Blue Tongues Split Weekend

The Blue Tongues played the Western Sydney Ice Dogs this past weekend on the Gold Coast and came away with a split win; dropping the Saturday game, but getting the full 3 points on Sunday. Both games were physical and fast paced, a style of hockey played by both teams.

Saturday saw the Tongues struggle in the first period as S. Stephenson and Strang of the Ice Dogs put 2 past Simo Mustonen to give the Dogs a 2-0 lead going into the first break. Chris Martin tried to fire up the team by dropping the gloves in the late first period, which seemed to send the right message, as the 2nd frame saw a much more balanced game with both teams scoring 2 goals in the period - 2 from Blue Tongue import Gaetan Royer and 2 shorthanded goals for the Ice Dogs. The Ice Dogs picked up their game in the 3rd period putting 2 quick goals and chasing goalie Simo Mustonen from the net, to be replaced by CJ Anderson. The Ice Dogs scored the 3rd of the period less than a minute later to gain a 5 goal lead. Jon Bale led the charge in an attempt to stage another "Blue Tongues Comeback" by scoring 2 goals less than 8 seconds apart, locking the score at 7-4 going to the final whistle.

The Blue Tongues came out firing on all cylinders on Sunday, led by a very rare change of starting goalie with CJ Anderson starting the game between the pipes. The Blue Tongues looked like a different team with crisp passes, fast skating and thundering checks. The Ice Dogs learned a hard lesson from the fists of import Bryan Lachance just 4 minutes into the game. Lachance, who had been targeted for most of the Saturday game took on Ice Dogs "fighter" Brad Van Camp and simply anhialated him with a barrage of rights. The fight sparked by teams but it was the Blue Tongues who grabbed the opportunity as Ross Howell scored to give the Tongues a 1-0 lead going into the first break. The 2nd saw much of the same high quality play from both teams, but it was the Blue Tongues powerplay, and again, Ross Howell who gained the advantage, giving the Blue Tongues a motivating 2-0 lead at the end of the 2nd frame. Jack Conner led the charge into the 3rd period, scoring off a great Royer assist. The Ice Dogs came back hard however and snuck a puck past Anderson just 30 seconds later. Ben Spillane and another from Conner helped the Blue Tongues to a solid 5-2 victory. CJ Anderson was steller in his first game starting for the Blue Tongues this season.