Blue Tongues Season Opener Ends In Shootout

The Gold Coast Blue Tongues had their first home game of the season hosting the reigning AIHL Champions, the Newcastle North Stars, on Saturday night.

Having lost to the North Stars in two away games last weekend, the Blue Tongues were determined to return the favour in their own rink. Gold Coast pride themselves on being a physical team and they certainly delivered for the packed out rink. Newcastle responded in kind, causing many turnovers for both teams in an exciting end-to-end game.

Starting goaltender, Luke Fiveash, was solid in net, making some great saves and freezing the puck when he could. The Blue Tongues’ defense was strong and their forwards constantly applying pressure to the Newcaslte defense. There was standout play from imports Brad Smulders, Andre Selander and Henrik Ivarsson, who were instrumental in killing off an important 5-on-3 penalty in the second period when two Blue Tongues were sent to the penalty box 30 seconds apart. After the successful penalty kill, the period ended 2-2 with goals for the Gold Coast scored by Brad Smulders and Trevor Walsh.

The scoreless third period sent the teams to a shootout. Fiveash saved one goal from three shooters, but it was Matt Ezzy from Newcastle who was able to stop two Blue Tongues from three shooters scoring, winning the game 3-2 for the visitors.

In a true display of respect for a fellow teammate, the Blue Tongues took to the ice wearing black armbands, in honour of the passing of forward Dave Upton’s Grandmother, who passed away this week.

Gold Coast plays Newcastle again on Sunday, May 17 at Bundall Ice World. Puck drop is at 4pm.