AUSTRALIA – A bad night for the two Sydney sides as Melbourne Ice followed up last weekend’s home victory against the Ice Dogs by beating city rivals Sydney Bears 9-2 whilst the Ice Dogs fared no better in Canberra going down 8-3 to the Knights
Melbourne Ice once again skated out to a sold out IceHouse, looking to notch their second win in as many weekends against the Sydney sides.
Ice showed their intentions from the off, Brad Vignon netting after just two minutes to put the Ice on their way. Scotsman Lliam Webster, who now plays for the Australia national team, scored once again from the blueline slotting home a one-time slapshot for a 2-0 lead. It was Webster too that had a hand in the third, taking the puck up the ice before sliding a pass for Watkins to fire home for a 3-0 lead.
Just before the break, Bears gave themselves some hope as they converted their only powerplay chance of the game to go into the dressing room 3-1 down.
However, Ice put those hopes away as they skated out for the second, netting twice through leading points scorer Jason Baclig and a second for Brad Vignon to extend the lead to an uncatchable 5-1 lead. The Ice though, weren’t in a mood to take their foot off the gas and Paul MacSewyn skated around all five Bears players before passing cross ice to Baclig for his second, less than a minute later they combined from the resulting face off for Baclig to net the first hatrick of the season for the Ice, extending the lead to 7-1.
On the powerplay, the Bears showed they still had some grizzle to them and netted a goal to restore some pride. Into the break the sides went, 7-2 the score.
A done game in the third period, MacSweyn and Baclig combined twice more to see man of the match, Jason Baclig, to exit the game with a massive 5 goals, sending the Bears back to their den after a 9-2 thrashing.
The night was only marginally better for fellow Sydney side, Sydney Ice Dogs, who travelled to the Australian Capital Territory to take on Canberra Knights.
The Knights were fresh from a difficult weekend against Gold Coast Blue Tongues, taking one game each against Dallas Costanzo’s side. Ice Dogs meanwhile had taken just a point after forcing 2009 champions Adelaide Adrenaline to a shootout whilst going down to the Ice in Melbourne, loosing out 8-3 to the Knights.
Contact the writer phil.andrews@prohockeynews.com
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