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BARTERCARD GOLD COAST BLUE TONGUES & GRIZZLYS
END OF YEAR AWARDS AND PRESENTATONS

This year we are hosting a combined Grizzlys and Blue Tongues end of year awards and  presentations to celebrate a year's ice hockey on the Gold Coast.

We encourage all the supporters of the Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues PLUS all players, family and friends from both the Sunday Gold Coast Recreational League (GCRL) and Junior League, as well as the Thursday night Gold Coast Hockey League (GCHL), to attend a fun filled afternoon of great food, entertaining stories, auctions and FREE giveaways.

WHERE:
Surfers Rowers Function Room upstairs, 150 bundall Road, Bundall www.surfersrowers.com.au

WHEN:
Sunday, 12 September, 12 Noon

COST:
Adults -  $40 per person (cash bar)
Childeren Under 18 -  $20 (includes all soft drink)
Children Under 6 Free

WHAT FOOD:
Surfers Rowers Grande HOT Buffet

• Roasted rib of beef w/ yorkshire pudding & horse-radish sauce
• Roasted loin of pork w/ crunchy crackling & apple sauce
• Caponata of vegetable couliback w/ tomato & basil sauce
• Rosemary roasted potato
• Panache of seasonal vegetables
• Seasonal garden salad
• Tomato & mozzarella salad
• Assortment of freshly baked Breads
• Jus & gravy

SPECIALS:
$5 Bottles of Coronas and $5 Glasses of Rothbury Sav Blanc and Champagne

PAYMENT:
For catering purposes payment MUST be received by Thursday, 2 September by...
Cheque posted to Gold Coast Blue Tongues, PO BOX 155, Nobby Beach, QLD 4218,

or

Direct Internet Transfer to:

Gold Coast Blue Tongues
BSB: 484799
Account # : 130349577
Reference: Full Name

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues traveled south last weekend for their final 2 games of the 2010 AIHL season against the Newcastle North Stars.

Highlighting the games was the Father/Son netminding duo of Milan and Nicholas Novysedlak, seen to the right.  Milan has played for the Blue Tongues on and off for the history of the franchise, and his son, 15yr old Nicholas came into this weekend as an AIHL rookie.

The North Stars pushed the shortened Blue Tongues lineup to the limit on Saturday.  The Blue Tongues played hard but struggled to contain the import line of the North Stars.  With 5 minuts left in the 2nd period Coach Sands swapped goalies, giving Nicholas Novysedlak his first shot at AIHL hockey.  The Blue Tongues dug deep and goals by Dallas Costanzo (1) and Mike McRae (2) were not enough to hold back the North Stars who went on to win 11-3.

Sunday's game saw a pumped Blue Tongues team take to the ice ready to exact a little revenge from the night before.  Nicholas Novysedlak started between the pipes, his first ever AIHL start.

The North Stars welcomed Nicholas to the AIHL just 11 seconds into the game when Brian Bales opened the scoring.  Dallas Costanzo (1), Mike McRae (1) and Mike Mineiri (1) all scored for the Blue Tongues, and Novysedlak stopped an impressive 36 of 44 shots in an 8-3 loss.

The score however does not truly reflect the game.  Nicholas Novysedlak played with fantastic positioning, incredible poise and kept his cool under pressure.  Stopping 36 of 44 North Stars shots is no small fete, and Nicholas showed that he has the potential to be a superstar goalie in the future.

Father / Son Tandem between the pipes this weekend a first in the AIHL

This weekend sees the team in Newcastle against the North Stars for our final games of the 2010 season. The road trip comes with disappointment as the team will not be competing in this years final 4 series next week in Melbourne. 

However, it is also a very exciting road trip and a unique first for the Australian Ice Hockey League in that father and son, Milan and Nick Novysedlak will play together. Not only is this the first father son combination to compete in Australia's premier national ice hockey competition it is also even more sensational in that they are both goaltenders. 

Milan Novysedlak, former Blue Tongue, Czech and Australian Team Member and son Nick have answered a very late SOS call after all regular Blue Tongue goalies were unable to make the journey to Newcastle for a variety of reasons. Milan's exploits are well chronicled, while Nick at age 15 is an up and coming goaltender with the Gold Coast Grizzly 's organization and will be a Blue Tongue stalwart in the future and for many years to come. 

To put even more twist into this storey, Newcastle and Australian team representative goaltender Matt Ezzy from Lismore NSW grew up learning his trade of goaltending on the Gold Coast with Milan Novysedlak.

Past, present and future...it must be said the Gold Coast is definitely a breeding ground for goaltending. 

With the team out of the playoff race the team this weekend will be one that is lean and mean, with the ability to come out on top against the league leading North Stars. Two wins this weekend and the team can finish with a .500 win/ loss record, obviously not where we envisioned being at the start of the season and as little as a month ago. However, it will be a good test for those going and I know all will give a 110 %. 

Goal

1  Nick Novysedlak- Nick will get his first AIHL action this weekend after backing up against the Melbourne Mustangs last weekend.
29 Milan Novysedlak- Milan will share the duties with Nick as well as mentor and be a proud poppa this weekend.

Defense

5. Ben Spillane- Ben one of four defenceman this weekend so will see plenty of ice he so craves, Tick Tock needs to be a force this weekend.
8 Cam Trew - Cam continues to improve each outing as his confidence grows, this weekend will be a real test.
22 Marco Bertossa - Marco has played well in his conversion to a defenceman. Marco needs to move the puck quickly and continue his stand up style.
44 Don Burke "A" - Don is back in the line up after his family holiday in Canada, Don will wear the 'C" this weekend in what could be possibly his last two games in a Blue Tongue's uniform.

Forwards:

2 Brad Young - Brad is ready to break out and convert his scoring chances to goals this weekend, Brad will line up with Upton and Bale
10 Jon Bale - Jonny needs to finish the weekend and year off strong, Jon will line-up with Upton and Young
13 Mike McRae - Import - The teams leading goal and points man has an opportunity to join the elite 50 point club with a big weekend.
21 Mike Minieri - Import- New York Mike will play on the wing on the Import line, with Costanzo and McRae.
88. Dallas Costanzo - Import - Dal is off to play in the SPHL after this weekend, as always Dal will give 110 %
96 Dave Upton "A" Dave will lineup with Young and Bale, which could be a future National Team line.

Not playing this weekend

1. CJ Anderson- Still in the USA for a Motorcycle Competition.
4. Adam Gebara - Import - Adam left unexpectedly to Canada during the week.
6 Matt Johnson - Injured
11 Dan Pederson - Work Commitments.
12 Alex Boyd - Rugby commitments
14 Tom Letki - Work Commitments
16 Jack Connor - Work Commitments
19 Mark Smith - Work Commitments
23 Ben Maher - Sick.
27 Ross Howell "C" - Family commitments.
30 Luke Fivash - Work Commitments.
35. Reese Kallietner - Work commitments
55. Zac Daunt - Sick  Go the Tongues!

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues will be playing for the 2011 season in a couple of ways over the coming weeks.

This weekend the Blue Tongues will be playing an exhibition game (free entry) on the Gold Coast against the Melbourne Mustangs at Iceland. The Mustangs have been competing in exhibition games this year with the goal to be accepted as the second Melbourne team in the AIHL. With the current AIHL team, Melbourne Ice, selling out most of their games this season in their new $53 million Icehouse Stadium at Docklands, the Mustangs are dearly hoping to tap into the newly found hockey crazed Melbourne public.

Unfortunately, our Blue Tongues went down to the Melbourne Ice 6-3 in the second game of a double header last weekend in Melbourne. This now means the Blue Tongues are all but out of the finals, with only a minute mathematical chance of getting into the final four. The coach’s best three for the weekend went to import Mike Mcrae, and locals Alex Boyd and Ross Howell.

The Blue Tongues play their last two games of year in Newcastle on the 21-22 August.

In addition to the Blue Tongues VS Melbourne Mustangs game this Saturday at 4.00 PM, the Mustangs will also play on Sunday at 4.00 PM against the Gold Coast Grizzlys. The Grizzlys play division one hockey in Southeast Queensland are regarded as the feeder team for the Blue Tongues. Do come out and get your last fix of Blue Tongue and Grizzly hockey on the Gold Coast for 2010.

BLUE TONGUES NEED TO WIN THEIR LAST THREE GAMES TO MAKE FINALS

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues have gone down 5-2 in the first of two games in Melbourne this weekend. The team now needs to win their last three games of the year, and hope the results go against the Sydney Bears in their remaining four games of the year.

The Blue Tongues got off to a great start with Alex Boyd scoring on a breakaway from a pass from Captain Ross Howell less than three minutes into the game.

Coach Kevin Sands was very happy with the team's effort in the first period however the Melbourne Ice went on to score five goals to a lone goal for the Blue Tongues in the third period by import Mike McRae.

It was reported that the refereeing in Melbourne this year continues to be dubious with the referee ejecting Blue Tongues leading import this year, Dallas Costanzo, with a match penalty on a normal tripping penalty against Melbourne import Jason Baclig. The referee was so intent on taking the penalty call to its limit he stopped the game to read his rule book in the sin bin.

Unfortunately because of the interpretation of the call from the referee, Costanzo will miss the second game of the double header to be played Sunday afternoon, and will be replaces by import Mike Minieri.

Coach Sands had good words to say about import goalie Reese Kalleitner and local players Dan Pedersen and Alex Boyd.