Northstars go down in first home game

Northstars lose 2-4 to CBR Brave after a tough showdown

The first home game of the season was definitely not a disappointment for the sold out Hunter Ice Skating Stadium on Saturday night.

The hockey was high quality, intense and kept fans on the edge of their seat.

“We played a really good game,” Northstars associate coach Joe Theriault said.

“Our defence was almost always on point. Our offence was on point. We flooded the neutral zones for them, we took a lot of their passes.

“We were able to work our power play very efficiently and both power plays were firing pretty on point.” Photo: Rhys Lavender

CBR Brave and Northstars have a rivalry that has always lead to big build ups and a physical game. Saturday’s game was no different and the teams were tied 0-0 the first period.

Mid-way through the second period, Newcastle local Pat Nadin broke the stalemate and put the Northstars on the scoreboard. However the CBR Brave answered back in 3 minutes with Joey Hughes putting one away with an assist from new goaltender Matt Hewitt.

The game was a tough tousle between the two teams and in the third period CBR Brave took the opportunity to capitalise on two slip ups from the Northstars.

“We just need to work on some discipline,” Theriault said. “Instead of flooding up the boards, they’re chucking in up the middle and getting picked off. Going up against pro hockey players they are going to pick that up every single time. Overall I think our defence all of our lines and our goalie [Dayne Davis] did really really well.”

It was only in the last 4 minutes, with the game locked at 2-2, that the Northstars faltered giving CBR Brave two advantages to score and take the lead 4-2.

Despite the loss, Theriault said the Northstars were looking forward, particularly when the team hit the ice with its full squad. New import Sam Lawson was not able to play Saturday’s game after being hit with a major penalty in the season opening game last weekend against the Sydney Ice Dogs.

The Northstars have five players (captain Robert Malloy, alternate captain Mat Lindsay, Richie Tesarik, Rob Haselhurst and goaltender Charlie Smart) in the Netherlands representing Australia at the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.

“I’m pretty excited for the season to come, pretty excited for what we have to offer,” Theriault said. “Especially when we have six other guys coming back, with Sam Lawson coming back, too, they are going to be game changers.”

The Northstars will look forward to the re-do of Saturday’s game when they travel to the “Brave Cave” in Canberra on Saturday, May 5. On Sunday, May 6 the Northstars return home to face Sydney Ice Dogs at 4pm.