Coaches Report - 27 June

GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FROM 8TH TO 5TH THIS WEEKEND AGAINST CENTRAL COAST RHINOS

This Saturday & Sunday’s games at 3.30pm are crucial in getting the team within striking distance of the top 4. The crowds have been great and we still have room for more of you and your friends! There are a number of sponsors and Club 500 members who have yet to pick up their passes and free merchandise at the door. The Blue Tongue caps will also be available for collection to complete your free merchandise pack. We hope to see all of you this weekend before the team departs for Adelaide and Melbourne next week.

Home Games Live: www.slapshot.com.au
Supporters Club: www.lizardinsider.com
Forum: www.hockeypulse.com.au/forum

Coach Kevin Sands Report

Last weekend was not the best result, however what came out of last weekend is if we believe we will achieve. We need to get back to the basics and make sure we are pumped and ready to play from the opening whistle of every game. That did not happen in the first game last weekend. Sunday was a completely different game and there were long stretches where we were truly the superior team against Newcastle. Again penalties were our downfall over the weekend. In our last 5 games we are 3-1-1 and if been given the opportunity to take that result at the start we would have been happy, however, we are not. Our team needs to believe that when we play at full strength we are formidable opposition who will win all our games. We just need to stay away from penalties and know when we Believe we will Achieve!

This weekend we face the Central Coast Rhinos in two must win games. Two wins and we will be at .500 hockey for the first time this season with the ability to challenge for a playoff spot, a position where we belong.

This week’s lineup includes:

Goalies: #30-Simo Mustonen, was great last weekend facing over 90 shots in the two games and #1-CJ Anderson, played shut out hockey when called upon last weekend. #1-Brenton Cooney will be back next weekend in Adelaide and Melbourne.

Defense: #44-Don Burke, last weekend was very effective and needs to control his emotions to be most effective. #4-Chris Kerr, picked up right where he left off prior to his upper body injury and was solid. #17-Ross Howell, continues to be a solid rock and chips in with timely goals when required by the team. #8-Cam Trew needs to keep his game simple to be most effective. #24-Rob Avey is out Saturday and will return Sunday.

Forwards: #22-Gaetan Royer was dominating on Sunday, the team needs two big games from him this weekend. #16-Jack Connor, continues to impress and is starting to pick up the defensive side of the game. #7-Bryan Lachance, was very solid and needs to shoot more for this line to truly be affective.

#88-Davey Upton, speed will be evident, he needs to control his emotions to be most effective. #10-Jon Bale, was a pleasure to watch last week, a power forward up and down the wing, needs to shoot more. #21-Chris Martin, was effective up front and with more games under his belt on the wing, will come into his own with great games.

#11-Matt Lehotzky, was the team’s number one star over last weekend with his tireless work ethic and attitude. #5-Ben Spillane, was solid when given the chance and needs to seize every opportunity presented to him. #18 Micheal Blackwell, contributed with some big hits last weekend and needs to do the same this weekend to be most effective.

#20-Marco Bertossa, #23-Ben Maher, #15-Eric Sewell, #14-Christian Sullivan round out the forward roster and will be given a game over the weekend. Captain #9-Billy Crumm is out with a knee injury and will be obviously missed.

The Coaches Message to the Players:

We are Destined to Achieve! Make the choice to succeed. And then act as if you have no other choice. When you're on the line, and everything is riding on it, you have no choice but to perform. Find creative, meaningful ways to put yourself on the line.

By Dave Emblem / Kevin Sands June 27, 2008

Upcoming Games

DATE	HOME	AWAY	TIME
-	-	-	-

Season Schedule

Previous Games

Home teams on top row

Date	Teams	P1	P2	P3	F
24 August	Blue Tongues A's	0 3	0 3	0 1	0 7
23 August	Blue Tongues A's	2 0	0 3	0 0	2 3
17 August	Bears Blue Tongues	3 2	3 2	2 0	8 4
16 August	Knights Blue Tongues	3 1	2 2	4 3	9 6

Game Results

AIHL Standings

Final Season Standings
	GP	Pts
The Bears (Sydney)	28	61
Melbourne Ice	28	54
Western Sydney Ice Dogs	28	54
Newcastle North Stars	28	53
Canberra Knights	28	34
Adelaide A's	28	32
Gold Coast Blue Tongues	28	27
Central Coast Rhinos	28	21

Full League Standings

Individual Leaders

Final Season Statistics
Goals:	Gaetan Royer	22
Assists:	Bryan Lachance	22
Points:	Gaetan Royer	36
PIMS:	Bryan Lachance	188

GAA	Simo Mustonen	4.75
SV%	Simo Mustonen	85.16

Player Statistics