The Mustangs are the AIHL's newest team, joining in 2011

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues are within striking distance of the top four in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) and wins in this weekend’s two games against the Mustangs Ice Hockey Club can move the Blue Tongues from sixth place up to fourth place and within one point of the Mustangs who are currently sitting third on the ladder.

The team has had a run of early season injuries to local players Adam Geric, Matt Johnson, and Marco Bertossa, however will welcome the addition of Aussie Alex Boyd who lives in Canada and is returning for his second year in the AIHL. Alex’s commitment to sport in the Australian winter is very demanding playing for the Blue Tongues as well as rugby union for Souths.

Mustangs are playing beyond most everyone’s expectations in only their first year in the AIHL. Melbourne’s second based team has already beaten defending champions Melbourne Ice as well as this year’s league leaders, Newcastle North Stars. The Mustangs have been born out of giving more local Aussies in Melbourne an opportunity to play in the AIHL. There was certainly questions by many down south on whether the Mustangs could be competitive with so many young players and an import list that on paper doesn’t rank with those of the top teams like Melbourne Ice and Newcastle. To date the Mustangs have answered those critics.

Last year the Mustangs came to the Gold Coast to play a couple of exhibition games as part of their pre-requirement to enter the AIHL. In the first game the Mustangs of last year came out strong early against the Blue Tongues, however their lack of experience probably let them down over three periods and the Blue Tongues came home with a convincing win. In the Mustangs second game they played the local Gold Coast Grizzlys, a rep team of Gold Coast players playing in the local Gold Coast competition, and the Mustangs were too good for the Blue Tongues reserves team.

The Mustangs as their early form suggests are a more complete team this year than last year with their full compliment of imports and a couple of local recruitments from previous experienced AIHL players.

Nonetheless our Blue Tongues are hungrier than ever with a weekend off last week, and a momentum of three wins in their last four games.

The line up for Saturday is as follows:

Goalies: CJ Anderson and Kane Easterbrook

Defencemen: Ross Howell (Captain), Bob Sannemo (Import Sweden), Cam Trew, Ben Spillane, and Alex Boyd

Forwards: Jon Bale - Zach Daunt - Jack Connor, Dave Upton (Assistant Captain) - Tobias Falk (Import Sweden) - Alex Hall, Matt Amado (Assistant Captain and Import Canada) - Mike Mcrae (Import USA) - Brad Young

Games played Saturday and Sunday at Iceland, 15 Strathaird Road, Bundall - Puck Drop 4.00 PM - Tickets available at the door.