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The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues are on the road to the playoffs, and with four crucial games left in the season, all of them on the road, the team is preparing for a March To Melbourne!

The AIHL Finals this year are being hosted by the Melbourne Ice, in their new state of the art facility, The Icehouse, located at Docklands in the heart of Melbourne.

The Blue Tongues have been allocated 100 tickets to this event, and as they are expected to sell out fast, now is the time to get your hands on key to the best hockey in Australia! Not only can you get a prime seat at this annual event, but you can also attend the After Party at the Harbour Town Hotel, where you can meet the players, mingle with fans from yours and other teams around the league and watch the AIHL's awards be given out to this year's recipients! There will be plenty of food, drinks and entertainment provided, and a nominal fee at the door.

To reserve your ticket to cheer on the Blue Tongues amongst the home crowd, contact Dave Emblem by on mobile: 0414 643733 or via email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues faced off against the Newcastle North Stars in their last home game of the season on Sunday night. While the game started out as an evenly matched battle between the teams, Newcastle soon dominated the play and continued to do so the entire game.

While the Blue Tongues managed a pretty clean game with only 3 penalties called, one in each period, Newcastle converted 2 of those powerplays. The Blue Tongues were offered 5 powerplay opportunities but were able to convert only 2.

Newcastle's captain, Ray Sheffield, scored a hatrick in the first period, assisted on each of his goals by a combination of Blair Tassone, Peter Cartwright and Brian Bales. His third goal was marred by controversy as a whistle from the crowd caused the Blue Tongues to stop play as they believed the referee had called a stoppage with 1 minute and 53 seconds left in the period. Newcastle, who had possession, kept playing and scored a goal. Upon conferring with the two linesmen, the referee awarded the goal on the point of none of the officials has called a stoppage and the goal was therefore allowed. 

Gold Coast's lone goal scorer in the first was local center Dave Upton, assisted by Alex Boyd, who scored on the powerplay and Newcastle's only penalty for the first period. The teams went to the first intermission with Newcastle leading 3-1.

The second period was full of end to end hockey, with some amazing efensive play by Gold Coast's Cam Trew, and fiesty forward Zac Daunt checking as many players as he could. While the Blue Tongues managed to kill off the lone penalty they incurred in the second, they were unable to convert the 2 powerplay opportunities provided to them late in the period. The lone goal of the second period was scored by Newcastle's Mat Wetini, assisted by Rob Starke. Gold Coast did an amazing job to hold Newcastle to 1 goal in the period as the visiting side forced the Blue Tongues to repeatedly turn the puck over in the neutral zone, and outshooting the home side 28 shots on goal to 16.

The Blue Tongues were still in the game at the beginning of the third period, with the score at 4-1 Newcastle's way. However North Stars' Blair Tassone, assisted by Ray Sheffield and Brian Bales put the first nail in the coffin with 14 minutes and 18 seconds left in the game. When Dallas Costanzo was called for hooking 2 minutes later, Newcastle converted their second of third powerplays, with Ray Sheffield scoring his fourth goal of the night, assised by Brian Bales and Peter Cartwright.

Gold Coast pulled their starting goaltender, Reese Kalleitner, who despite the score had made some miraculous glove saves during the game, and sent backup Luke Fiveash out to defend the pipes. On their second shot on goal, however, Peter Cartwright scored Newcastle's 7th goal of the night, assed by Brian Bales and Ray Sheffield - the line that just could not be contained all evening.

Newcastle's Blair Tassone was called for cross-checking with 7 minutes and 57 seconds left in the game, and Gold Coast's Mike McRae used that shift in momentum and assisted by Dallas Costanzo and Jon Bale scored the Blue Tongues 2nd goal of the night. The North Stars hit back immediately, scoring their 8th and final goal of the night when Brian Bales, assisted by Ray Sheffield - who ended the game with 4 goals and 3 assists - sent the puck past Fiveash with 7 minutes and 27 seconds left to go in the game.

Newcastle pulled their goaltender, Matt Ezzy, while celebrating this goal and send backup Chris Kelly into net - a change unfortunately missed by the officials in the scorer's box.

Gold Coast's center Dave Upton scored unassisted on Chris Kelly with 4 minutes and 13 seconds left to go but the rush by the Blue Tongues was too little too late, and the North Stars skated off the ice with an 8-3 victory.

The Blue Tongues now have a tough road in front of them, sitting in 5th place on the ladder and 4 away games left in the season. Next weekend they head to Melbourne to take on the Melbourne Ice in their new Icehouse facility in Docklands, the home of this year's AIHL finals. After a weekend off, they then head south to Newcastle where they must once again face off against the North Stars in the final 2 games of the season.

The Blue Tongues would like to thank their sponsors and their fans for their continued support this season, and while the home games may have finished, keep and eye on the website and the Blue Tongues twitter updates for the news of the away games and follow the boys as they battle for 4th and a second berth at AIHL finals!

NORTH STARS TURN THE LIGHTS OUT ON BLUE TONGUES

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues took on the Newcastle North Stars at Bundall Iceland on Saturday night for the first of the double header home game weekend.

The Blue Tongues started out strong, battling for the puck with the North Stars and not letting them control the play. It was a clean first period, infraction free, and really was a battle of the Goaltenders with local product Matt Ezzy in net for the North Stars and import Reese Kalleitner in net for the Blue Tongues.

The lone goal of the first period was scored by Newcastle import Blair Tassone, assisted by Brian Bales, with only 2 minutes and 59 seconds remaining, sending the teams to the locker room at 1-0.

Newcastle extended their lead with 12 minutes and 21 seconds remaining in the second period, when Brian Bales pushed the puck past Kalleitner, assisted by Peter Cartwright.

A fight broke out with 10 minutes and 5 seconds to go, when Gold Coast's Brad Young took exception to Newcastle's Matt Price cross-checking him. Each got penalised for roughing, canceling their penalties out and Price having to sit alone for 2 mintues for the cross-checking infraction. This gave the Blue Tongues their first and only powerplay for the game.

With only 23 seconds left on the man advantage, import defenseman Adam Gebara, on his return from injury, scored on the powerplay, assisted by Dallas Costanzo and Dave Upton. The Blue Tongues now trailed 2-1.

Brad Young returned to the penalty box with 6 minutes and 8 seconds left in the period for a hooking infraction. The Blue Tongues Penalty Kill team once again returned to their form preventing the North Stars from extending their lead again in the second period. The teams went to the second intermission locked at 2-1, with Newcastle in the lead.

The Blue Tongues didn't let this deter them from giving everything they had at Newcastle, however they just couldn't get past Matt Ezzy between the pipes. Newcastle extended their lead to the end score of 3-1 with 4 minutes and 40 seconds remaining. Import Peter Cartwright was assisted by Brian Bales and Blair Tassone in getting the puck past Kalleitner for the 3rd time in 39 shots on goal.

Gold Coast's fans were on the edge of their seats for the rest of the period, especially when import Mike McRae was penalised for tripping with 1 minute and 13 seconds left in the game. The Blue Tongues were successful in preventing the North Stars in scoring on the powerplay but were unable to increase their own score.

The Blue Tongues take on the North Stars again on Sunday at 4pm, at Bundall Iceland. Tickets are available at the door.

This weekend sees the Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues at home for our final home stand of the season against the first place Newcastle Stars.

With a quarter of the season left (6 games) and the Blue Tongues sitting in 4th position ahead on percentage on the Sydney Bears, every game down the stretch is of utmost importance in our quest to secure a place in the finals to be held in Melbourne on the last weekend in August. The Stars will prove to be a formidable opponent this week as they only have 2 regulation time losses and sport a 7 win 1 loss record in shootouts. As always they have high scoring imports on their roster and solid goaltending from Gold Coast Ice Hockey trained Matt Ezzy.

The boys practiced well this week and know that to be successful we need to play sound defensively from the forwards to the defence, reducing the number of shots on goal we have been conceding, while taking advantage of the high number of scoring opportunities we generate. 

Your Home Team for this weekend is as follows:

Goal:

30 Luke Fiveash- Luke will back-up Reese Saturday

35 Reese Kalleitner- Import Reese was solid in Canberra last weekend, the team needs another solid performance from Reese this weekend.

Defense:

4. Adam Gebara - Import - Adam is listed as day to day and is hoping to be in the line-up this weekend.

5. Ben Spillane- Ben returned to the line-up last weekend, Tick Tock needs to be a force this weekend.

8 Cam Trew - Cam continues to go from strength to strength, this weekend will be a test.

21 Mike Minieri - Import- New York Mike's insertion into the line-up will depends on Adam's fitness, however, as always Mike will be ready.

22 Marco Bertossa - Marco compliments whoever he plays with and as always is ready whenever called upon.

27 Ross Howell "C" Ross had one of his best outings last weekend, and the team needs the same from Ross this weekend.

Forwards:

2 Brad Young - Brad was strong last weekend and he will be rewarded with goals/ chances by persevering.

10 Jon Bale - Jonny played real well last weekend picking up a goal and 3 assists, look for him on the Costanzo line this weekend.

11 Dan Pederson - Dan was back in the hockey mode by the end of last weekend, Dan needs to play a simple game for his skills to shine.

12 Alex Boyd - Rugby commitments Saturday, in the line-up Sunday

13 Mike McRae - Import - Mike continues to carry the team goal wise, the team requires another big weekend from Mike.

16 Jack Connor - Jack returns to the line-up this weekend, Jack needs to be intense and ready to be successful this weekend.

19 Mark Smith - Smitty played well when given the opportunity last weekend, the team needs the same this weekend.

55. Zac Daunt - Zac was a thorn in the side to many opponents last weekend, the team needs Zac to be at his antagonistic best this weekend.

88. Dallas Costanzo - Import - Dal continues to be the work horse for the Tongues, look for a big weekend from Dal.

96 Dave Upton "A" Dave was solid last weekend, the team requires an intense weekend from Dave.

Not playing this weekend:

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues returned to the Phillip Swim & Skate complex for the second away game against the Canberra Knights on Sunday.

The home side clearly didn't take to being beaten in their own barn and came out hard agasint the Blue Tongues, dominating the possession in the first period. The Knights' forechecking was strong, knocking the Blue Tongues hard into the boards or off their skates.

Canberra's crowd went up in the air and the goal horn was played when it was thought that the Knights had scored the first goal of the game but the goal was waived off by the referees for the net being off its moorings. No less than a minute later, Gold Coast's Dave Upton was denied the opening goal with an unlucky bounce causing the puck to not cross the line.

Mike McRae, however, was successful in sending the puck past Canberra's Justin Nendham for the first goal of the game with 8 minutes and 19 seconds remaining in the first, to the screams of three voices in the crowd. McRae was assisted by Captain Ross Howell and Dan Pedersen.