Player | Points |
---|---|
francis Drolet | 53 |
Josh Adkins | 48 |
Zane Jones | 47 |
Riley Klugerman | 47 |
Team | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | CP | PTS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brave | 26 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 63 |
Northstars | 26 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 56 |
Lightning | 26 | 9 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 30 |
Adrenaline | 26 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
Rhinos | 26 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Round four: split road trip |
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The Newcastle Northstars are hanging on to a top four spot in the AIHL ladder after splitting the results of their two road games on the weekend.
In Canberra on Saturday, the Northstars lost to CBR Brave 4-3.
The team reversed the score at Macquarie on Sunday against Sydney Ice Dogs to come out with a 4-3 win.
“It’s sort of a tale of two-parts really,” Northstars coach Andrew Petrie said after Sunday’s game.
“Pretty heart-breaking yesterday in Canberra, pretty happy with tonight’s performance.
“I thought we did a really good job tonight of playing with and for each other.”
The Northstars have now played eight games, more than any other team, but sit in fourth spot with 10 points after winning only two in regulation and one in overtime.
Newcastle have lost three games outright – two of those were the opening round of the season in the brutal Adelaide and Perth trip – and two in overtime.
While it has been a shaky start to the season, there is still 20 more games of the regular season to be played and the schedule shifts in Newcastle’s favour this weekend when they host a double header at home.
Last weekend’s match ups began with the trip down to Canberra for another round of the Capital punishment rivalry.
The Brave Cave, as always, provided an electric atmosphere as soon as fans entered the rink.
Around 20 Newcastle fans (also known as the Mooseketeers) had travelled down to support the Northstars in their third encounter with CBR Brave so far this season.
Just three seconds after the puck had dropped in the first period, Newcastle forward Zane Jones was penalised for interference.
The home crowd went wild after the show Jones put on during the previous week’s encounter.
The first period was full of chances, big hits and lots of intensity from both sides.
Charlie Smart, in goal for Newcastle, pulled off some incredible saves but CBR Brave kept the pressure up and eventually Brian Bales snuck one past him.
With 31 seconds left in the first period CBR defenceman Jan Safar managed to further the Brave’s lead to 2-0.
The first period ended with the Northstars behind – in points and man power.
CBR’s Matt Hervey and Newcastle’s Hamish Powell exchanged blows right on the whistle.
Both players were sent to the showers and did not return to the ice.
Early in the second period, with Newcastle on a powerplay, Northstars defenceman Felix Poulin managed to slap one in from the blue line, right over CBR goaltender Aleksi Toivonen’s shoulder.
CBR forward Stephen Blunden did not leave the goal answered, sending his team to a 3-1 lead at the end of the second period.
Both teams came into the third period absolutely charging, playing a very physical period.
The Northstars were able to equalise halfway through with both Poulin and fellow import Steve Kuhn putting the puck away.
Both goaltenders made some incredible stops in a fast paced, high skilled game.
A knife could have cut the tension in the rink as time wound down and the game was tied up 3-3.
With 45 seconds to go Geordie Wudrick secured CBR Brave the win. The final score was 4-3.
The game was physical, with the Northstars coming out with a few injuries.
But the weekend proved that Northstars are made of tough stuff.
Early in the third period Joe Harcharik came face-to-face with a wayward puck, which put him out of the rest of the game.
However, on Sunday he was back out on the ice after losing two teeth.
Also during the third period a high stick came into contact with Poulin, which cut him just below his eye.
Dropping to the ice, the game was finally stopped.
To fans watching on anxiously, the injury looked fairly grisly. Especially after Poulin pulled his helmet off so the extent of the damage could be seen.
But a bit of tape and he was back on the ice for the next shift to the delight of the travelling Mooseketeers.
Jones had suffered a knee injury during the second period, but pushed through for the rest of the game, enjoying the atmosphere that the travelling fans provided at the scoreboard end of the rink.
The game would be his only one of the weekend.
Sunday’s game against the Sydney Ice Dogs at Macquarie was more favourable to the Northstars, ending 4-3 their way.
After the physicality of Saturday’s game against CBR Brave, the team was hurting.
“We’re carrying a lot of injuries right now,” Petrie said.
“It’s a very physical game; it’s 28 games long. You’re going to have some ups and downs in terms of injuries.
“We managed to plug some gaps tonight [Sunday].
“When people are hurt off your top two lines your third line guys get the opportunity.
“We had three or four guys tonight step up and do a fantastic job.”
The Ice Dogs proved to be a formidable opponent with the opening goal scored just four minutes into the game.
Sydney’s goaltender, Damien Ketlo, was put to the test, facing 44 shots and pulling off some incredible saves.
With a 1:04 left of the first period Harcharik put the Northstars on an equal playing field evening the score to 1-1.
With just 10 seconds left in the first period Newcastle import Matt Marantz boosted the Northstars into the lead, 2-1.
The second period belonged to the Mat(t)’s with Marantz and Lindsay furthering the Northstars lead to 4-1.
The third period was full on for both teams.
The Ice Dogs came out firing and Strat Allen scored within 53 seconds.
After Newcastle goaltender Nick Mizen’s helmet was knocked off due to interference, a scuffle ensued between Allen and Kuhn.
In the dying minutes of the game, the Northstars leading 4-2, a time out was called.
The Ice dogs pulled their goalie with 1:14 left on the clock.
A few wayward shots on goal from the Northstars didn’t see the lead extend any further.
The Ice Dogs’ extra man helped gain an extra goal with 18 seconds left but it wasn’t enough, the Northstars had held the Ice Dogs out and managed to take a win home.
The Northstars face another double header this weekend, but at home.
They face Perth Thunder on Saturday, May 20 and the Sydney Ice Dogs again on Sunday, May 21.
The puck drops at 5pm on both days.
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Contact Information
Newcastle Northstars
230 Macquarie Road
Warners Bay,
2282 Australia
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