Post Game Recap - 7 May 2008
The Blue Tongues headed south last weekend to face Canberra and West Sydney in what was to be two already important match ups. After loosing their first two games of the season, victory was crucial if the team wanted to boost their start to the season.
Sadly though, it wasn’t so.
Saturday’s game resulted in a 4 – 3 defeat to the Knight, the close score line not reflecting the game. The Blue Tongues were outshot 33 – 24 by the home team, and if not for local forward Dave Upton’s hat trick, could have faced a 4 – 0 white wash. Upton’s final two goals, came in the last 4 seconds of the game, without the Knight’s best players on the ice.
The Knights put two power play goals and two short handed goals past Simo Mustonen, and highlighted the importance of strong special teams within the league. The team’s play was overshadowed however, by rough play on both sides, with a total of 127 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct to import Reg Thomas, being handed out.
Sunday morning, the team traveled back to Sydney to face the West Sydney Ice Dogs in the first double point game of the season. A victory here would enable the team to jump considerably in the standings and settle amongst the bulk of the league’s teams.
From the outset however, it was clear who was in charge. By the end of the first the Ice Dogs had put 6 goals past Simo Mustonen, chasing the Finnish goaltender to the bench in the final minutes of the period.
Local rookie C J Anderson replaced Mustonen for the second and third periods, and was voted player of the match by his team mates, for his outstanding efforts in the loosing battle, stopping __ of ___ shots in the final two frames.
At the conclusion of 45 penalty filled minutes the final score had hit double figures, the 10 – 2 loss one of the worst in Blue Tongues history.
Whilst eager to forget the game, the Blue Tongues can take many lessons from the defeat and the weekend as a whole. With a month until their next game, it is clear that the team will be pushed hard by Sands not only to build their stamina but to meld into a more cohesive and dominant unit, if they wish to succeed this season.By Sasky Stewart May 7, 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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