend which showed the nation, that not only was the AIHL back, but it's back bigger & better than ever.

The other derby game which took place was between the Sydney Ice Dogs & Sydney Bears, the Bears took first blood as they defeated the Ice Dogs 5-2. It was another jam packed arena, with the Bears opening their new home for the first time. Derby games are always intense, it never matters where you are table wise, first or last game, you always want to win. Sydney Bears will take joy from the opening day victory, but, it could well be short lived. As the Ice Dogs look for revenge, they host the Bears this weekend in what will surely be another enthralling derby match.

Seven games in total were held across the weekend, in Newcastle fans were also experiencing nail biting hockey. As the North Stars & Blue Tongues battled it out, one goal the only difference on the night with Newcastle taking the honours thanks to a late 2nd period goal from Brian Bales. 

Over in Canberra, it was a case of the one man show. Knights goalie Mike Brown put in a terrific shift, saving 60 of 62 shots as the Adelaide Adrenaline players struggled to get anything past Brown, who was in red hot form in front of the net all game. 

There was a total of 56 goals across two match days on opening weekend, fans love goals, it's what we watch hockey for & to a larger scale sport. And if the opening matches are any indication of the season ahead, fans will be treated to some exciting hockey.

Moving onto this weekend we see the emergence of Perth Thunder, who officially enter the competition for the first time in 2012, and by all reports the place is an expected sell out. The expansion of Perth was big news for everyone at AIHL headquarters in the off season, I look forward in anticipation to what Perth will bring to the game of hockey in this country. I am sure the people of Perth will be treated to an exciting & prosperous hockey club for years to come, Perth will no doubt be looking to make the trip daunting for any other side in the AIHL.

It's great to just have hockey back, off seasons seem like centuries for us fans, hearing the slap of the puck, crash of the boards & sound of the arena goal horn, has finally soothed the thousands of hockey souls.

By Andrew Macdougall

Perth & Mustangs come up big winners

So the Australian Ice Hockey League continues to improve, league structure, continuous crowd improvement & now the Perth Thunder have been added into the 2012 AIHL schedule. Along with the great news coming out of Perth,  the Mustangs have been officially granted the ability to call themselves Melbourne.

The league is slowly working it's way towards a fully fledged national competition, the addition of Perth into the league is a sign of the growing popularity that ice hockey has in this country. The move to include Perth in the AIHL plans moving forward was a tricky & well thought out process, considering the financial costs it will now put on not only Perth, but the rest of the competition. 

 It's a big bonus that everyone involved was able to produce a viable business plan, travel costs was always going to be one of the main issues when thinking about the addition of Perth into the league. Time difference and the fact that every club in the hockey league are non professional, it meant everything involved in the decision had to be worked over with a fine tooth comb. Perth had been trying to enter the league since 2009 & they finally got their wish, Stan Scott was delighted.

“The AIHL worked closely with us to develop a system that could overcome these issues,” he said.

 “You must consider that no matter when Perth actually entered the league, the issues relating to costs, travel and scheduling would always exist for us,” said Scott.

Talk has already surfaced as to what will now happen with the fixture having an additional ninth team in the competition, talk of an East v West scenario has been spoken about at league headquarters. I firmly believe an East v West type of fixture wouldn't work & think that the league should just increase the season, having more games will just invite more fans back through the gates who love ice hockey. This of course will need to be viable for all parties concerned, travel costs & game day setup costs will need to be carefully monitored when discussing the new fixture which will now include Perth.

Perth Thunder the newest inclusion into the Australian Ice Hockey League is in my opinion, something we as a hockey community should all be proud of. It highlights the professionalism in which everyone from the top down has been trying to implement, from the commission, clubs & officials everyone has done there bit in improving the sport in Australia. Now that we are on the verge of hitting the national competition landmark, if not already there with Perth, we should all give ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done.

One of the other big news stories this off season was the approval for the Mustangs to now call themselves Melbourne, which is what the club had been wanting since entering the AIHL this past season. With the Mustangs unable to be called Melbourne throughout the 2011 season, it will now hopefully open doors to more financial success at the club.  Corporate marketing will be the biggest winner with the decision, having the Melbourne name will now entice better sponsorship going forward & the club also hopes it will improve the fan base as well.

With the Mustangs holding their own in the 2011 season, finishing a solid 6th in the league. The addition was a great success for the AIHL, and the approval of the Melbourne name is something which continues to highlight how well managed the club is both on & off the ice.

Perth & the Mustangs will now lock horns once again for the 2012 season, having already fought out epic encounters during games played across 2010. It is set to continue & is predicted that the fireworks will fly once again, as the AIHL looks towards another hard hitting competition season.

By Andrew Macdougall

Match recap: July 10

The second week of July wrapped up with two return games from the previous night, Ice ArenA & Icehouse were the venues once again. Melbourne looking to finish off a poor Canberra team, while Adelaide once again were in for a fight against the Mustangs. While up north, we had no action between the Ice Dogs & Blue Tongues.

Sydney Ice Dogs P-P Gold Coast

The second match for the weekend between the Ice Dogs and Blue Tongues, was called off due to ice issues. Referees called the game off and both teams were in agreement with the decision, a rematch date has yet to be confirmed.

Canberra 5-8 Melbourne

With a demoralising defeat the night before, Canberra were looking to bounce back and push Melbourne to the limit. A much better all round team performance was needed from Canberra, if they were to gain anything from the evenings fixture.

Much like the night the before, things started off brightly for the Knights as they opened the scoring through Anthony Circula. The Knights took an early lead but seen it pegged back three minutes later as Hughes assisted by Baclig & Armstrong, got Melbourne on the board. It was a physical & frenetic first period, both teams looking to go on the offensive early to try and create a handy goal cushion. With the game tied at 1-1 Canberra once again hit the net, Jordan Gavin who is having a career AIHL season got his sixth goal of the season and had the Canberra natives buzzing. 

As the first period headed towards the five minute mark Melbourne kicked things up a gear, two goals in two minutes to Powell & Baclig had put Melbourne back in control again. But, unlike the night before, Canberra were ready to fight for everything and prove that they were capable of mixing it with the big boys. Britt Ouellette was the next player on the score sheet, leveling things up at 3-3 . With another power play opportunity, Melbourne were able to deliver & take the lead, as Matt Armstrong sent one in behind Lindner. It gave Melbourne the lead at 4-3, as both teams headed in for the first period break.

As the second period got underway Melbourne were looking to steady things up & really put Canberra to the sword, but with five minutes gone, Addison De Boer had everything tied up as Canberra punished Melbourne on a two man advantage. With things tied up at 4-4 Melbourne turned the screws, the cream started to rise to the top as Joseph Hughes went on a scoring run. Two unassisted goals & a hat trick for the afternoon, put Melbourne in the box seat as they looked to crush Canberra & really put the 12-5 shot count into reality. With time running down in the second, Melbourne got a 7-4 advantage after a superb unassisted effort from Webster.

Melbourne were in control, Canberra still with a slight glimmer of hope they opened the door a little wider when Circula got his second of the night. Canberra were now looking to hit the scoreboard again, having one of their most productive periods against Melbourne all weekend. But the defending champions were able settle things down, control the game & finish off the afternoon adding another goal to the stat sheet. With literally one second left in the game, Powell gave the home fans one last reason to cheer as he put away his second for the game.

Melbourne now take a six point advantage on top of the AIHL standings, Newcastle who are sitting in second place travel to the Icehouse next weekend. A packed crowd will be there, as both of the top AIHL teams in 2011 go head to head.

Mustangs IHC 4-3 Adelaide (OT)

Two even teams pitted against each other in Adelaide were ready to provide another great spectacle, Adelaide had taken the honours the previous afternoon, but the Mustangs were ready to fight it out once again.

Another tight game seen both teams evenly matched on the shot count and headed into the first intermission locked in at 0-0, both teams keeping things clean as no penalty minutes were awarded during the first period. 

With both teams trying to gauge the pace of the match, things started to open up during the second period. The Mustangs got in first when Jamie Bourke slotted a nicely placed effort high into the Adrenaline net, it didn't last long as some superb play from Scarbrough gave James Keane enough time to pull the trigger after some physical work & bring things level at 1-1. 

With the opening goals locked away Adelaide surged forward for more and were granted just that when Mike Werner got his first and Adelaide the lead with seven minutes remaining in the second period. The Adrenaline pushed the puck around well & with a lovely sliding pass Werner slotted it away. Things started to get heated, Greg Oddy & Jamie Bourke were both ejected from the game as the two players became involved in a scuffle, while eight more players were booked ten minutes for misconduct.

As the third period got underway Adelaide were looking to continue the momentum and build on their second period shot count dominance, but the Mustangs had other ideas. Penalty boxes full, both teams were down to their bare bones & it was the Mustangs who came out flying. Adrian Nash went unassisted as he stole the puck on the opposition blue line and lofted in a beautifully placed shot, it was truly a great display of individual talent. With two minutes to go in the game Adelaide looked to take all points, David Huxley receiving a pass from the blue line, got one past the waiting goalie.

Two minutes to go & all hope seemingly lost, the Mustangs pulled their goalie and it was a successful move. Twenty eights seconds remaining in the match and the Mustangs got the equaliser, pushing the puck around the ice they were able to find Levitt low down on the right hand side, with a last ditch effort he was able bounce the puck off the post to tie things up and head the Ice ArenA into yet another shootout in successive weeks.

The Mustangs were able to prevail in the shootout after both teams missed opportunities, it was all down to Mike Werner. He was unable to raise the roof and give Adelaide the win, as he witnessed his shot hit the goal post & fly out which gave the Mustangs some much needed away points.

By Andrew Macdougall

Match recap: July 9

The second week of July put forward some very interesting matches, Mustangs IHC traveled to Adelaide for a weekend double header & Canberra visited the Icehouse, in hope of providing another upset against one of the big dogs. While up north we had the Blue Tongues & Ice Dogs do battle, to try and gain ascendency in the race for fourth position.

Sydney Ice Dogs 1-7 Gold Coast

In what was booked as one of the games of the round, it was the Blue Tongues who were able to prevail in the first of two games which were to be played over the weekend. Clinicial finishing was the difference between the two teams, as the Blue Tongues were able to put away their chances, while the Ice Dogs we will no doubt kick themselves at the opportunities missed.

Tobias Falk was once again a star for the Gold Coast, slotting away three handy goals in another hat trick performance. With things fairly even in terms of shots on goal during the first period, it was the Blue Tongues & that man Falk who got things rolling. It was the three Gold Coast imports who lit up the opening period Mike McRae put in the first goal only seven minutes in, then Falk added another two with eight minutes left in the period. It was a double blow for the Ice Dogs, Falk able to get his second for the night only five seconds after the restart of play from scoring his first.

Things just went from bad to worse for the Sydney team, if being 3-0 done wasn't enough to cause concern, another four goals in the second period from the Blue Tongues buried the game & put the nail in the coffin for Sydney. Falk, McRae & Amado were all among the action, providing plenty of opportunities in front of goal & having the ability to get seven past the two keepers. 

A superb game in goal by Luke Fiveash, never allowed Sydney to get a sniff. With both teams having numerous shots on goal, his efforts to push everything away were a real boost for the home team. A consolation during the third period denied Fiveash a shutout, in what was otherwise a superb night of goal tending.

With Gold Coast fighting for the fourth spot in this seasons playoffs, their imports will be the ones who will have to carry the load throughout the remainder of the season. Falk & Amado have been sensational in recent weeks, their finishing, general hockey play & skating has been top notch & is going to be the catalyst for a late playoff push.

Although the scoreline of 7-1 does look rather lopsided, Ice Dogs definitely had their chances to get back into the match. Shot counts of 10-13 in the first, 9-8 in the second & 14-10 for the final period gave the away team enough hope that things could be turned around in the follow up game on Sunday afternoon.

Mustangs IHC 3-5 Adelaide

The Mustangs traveled to Adelaide in desperate search of points, as the try to find a way into the top half of the standings. Not totally out of playoff contention, the Mustangs needed to take as many points from the weekends trip to Adelaide as they possibly could. It wasn't going to be an easy task, with Adelaide coming off some superb performances the week before against the league leaders Melbourne Ice.

Things did start bright for the Mustangs, taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission thanks to some offensive hockey which seen them lead the shot count. A turnover & quick break from Scott Corbett was enough to put the Mustangs ahead with a lovely timed finished, not needing any partners Corbett burst clear & couldn't be stopped. 

The second period was a rather tight tussle early, with both teams unable to add to the 1-0 scoreline. As the period reached the half way mark Adelaide started to gain momentum and seemingly gain control of the match, it resulted in an equalising goal with nine minutes to go. 1-1 as the game ticked down towards the end of the second, the Mustangs would hit the lead again and it was that man Corbett. Although the Mustangs seemed to have settled the match, Adelaide continued surging forward & were rewarded as they put away three goals within the final four minutes, to head into the break with a 4-2 lead.

The third period was much like the first two, a tight contest between to evenly matched teams, with plenty of opportunities but no one really able to break the game open. Andrew Belic scored half way through the final term, and it was game on again. With the scoreline at 3-4 in favour of the home team, things were looking to go down to the wire. But with three minutes remaining in the game, Sean Scarbrough iced the match & made sure the points were staying in the city of churches.

A poor pass deep in the Mustangs offensive zone, allowed the Adrenaline to intercept & break quickly, Josh Harding pushing the puck out wide left, which allowed Scarbrough to skate up ice & drag the puck across Micheal James to crush any hopes of a Mustangs late equaliser.

Newcastle 4-2 Sydney Bears

An all NSW weekend was ahead for these two teams, with Newcastle looking to turn their disappointing Canberra trip around and the Bears looking to get a mini run of wins going, as they try to lift themselves from the foot of the table.

The match started off in rather dull fashion, both teams not really troubling either goalie as shots on goal were hard to come by. Both teams headed into the first break locked in at 0-0, and no real winner was in sight. With the second period underway many thought that Newcastle would come out all guns blazing, but it was the Bears who were on the offensive, shot after shot were headed to towards the net. If Matt Ezzy had fallen asleep during the first period, he was now wide awake as the puck was rocketing towards him. Sydney were finally able to break the deadlock halfway through the period, Brett Nelson-Bond put the Bears ahead as he finally got one to get past Matt Ezzy, who couldn't keep everything out. A dominant Bears period seen them lead 1-0 into the final break, as the shot count was a one sided 11-5.

With the lead & majority of the momentum, Sydney looked to pounce and cause another big upset much like Canberra did against the North Stars. But, as most good teams do, Newcastle were able ride out the onslaught from the Bears & gain control which in turn provided enough time for their stars to work their magic. Cartwright, Bales & Chwedoruk were all able to work themselves into the contest, which was enough to allow Newcastle a 4-2 win, in what was a grueling and hard earned victory. 

Brian Bales was awarded the game MVP, as he provide plenty of spark for the Newcastle team. Not the type of performance we have come to expect from Newcastle, they will definitely need to bring their A game next weekend, as they travel to the Icehouse and face league leaders Melbourne Ice.

Canberra 2-8 Melbourne

A game tipped to be fairly one sided, proved to be just that as Melbourne took care of business in game one of the weekends double header. In what can only be described as a dominant performance, Melbourne were able to pepper Canberra goalie Jason Lindner throughout the three periods. 

An opening goal to Brett Ouellette gave the Knights some hope, but that's where it all stopped. Inspired by Obi Aduba, Melbourne were able to go on the attack as they had shot after shot. Jason Baclig was once again on the score sheet as he went unassisted to level things up at 1-1, the first period was then rounded out as three more Melbourne goals were put on the board. Perreault, Armstrong and Aduba all getting their chance to hit the back of the net, things weren't looking good for Canberra as they trailed 4-1 at the first break.

Not much changed for the remainder of the match, more shots on goal for Melbourne & more pucks hitting the Canberra net. Three more goals in the second all but sealed a Melbourne win, if it wasn't already done after the first fifteen minutes. 

Out shooting the Knights 33-22 showed exactly how dominant the Ice were on the night, boosted by another superb & rowdy home crowd, Melbourne showed exactly why they are now clear Goodall Cup favourites.

It was a superb team performance from Melbourne, Canberra had all their work cut for them as they approached game two on Sunday afternoon. After the heroics of beating Newcastle last weekend, it seems a distant memory for the Knights now, as the toughest road trip in the AIHL has hit them at full steam. 

By Andrew Macdougall

Match recap: July 3

Two games on Sunday rounded out the first weekend of July, Melbourne once again faced the Adrenaline in a rematch from the previous night. And we had the Blue Tongues traveling to Penrith as they finished their all NSW weekend, with the Bears ready to cause some misery on a playoff chasing Gold Coast team.

Melbourne 2-3 Adelaide (OT)

It what was a case of deja vu for the Melbourne Ice, they once again succumbed to the Adrenaline in a shootout, the Ice just couldn't get on top of Adelaide & deliver the killer blow. Adelaide put the jets on early in the first period, taking control of the match & constantly peppering the Ice goal, but to no avail. Melbourne Ice goaltender Stu Denman was instrumental in keeping the Ice alive early, getting gloves, sticks or anything he could find to put in the way of the approaching puck. 

As Melbourne settled into a rhythm they were able to open the scoring, when Perrault pushed one past Olivier Martin after a scramble behind the Adelaide net. As the first period drew to a close, Adelaide captain Greg Oddy was able to tie the game up, scoring with only twenty five seconds left in the period. A lovely piece of play from the Adrenaline had Oddy surging up the middle, a quick flick outside to a waiting Rezek, only to have it played back in perfectly to Oddy for the put away.

As Adelaide seen star forward Cass Delsar leave the ice, in what was later diagnosed as an ankle sprain, it looked as though the Adrenaline would be crushed by the news. 

With the loss of such a key skater, the Ice looked to take control of the match. They started dominating possession which created an opening for Perrault to notch up his second, in what can only be described as a scrappy goal, the Ice were able to keep digging away and eventually got the puck past Martin, it gave the Ice a 2-1 lead heading into the intermission. As the third period got under way the Ice looked to be in command, but captain Oddy wasn't going to let this game slip away. With the puck being controlled wide right by Mike Werner, Oddy drifted across the Ice defenders to receive a pass & slot it away nicely. With both teams pushing forward throughout the third period, neither side were able to get that critical goal, as the game eventually went into another shootout. 

Once again the star of the show was Olivier Martin, as he produced a range of saves to deny Jason Baclig & Joe Hughes. Adelaide were then able to get the job done, Dean Peterson & captain Oddy were able to do enough to get the puck around Stu Denman & give Adelaide a 2-0 weekend sweep against the traveling Melbourne Ice.

Gold Coast 7-5 Sydney Bears

A game that was always tipped to produce a Gold Coast win, delivered in spades yesterday afternoon. Empathic performances from Tobias Falk & Matt Amado, was enough to give the Blue Tongues a much needed win as they keep their playoff hopes alive.

As the game got underway it was Gold Coast who took first blood, Matt Amado continuing his outstanding form with a nicely placed effort which cruised past Sheldon Baerg. With the Coasters seemingly controlling most of the opening play, it wasn't long before the Bears turned it up & really pressured the Blue Tongues net. 

As Gold Coast took 1-0 lead into the second period, the Bears were looking to get things all evened up and that's exactly what they did. Czech born Vlad Rubes gave the Bears a much needed lifeline as he was able to deliver the Sydney team their first for the afternoon, it stayed 1-1 for much of the second period until Alex Boyd delivered for the traveling team. Only 53 seconds left in the period & with Tony Demelinne in the box for roughing, the Blue Tongues pounced on the power play, it gave them the lead and a 2-1 advantage heading into the third.

With both teams keep things fairly even throughout the opening two periods, the third was an absolute cracker. Both teams putting away chances in what was a very entertaining and attacking period of hockey, 12-13 was the shot count as the Bears tried to bring the game back to a level playing field. With Demelinne back on the ice it was the spark the Bears needed, a beautifully placed pass setup Rubes & he didn't disappoint, getting his second of the night while bringing the game back to 2-2. The game went back & forth as both teams tried to get the killer blow, the Bears briefly took the lead, but it was quickly stamped out by a determined Blue Tongues roster. 

As the game came down to the wire, Tobias Falk stepped up in a big way. Bringing Gold Coast back on level terms at 3-3, then pushing on a power play to give the Blue Tongues the lead. Amado & Falk were now starting to hit full speed, skating up & down the ice looking for every opportunity to finish off the game. The final nail in the coffin came when Falk skated clear to score unassisted with only two minutes to go. His third of the night in what was a superb performance from Falk aided by some lovely work by Matt Amado, who also finished the night with a hat trick. 

Gold Coast get a much needed win on the road to last placed Bears,who continue to struggle this season. Gold Coast will continue their push for playoff hockey, sitting in fifth place behind the Sydney Ice Dogs it's going to be an uphill battle, but one i am sure they are ready for.

By Andrew Macdougall