Coaches Report 26-28 April

It is with great excitement and seriousness that we continue our season on the the road this Saturday to play the Canberra Knights and on Sunday to play West Sydney Ice Dogs.

With all the activity in our Nation's capital this week from the Olympic torch relay on Wednesday to ANZAC DAY today, the city will be abuzz. I am sure it will be no different on the ice as the only two 0 and 2 teams face off. The fans in Canberra will witness some passionate hockey from the Blue Tongues , desperate to chalk up our first win of the season. A win is of the utmost importance if we are to stay in the final four race. The boys are aware we cannot win the game or the championship in the first ten minutes or in the first weekends of the season, however, they understand, we can make it difficult on ourselves if the desired results are not achieved.

Sunday we play Australian representative laden Ice Dogs in our first of our 4 double point games of the season. A win in this game will get us right back in the final 4 race and would put tremendous pressure on the team if we were to come up short.

I am pleased the boys are being given the opportunities to play in pressure situations early in the season and the lessons learned last weekend, from the the need to play 45 full minutes to taking advantage of our important scoring chances. Further, the boys experienced a hard lesson on the cost of inappropriate penalties for a team seeking victory.

Simo Mustonen will continue to be counted on for solid play in the net and he knows the boys will start filling the opposing net with goals for him.

As well as Simo, Rookie CJ Anderson will be on the road the weekend as backup goalie (replacing Brenton Cooney) for his second game in a Tongues uniform.

The blueline will be led by Captain Chris Kerr, workhorse Ross Howell, crusher Chris Martin and Ben Spillane, who has showed his dominance so far this season. Rookie Cameron Trew joins the lineup this weekend as a replacement for the injured Rob Avey (lower body). Youngster Trew will gain valuable knowledge and experience both watching and playing along side our D lineup.
Upfront Micheal Blackwell replaces injured Nick Jones (lower body) on a line with speedster Dave Upton and agitator Jordan Ross. Micheal's playmaking and experience will be counted on to help get this line firing.

Chris Bell was a late scratch for the trip (due to family commitments). Belly will be missed and is being replaced by youngster Kristian Sullivan. Sullivan will centre all-rounder Reg Thomas (appointed assistant Captain) and smooth skating Jack Connor. All three had numerous chances last weekend and if they continue to work hard, the goals will come.

Hardworking Jon Bale and league rookie Marco Bertossa (replacing Ben Maher) will join veteran Paul Rayner (back from suspension) on the final line upfront. The line will be counted on to mix it up and throw the opposition off their game, while playing the sound positional play which all three are known for. Forward Robert Orosz (upper body injury) will return to skating next week.

As this weekends opposition are all in the same hunt as the Blue Tongues, trying to put the first points on board for the season, I can safely say that the play will be intense, focused and I am confident the Blue Tongue boys will rise to the occasion.

Kevin Sands

By Kevin Sands April 25, 2008

Upcoming Games

DATE	HOME	AWAY	TIME
5 July	Avalanche	Blue Tongues	4:30pm
6 July	Ice	Blue Tongues	4:15pm
12 July	Blue Tongues	Ice Dogs	3:30pm
13 July	Blue Tongues	Ice Dogs	3:30pm

Season Schedule

Previous Games

Home teams on top row

Date	Teams	P1	P2	P3	F
29 June	Blue Tongues Rhinos	4 0	3 2	2 2	9 4
28 June	Blue Tongues Rhinos	0 1	0 1	0 0	0 2
22 June	Blue Tongues North Stars	1 2	1 1	2 1	4 5*
21 June	Blue Tongues North Stars	0 1	0 2	0 2	0 5

* Shootout win

Game Results

AIHL Standings

Current as of 2 July, 2008
	GP	Pts
The Bears (Sydney)	15	36
Western Sydney Ice Dogs	18	31
Melbourne Ice	17	30
Newcastle North Stars	17	28
Central Coast Rhinos	16	20
Gold Coast Blue Tongues	13	16
Canberra Knights	18	16
Adelaide A's	14	15

Full League Standings

Individual Leaders

Current as of 30 June, 2008
Goals:	Gaetan Royer	14
Assists:	Brian Lachance	13
Points:	Gaetan Royer	20
PIMS:	Jordon Ross	67
PPG:	Gaetan Royer Jack Conner	4
SHG:	Dave Upton	2

Player Statistics

News Headlines

Coaches Report - July 3 (3 July)
Post Game Recap - 28 & 29 June (30 June)
Coaches Report - 27 June (27 June)
Post Game Recap - 21 & 22 June (23 June)
Coaches Report - 19 June (19 June)
Blue Tongues Clutch Victory (16 June)
Blue Tongues Steamroll Bears (14 June)
The Ice Age "Has" Cometh (incl. Coaches Report) (13 June)
From the desk of the GM (11 June)
Post Game Recap - June 7 & 8 (11 June)
Import Arrivals - Royer, Lachance and Crumm (14 May)
Post Game Recap - 7 May (7 May)
Blue Tongues Inter-Squad Games (7 May)
Rhinos Forfeit Game To Blue Tongues (4 May)
Coaches Report 26-28 April (25 April)
Rhinos Take Charge (21 April)
Post Game Recap - 19 April 2008 (19 April)
Coaches Report - 18 April (18 April)
Message to the fans (18 April)
Australia Wins Gold at Worlds (14 April)
Q & A with Gaetan Royer (11 April)
Import Update (6 April)
Blue Tongues Announce Naming Sponsor (1 April)
Danny Stewart's Long Road to the Blue Tongues (1 April)
3 Imports Signed to the Blue Tongues (23 March)
2008 AIHL Fixture Released (23 March)