The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues faced off against the Perth Thunder at the Blue Tongue’s new venue of Iceworld at Acacia Ridge over the weekend.
Blue Tongues fans filled the new facility to watch the locals take on the newest team to the AIHL for the second time this season on Friday night, which helped to make some noise in the building.
The Blue Tongues were the first team to strike in their Friday night game when James Sanford, assisted by Etienne Du Toit and Adam Geric, scored only 49 seconds into the game.
Perth evened up the scoreboard three minutes later when Phil Ginand netted the puck, assisted by Jordan Kyros.
Phil Ginand scored again a few minutes later, assisted by Paul Graham and Ken Rolph.
Two minutes later, Ken Rolph widened the gap to 3-1, with help from Ginand and Kyros.
The second period started with a goal from the Thunder, extending their lead to 4-1 thanks to Phil Ginand's hatrick (David Kudla and Aaron Wilson with assists).
Tempers escalated from frustration and while Ross Howell for the Blue Tongues and Ken Rolph for the Thunder were sent to the penalty box for roughing.
Adam Geric and Aaron Wilson were both ejected from the game with five minute majors for fighting and game misconducts with five minutes left in the second period.
Using this momentum, the Blue Tongues closed the gap half way through the period to 4-2 when Du Toit scored a minute after the penalties were handed down.
He was assisted by James Sanford and Greg Bay.
The Thunder hit back however, extending their lead when Rolph scored his second goal of the night, assisted by goaltender Keifer Smiley, to take the score to 5-2 at the end of the second period.
The Thunder remained dominant in the third period, and though the Blue Tongues closed the score line to 5-3 with a goal by Jon Bale, assisted by Greg Bay and Casey Minson with six minutes left in the game, the Blue Tongues were unable to close the gap any further.
The Thunder scored a final goal, credited to Kyros, assisted by Rolph and Simon Kudla.
Perth won 2-5 on Friday and 3-6 on Saturday, flying home with the full six points from the weekend.
The Blue Tongues will play again at home next weekend against the Sydney Bears at Iceworld Acacia Ridge on Saturday night.
The puck drops at 10:30pm. Tickets will be available at the door.