Blue Tongues Get Much Needed Split in Adelaide!

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues went down to the Adrenaline 9-3 in Adelaide on Saturday. The team was not using its arduous travel circumstances that confronted them Saturday morning as an excuse for one of their weakest efforts this year. However, any supporter will be quick to point out that a 3.45 AM pick up at Jupiters Casino to ensure the team caught the early morning flight from Brisbane to Adelaide is quite taxing. Then to make matters worse the 6.30AM flight was delayed for four hours because the pilot was sick. Needless to say the boys were flat. Goal scorers for the Blue Tongues were Brad Smulders 2 and Andre Selander 1. Luke Fiveash played until the first three goals were scored and then Coach Sands made the swith to CJ Anderson for the remainder of the game.

What a Difference a Day Makes!

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues certainly had a more normal preparation to Sunday's game. Sleep in to 8-9 AM. A good walk to breakfast and back to teh hotel for a relax before the game. A far cry from 24 hours earlier! The result was a much needed win 4-2 over the Adrenaline in Adelaide.
Scorers: Brad Smulders 3 and Andre Selander 1. Goalie CJ Anderson.

Coach Kevin Sands mentioned the forechecking and intensity was far better today. Trevor Walsh had a great forecheck and steal of the puck off the Adelaide defenseman to set up Brad Smulders for the 3rd and winning goal withless than five minutes to play in the game.
Coach Sands made some very good bench moves. With most of the Blue Tongues defenseman still very sick, Coach Sands changed and went with two forward lines for the second game, with 2 sets of 3 defenceman. The result was a great win on the road for the Blue Tongues and a split for the weekend.

The Blue Tongues now have a bye next weekend, and finish off the season with two home weekend of games in three weeks. August 1-2 vs Canberra Knghts and the August 15-16 Vs the Melbourne Ice.

The Bartecard Gold Coast Blue Tongues are on the verge making history...twice! One for being very well placed to make the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) finals for the first time, provided they finish well in the four home games at home in August. And two, once in the Finals in Newcastle in the last weekend in August, the Blue Tongues can become only the second Queensland team to win the coveted Goodall Cup in 101 years!!

Late Mail

The Queensland Atom team (9-10 year olds) coached by Brian Quarterolo have just won the Atom tournament in Sydney. The future of the Blue Tongues looks very promising!

Kind Regards,
Dave Emblem