Coaches Report - Blue Tongues Vs Ice

Well no more cliches!

From this weekend, starting against the equal 1st place Melbourne Ice we need to win our remaining 6 games and with a double pointer in there, this means a 7 and 0 finish to the season. We then need Newcastle to loose more than they win for us to make the final 4 weekend. The challenge this weekend will be stiff as our opposition did not get into equal first by not playing well, working and competing hard. There was some bad blood at the end of our previous double point game in Melbourne, which we came out on the short end of the scoreboard, so both games should be intense, fast, hard hitting hockey. The boys, after a 2 week lay off are ready for the job at hand.

GOALIES:
#30 Simo Mustonen - He is back be between the pipes!
#1 CJ Anderson and Brenton Cooney will split the back-up duties.

DEFENSE:
#17 "A" Ross Howell, will be fired up to play against his home town.
#4 Chris Kerr, will be counted on for his solid defensive play.
#21 Chris Martin will drop back to D, his natural position from left wing in Don Burke's absence.
#24 Rob Avey, will be in the line-up for both games and his experience will be valuable.
#8 Cam Trew, had a great Australian Championships and has been invited to tryout with the Australian Junior National team, along with Jack Conner.

FORWARDS: There will be a shake up in the lines for the first time this year.
#22 "C" Gaetan Royer will centre #20 Marco Bertossa and #10 Jonny Bale, all three have played well together in short stints throughout the season.
#88 Dave Upton will centre #7 Brain Lachance and #16 Jack Conner, this line will display speed, toughness and finesse.
#19 Robert Orosz is welcomed back to the line-up after a long injury and will centre #11 Matt Lehotzky and #5 Ben Spillane, this lines work ethic will reap them rewards.
Waiting in the Wings are #12 James "Lucy" Lewis, missing out due to Import numbers, #23 Ben Maher, Ben continues to practice well. #15 Eric Sewell, Eric had a good Browns tourney representing ACT.

INJURY UPDATE:
#9 "C" Billy Crumm - Skated at training Wednesday night for the first time since his lower body injury and will be ready to go on next weekends road trip.
##14 Kristian Sullivan, is out with a lower body injury.

SUSPENSIONS:
#44 "A" Don Burke is suspended for both games.

So come out this weekend and support your Blue Tongues!!

Kevin Sands