Each week I will highlight things that have caught my attention, got me on the edge of my seat or shifted the needle in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL).
Many would remember my Five Things or Five for Writing articles from recent years, well it’s back with a fresh name. In the Blue Paint.
This week we had a team stamp their authority, one team in red hot form, surprise result from the bottom, and a pre season contender hitting the skids.
All In the Blue Paint articles can be found at andrewkmacdougall.com.au
Big dawgs stamp their authority
They were the games of the weekend, one v two on the standings and results would mean different things for both Melbourne Ice and Brisbane Lightning.
However, it was the Ice who stamped their authority on Boondall Ice World, while giving out a warning to the rest of the AIHL.
A 5-4 overtime win on Saturday, backed up by a 12-5 win on Sunday in a dominant display clearing any doubts in this top of the table clash.
They are the best team in the AIHL, who had all the big guns amongst the points – Booth (10), Erdugan (9), Shindle (7) Bourke (6), Bronte and Caruana (5).
Ice now breaks clear of the competition at the top, sitting 17 points clear of the Lightning in second place.
Oh, and they still haven’t lost in regulation.
Horns up!
It was five terrific periods for the Central Coast Rhinos across the weekend as they picked up an important three points over the visiting Melbourne Mustangs.
Saturday the Rhinos faced the Perth Thunder, despite losing the game 6-5 they outshot (29-25) and outscored (5-2) the Thunder in the final two periods.
Furthermore, they carried that form over into Sunday securing one of their best wins of the season against the Mustangs.
Five strong periods is now the standard for Ron Kuprowsky’s team as they still hang around for that sixth and last AIHL Finals position.
And if you are a Rhinos fan, celebrate these wins, you are allowed to have fun.
Star up north burning red hot
It was an important weekend for the Newcastle Northstars, picking up five points from a possible six with wins over the Mustangs and Thunder 3-2 overtime.
Kim Tallberg grabbed an AIHL hattrick for the first time against the Mustangs in a 7-4 win, while new import goaltender Horrance Cheung picked up a win on debut stopping 26 of 30 shots.
Northstars are now five points ahead of the Canberra Brave in fifth spot, with both teams playing 14 games, creating important separation.
Newcastle have won six of their past seven games and are in red hot form, sharing the load they only have one player (Francis Drolet) inside the AIHL top 10 points leaders.
Northstars will welcome the Ice this Saturday in what could be game of the weekend.
What’s happening in horseland?
It’s the second time this season I have worried about the Melbourne Mustangs, back-to-back road losses across week 10 has raised more concerns.
Mustangs have only won four games since the start of May, playing 11 games throughout that time.
However, changes have been made at the Mustangs with the departure of Zack Phillips who was replaced by Nathan Dunkley.
Anthony Kimlin has been missing, alongside Brody Lindal, who has 11 goals this season.
Goaltending inexperience will start to way heavy on the Mustangs with Kimlin out, on the forward front its reliance on Scott Timmins once again for goals.
Mustangs sit middle of the pack on the standings but could slip further as other teams below them start to find form at the midway point of the season.
Thunder return home happy
Picking up four points from a possible six on the road, for the Perth Thunder you are heading back west happy campers.
The Thunder got back to form from their trip to Newcastle and the Central Coast, grabbing a much-needed win against the Rhinos despite a late scare.
Yu Hikosaka got back onto the goal scorers’ sheet, grabbing two markers in the Thunders only win across the weekend.
However, pushing the Northstars to overtime was important for the Thunder who were coming off back-to-back losses in Melbourne.
They now return home and will face the Lightning, two big games as both teams sit on 26 points and are second and third respectively on the standings.
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