Bears fall to shootout Stars

The Proski North Stars played an intense game against the Sydney Bears on Sunday, winning 1-0 in yet another shoot out.

So far, the Bears have been the only team to break the North Stars’ shoot out winning streak, beating the North Stars last week in Penrith.

The scores stayed even at zero all forcing the game at the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium (HISS) to a shoot out.

North Stars coach Don Champagne called the game a “battle of the goalies” between North Stars goal Matt Ezzy and import Bears goal Nick Boucher.

The intensity of the playing heated up during the third period, each side making valiant attempts at goal, but unable to break the deadlock.

The intensity stretched to the shoot out, sending the 500 strong crowd to their feet to watch the one on one action.

Bears player Eric Begin scored the first goal against Ezzy, but the Australian goalie did not let pass any other attempts made at him.

Blair Tassone, third on the North Stars shoot out line up, slipped past Bears goal Boucher, followed by original import player Gicu Oprea after two more attempts by the North Stars.

Champagne said the only way the game could have been better was if newly returned Captain, Ray Sheffield, scored the final goal, but said Oprea scoring the winning goal was significant.

Sheffield has returned from retirement and assisting coaching and will assume his role as captain.

“Ray is feeling a lot better,” said Champagne. “He didn’t want to go out on a loss and feels that this year the North Stars has what it will take to win.”

The next home game will be June 5^th against the Adelaide Adrenaline, the team which beat the North Stars in the grand final last season.

It will be the first time the North Stars have played Adelaide since this season began.