The Australian Ice Hockey League ended its season Sunday with a thrilling finale as the Newcastle North Stars edged out the Canberra Brave, 2-1.
Connor McLaughlin scored the opening goal of the game with less than two minutes to go in the first period. Patrick Nadin picked up the assist on the goal.
Josh Harris extended the lead midway through the middle frame on an assist from Beau Taylor.
Down 2-0, the Brave responded with a goal early in the third period when Geordie Wudrick converted a pass from Jan Safar to cut the lead to 2-1.
“Everyone who wore a jersey, all year long, they deserve a lot of praise,” North Stars Coach Andrew Petrie said on AIHL.com after the game.
Dayne Davis picked up the win for the Stars in making 28 saves on 29 shots.
Aleksi Toivonen took the loss on 29 saves.
For the North Stars, the 2016 AIHL Goodall Cup is their franchise’s sixth championship and second in a row.
“I thought it was a much harder league this year, far more competitive,” Petrie said on AIHL.com. “Last year, people expected us to win. This year no-one did, and that makes it sweeter.”
The Brave were making their first appearance in the AIHL Grand Final and did not disappoint despite the heartbreak of the loss.
“[It’s a] tough loss; it was a good hockey game,” Brave Assistant Coach David Rogina said on AIHL.com. “My hats off to Newcastle. Unfortunately, there’s got to be a winning team and there’s got to be a losing team.
“I’m really impressed with everybody on the team, from first line to fourth line, all season,” he added. “Everybody played well, the boys played hard, and played well, but they got the breaks and they won.”
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