Post Game Recap - 19 April 2008
Despite out shooting, out hitting and out playing the Newcastle Northstars, the first game of the Blue Tongues season came down to a goalie duel, with Australian Goaltender Matthew Ezzy emerging the victor and handing the Blue Tongues a 3 – 1 loss.Despite the loosing score line, Coach Kevin Sands was impressed with the effort put forth by his team. For their first game as a team, and for many their first in the AIHL, the team presented a cohesive unit, the 1 – 0 lead Newcastle jumped out to within the first minutes of the game, not rattling the strong core.
It wasn’t until the third period though, shortly after import Chris Martin landed a thundering check on an opposing Newcastle forward (making use of the HISS’s new glass boards) that the Blue Tongues made it onto the board. Fan favourite Chris Bell scored his first of the season, assisted by Reg Thomas to level the scores one apiece.
Excellent defensive zone play by Captain Chris Kerr and dominating blueliner Rosco Howell kept the scores even until midway in the period, when after Jordan Ross was called for goaltender interference, the Stars once again took a 1 goal lead.
Despite efforts to even the score, including several great opportunities by local Ben Spillane, the score held, the game ending 3 – 1 after an empty net goal in the dying seconds.
Coach Sands was impressed with the team as a whole, despite the final score line, the continual physicality and the play of goaltender, Simo Mustonen to positives from the game.
“Simo, was strong for us,” Sands said after the game. “He kept us close.”
Mustonen, who made his first appearance in the AIHL in tonight’s game, was voted player of the match by his teammates, for his stellar efforts in goal. After letting in only 2 goals, the Finn spoke highly of the defensive core in front of him, the fact he faced only 4 or 5 strong chances a testament to their play.
After tonight’s game the team will move on to Erina, where tomorrow they will play the Central Coast Rhino’s at 5 45 pm. The Rhinos will be coming of a 6 – 4 loss at the hands of the Bears tonight, and should be fire up.
When asked what the key for victory tomorrow was, Mustonen has just one comment.
“Put the puck in the net. That’s all there is.”
By Sasky Stewart April 19, 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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