Team | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | CP | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adrenaline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Lightning | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Brave | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rhinos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Northstars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Player | Points |
---|---|
Ryan Annesley (SBR) | 0 |
Anthony Barnes (BRE) | 0 |
Connor Bartholomew (SID) | 0 |
Connor Bolger (CCR) | 0 |
Goalie | SV% |
---|---|
Justin Harrison (CCR) | - |
Anthony Kimlin (SBR) | - |
Matthew Montgomery (NNS) | - |
Nicholas Novysedlak (BRE) | - |
The Melbourne Ice froze out the Sydney Bears with a 4-3 victory at Macquarie on Saturday night in a strongly-contested game, with both sides leveraging young talent in the process.
Surrounded by rainbow flags and teams sporting rainbow taped gear to support LGBTQI rights, the Sydney AIHL Pride Game at Macquarie Ice Rink was opened by Ella Licari of the Sydney Sirens. Ella is first transgender player in the Australian Womens' Ice Hockey League and an incredible goaltender, finishing off the 2016-17 season with a 92% goal save percentage and an AWIHL Championship.
Ella Licari, the first transgender woman to play in the AWIHL (Sydney Sirens) opened the Sydney AIHL Pride Game with the ceremonial puck drop at Macquarie. All photos: Peter Podlaha.
The crowd and teams showed their Pride in support of LGBTQI rights.
With the game opened, it was Melbourne who put first points on the board with a scrappy goal from Nicklas Dahlberg finding its way around goaltender James Downie.
While the Bears were driving hard into their offensive zone they couldn’t get the puck close enough for a tight shot, forced by the Ice’s defence to shoot from the top of the circles.
With Downie blinded by a screen of players, Kristoffer Backman flicked the puck through for a second Melbourne goal, taking a 2-0 lead into the first break.
Goals to Dhalberg and Backman put the Ice in an early 2-0 lead by the end of the first period.
Melbourne busted out hard in the second period but it was the Bears who put the first goal away. Shorthanded after Tyerelle Clare took two minutes for holding, the Bears’ Tyler Noseworthy pulled the puck around Dayne Davis – still on his back after making the previous save – to reduce the Ice lead 2-1.
With a quick-flick, top-shelf goal to Thomas Lander just two minutes later, the Bears found themselves tied 2-2 with Melbourne which gave them the lift to drive harder and keep pushing.
Both teams upped their intensity and bore simultaneous penalties (Nick Rivait roughing; Joseph Hughes cross checking; then Brian Funes charging, Ethan Corford roughing), which produced close to five minutes of great four-on-four open ice action in the final minutes of the second period.
The Bears came out strong in the third: opening the final frame with swift passing, moving the puck around fluidly, resulting in a simple tap in through the back door and Noseworthy’s second goal of the night. The home crowd was electrified.
Slick passing and continued forward pressure kept the Bears in the game.
Yet Melbourne responded shortly after with Viktor Gibbs Sjodin flying up the ice to level the score 3-3 once again.
Moving end-to-end Melbourne’s drive was harder and faster and it paid off when Dahlberg gave them the go ahead goal with 3:20 left on the clock. Davis helped seal the victory for Melbourne behind a massive set of saves in the final seconds of the game to secure three regulation-win points.
Head Coach Charles Franzen placed praise on Davis’s presence and performance.
“Dayne is a game goalie and when we need him he steps up big time, said Franzen. “He is a huge character, and he hasn’t lost yet. For us, he is a very important piece.”
The Bears felt they gained a lift in competing well against the top ranked Melbourne team.
“I think we competed well, stated Bears’ Alternate Captain Brian Funes.
“When you’re competing against one of the top teams in the league it’s hard to swallow (a loss) and it was just an unlucky bounce and they got in front.”
Bear’s Captain Michael Schlamp shared this sentiment.
“We get confidence when we come out with only a one-goal difference against the top team in the league.”
Collectively, the Bears also credit young goaltender James Downie in keeping the faith.
“It’s hard when we don’t have a full line up,” said Schlamp, “Downie was great in net for us and we have a lot of confidence in him”.
Funes shared his support for their net minder. “Being a 17 year old, it’s not easy being a goalie, it’s the toughest position in the team, said Funes.
“With where we are at on the table (7th from 8), it is a lot to sit on a young guys shoulders. He is holding his composure well and we’re really proud of how he’s playing.”
Melbourne Ice Head Coach Franzen shared his wrap of the game.
“First period was ok, second period I was mad because I felt like we gave it away. We had the momentum and we had the game and I think it’s strong to come back from down 3-2 to win the game.”
Speaking of the fresh line up the Ice brought to Sydney, Franzen hinted at their strategy as their lead into the Finals at the top of the ladder
“We have six forwards at home that we are resting.”
Melbourne Ice stay in Sydney to face the Sydney Ice Dogs at 5pm AEST on Sunday July 23, while the Bears rest until next weekend when they'll host CBR Brave at Macquarie.
Contact Information
Australian Ice Hockey League Ltd
Level 1
7 Lonsdale Street
Braddon, Australian Capital Territory
2612 Australia
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