ADELAIDE, South Australia – The final weekend of AIHL regulation hockey is just about upon us here in the land Down Under and with a high anticipation of the finals just over a week away.
Last weekend saw some exciting action and results, as the Melbourne Ice split the points with the Perth Thunder in Perth. Melbourne’s win on Sunday meant they secured themselves the Eastern Conference title, while the Adelaide Adrenaline put the final piece of the finals puzzle together, sweeping the Melbourne Mustangs and securing second position in the Eastern Conference.
The makeup of the finals is now set with the Newcastle North Stars taking on the Adelaide Adrenaline and the Melbourne Ice will do battle with the uncompromising West Sydney Ice Dogs. Both games are to be held on Saturday, the 1st of September, with the Grand Final held Sunday, the 2nd. All three games will be held in Newcastle at the Hunter Skating Stadium.
Newcastle last hosted the AIHL finals in 2009, finishing as runners up to the Adelaide Adrenaline and there will be no love loss this time around in front of the passionate Newcastle faithful. Adelaide has held the upper hand in two finals encounters in the last four years, but while they split their series in 2012, home ice must hold some advantage for Newcastle.
Newcastle, Adelaide and West Sydney will ultimately be chasing the back-to-back champions, the Melbourne Ice. Melbourne also included the inaugural Trans-Tasman Champions League trophy back on the 7th and 8th of July, undoubtedly becoming the benchmark in Australian hockey.
But that was then, this is now and Melbourne will be the first to tell us that the last two years mean nothing.
Before we get too far ahead, there is a weekend of hockey still to be played and for most this will be start of their 2013 tilt for the coveted prize that is the Goodall Cup.
The final round started Thursday night (23rd August), with the Melbourne Ice hosting the Gold Coast Blue Tongues at the Icehouse. For the Ice, this was their final warm-up to next weekend, defeating Gold Coast 5-3 and finishing their regulation season off on a positive note. Lliam Webster the hero with his hat trick for Melbourne.
Games for Saturday, the 25th and Sunday, the 26th will see Gold Coast head over the border to an awaiting Adelaide Adrenaline, for a double header at the IceArenA. The Perth Thunder will make the long journey to the other side of the country, hoping to finish off their inaugural season in winning style against Newcastle and West Sydney. The Melbourne Mustangs hope to put a disappointing season behind them with a road trip to Canberra and Sydney. The Canberra Knights are always tough competition at home, coupling that with an inform Sydney Bears, this will be a tough trip for the Mustangs.
Photo Credit: Debra Jean Photography
Newcastle needed a shootout to defeat a determined Knights outfit 7-6 in Canberra, then went goalless back at home the following day and the Sydney Bears clawed their way to a 4-0 victory. Mixed fortunes for the West Sydney Ice Dogs as they their trip to the Gold Coast on the Friday was no holiday, falling 4-5 to the Blue Tongues. Sunday saw the Ice Dogs back home in Liverpool, but had to work hard to fend off the Canberra knights. Sixteen goals were scored in their 9-7 hard-fought win, with two hat tricks scored in the goal feast – John Kennedy, Jr. for the Knights and Billy Cliff for the Ice Dogs. Contact the writer at michael.rozleja@prohockeynews.com Follow us on Twitter (@prohockeynews)
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