The Proski Newcastle North Stars walked away with six well-earned points against Sydney teams and Bauer Conference rivals the Ice Dogs and Bears following two hard-fought games over the weekend.
The North Stars’ two wins on the weekend have seen them overtake the Ice Dogs in the AIHL Standings and now lead the Bauer Conference with 15 points.
The North Stars travelled to Liverpool on Saturday to face the Ice Dogs who were aiming for their third win over Newcastle.
“During the week we worked on what to do to beat them,” said coach Garry Doré.
“We found systems, defended extremely well, and along with playing strong defensive hockey our goal scorers were hitting their straps and scoring.”
The North Stars had a convincing 6-3 win over the Ice Dogs.
Beau Taylor produced a hat-trick, his first of the season.
Brian Bales had two goals to his name and a first goal for Dave Upton as a North Star.
“Jeremy Boyer and Rob Lawrance were involved in the setting up for most of them,” said Doré, crediting the import players.
The North Stars returned home from Sydney to host Bears on Sunday.
In a completely different game to the weekend before, which saw the Bears lose 8-5, the Sydney team came out with fierce determination to give the North Stars a run for their points.
Tim Stanger opened the game, skating onto the ice for his first shift and getting a birthday goal after his first touch of the puck.
Several minutes later Bears import Craig Gallo equalised the game, which Bales and Taylor answered to end the first period 3-1.
The first period saw the Bears with several penalties including goaltender Chris Slauenwhite ejected from the game after a slashing call.
The Bears’ second period saw them with more players on the ice to get three goals past Josh Broekman, who played his first AIHL game as starting goaltender.
“Garry is letting me get a few starts,” said the young goaltender.
“Olivier won’t be here forever and hopefully I’ll be the next starting goaltender.”
Vlad Rubes started the Bears on their second period comeback with five minutes left in the period.
Rubes was followed by Tomas Landa with an equalising third goal, and worrying North Stars fans, another goal to Rubes to take them into the lead, 4-3.
It wasn’t until import Jeremy Boyer tied the game halfway through the third period and produced another goal – coming off Bears goaltender Stuart Clemie’s glove – that fans breathed a sigh of relief.
One more empty net goal made by Rob Starke, who 45 meters away from the Bears net in the North Stars zone, hurled the puck diagonally down the ice for it to neatly make its way home, saw the game end 7-4.
“We probably came out a bit too cocky against the Bears and got the lead,” said Dore.
“But their persistence makes you realise that there are no easy games.
“We had to dig deep to come up with the win.”
Next weekend the North Stars will travel to Canberra to meet the Knights before a “well deserved” break.
Following their game on May 26 against the Knights, the North Stars don’t have a game until June 17 when the Bears host the North Stars at the
Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Newcastle.
Coach Doré said the team will continue practicing, but will have a week off for a well-earned break.