Sunday 27 April 2025 was a not a good day with the Newcastle Northstars going down to the Melbourne Mustangs at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium. Running a short bench and missing some of their top players, Newcastle couldn’t find their footing and were defeated 3-8 by the Mustangs.
Newcastle conceded two goals in the first period. With just two minutes in the period, Josh Secomb scored his first AIHL career goal. Secomb, the team’s strength and conditioning coach, was called up from the ECSL (East Coast Super League) to support the team, resulting in a career milestone.
Just 13 seconds later, Wehebe Darge would score an equalising goal to make the game 2-2 at the end of the first period.
The Mustangs had momentum and control over most of the game and held this control in period two, scoring two unanswered goals to take the lead.
Northstars’ Francis Drolet was the first on the board in the third period, but it wouldn’t be enough. Four unanswered goals by the Mustangs would give them an 8-3 victory in the Newcastle home stadium.
The consolation for the week was that, in front of a strong home crowd, Northstars’ Captain, Liam Manwarring, celebrated his 150th game. . A massive achievement! Congratulations Liam!
With a number of players overseas in Belgrade, Serbia, for national duties at the World’s, the AIHL is taking a week off.
Newcastle will play on Saturday 10 May 2025 vs Canberra Brave at Phillip Swimming & Ice Skating Centre, Canberra, and return home on Sunday 11 May 2025 against the Central Coast Rhinos.
Get your tickets at
northstars.thundertix.com