Blue Tongues To Have Team Finalised This Weekend

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues are only two weeks away from their first home game against the Canberra Knights on Saturday, 1 May at Iceland, in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL), and will finalise their team after this Sunday’s final inter squad game.

The team’s import recruitment has been well documented during the pre-season, however management is equally excited with the additional local Australian players picked up for the upcoming season. There are a number of players who have already staked their claim and a number of others still fighting for spots.

Due for arrival from Perth is 2009 Australian representative Brad Young, and once Brad has settled his business affairs will be on a plane to the Gold Coast and hitting the ice with Blue Tongues. Alex Boyd is another exciting pick up having played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in Canada last season. Brad is an Australian citizen who grew up in Canada, and has taken on a Rugby Union development program in Brisbane. The prop forward is unbelievably quick and very hard on the ice.

A young local from Brisbane, Zac Daunt has also impressed management. Zac’s gritty and determined play has bolted his chances at making the starting line up. Local Gold Coast player Dan Pedersen is another who will make his debut for the Blue Tongues having had an excellent in line career over his years. Up from Melbourne is Alain Giauque who will further strengthen the existing goaltender stocks on the team.

The Blue Tongues also signed their fifth of six imports at training this Tuesday, Voldy Dashko. Voldy was one of nine imports who travelled to the Gold Coast from overseas to try out for two imports spots left open for this season. Voldy is a Canadian who played his Junior hockey in both Saskatchewan and Alberta Junior Hockey leagues, and played 20 games in the International Hockey League (IHL) with the Bloomington Prairie Thunder until he was sidelined with injury.

The 2010 Try-Out camp for the Blue Tongues has been the most successful in their short two year history on the Gold Coast. There is a record number of Australians and import players waiting to hear the outcome of selections this Sunday.

All players who do not make the team, or are selected on the Blue Tongues training squad only will for the first time in a number of years be able to play in Ice Hockey Queensland’s Division 1 competition as the Gold Coast Grizzlys club makes their return to the competition.

Inter Squad Game: Game 3
Entry Cost: Free Entry
When: Sunday, 18 April at 7.45 PM
Where: Iceland, Strathaird Road, Bundall