The Newcastle Northstars’ run at the 2017 Australian Ice Hockey League finals was ended by the Melbourne Mustangs on Sunday.

After a rocky season, winning just 10 of the 25 games played so far (three of them in overtime), the defending AIHL champions had their finals hopes dashed when the Mustangs won Sunday’s scrappy game 6-1.

“It was a really disappointing result,” Northstars coach Andrew Petrie said.

“We’ve limped, dragged and at times felt like a walking zombie of a hockey club at times this season.

“This is going to sound cliché but I am prouder of these guys than the two teams that have won because, I don’t want to make comparisons but they’ve never stopped trying. Even tonight.

Both teams hit the ice with determination to win. But it was the visiting Mustangs who scored first – and kept them coming.

The Mustangs led 2-0 at the first break, and 4-0 at the end of the second period.

Northstars crowd favourite Zane Jones scored Newcastle’s lone goal of the game in the third period.

Two more from Mustangs in the final period sealed the win for the Melbourne side who look likely to secure one of the two remaining spots in the AIHL Finals with their next win.

“Absolutely nothing went our way tonight,” Petrie said about Sunday’s game.

“But that Mustangs team that played tonight, if they can replicate that in the playoffs they’re going to scare everyone. That was a really really good hockey club.”

The Northstars have won six AIHL Championships in the past 15 years, and went back-to-back in 2015 and 2016.

It came after the Northstars missed out on securing one of the four finals places in 2014.

Despite being out of finals contention, the Northstars have three games remaining – all at home.

They will face CBR Brave on August 19, Melbourne Ice on August 20 and Sydney Ice Dogs on August 26.

Following Sunday's game, the Northstars were joined on the ice by more than 150 supporters - friends, family, fans, sponsors, staff - for a photo. 

See photos of the game here.