The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues travelled to Adelaide last weekend for a two game series.

Over both games the Blue Tongues out shot their opponents, however only took out one of the six points on offer.

The one point was on the Saturday, when the Blue Tongues came from behind to equal the game at 4-4 at the end of regulation time.

However, shootout players Matt Amado, Mike Mcrae, and Tobias Falk could only manage one goal to Adelaide’s two goals. Swedish import Tobias Falk being the lone scorer for the Blue Tongues.

In regulation play the point scorers were Dave Upton 4 assists, other assists Ross Howell and Brad Young. The goal scorers were Matt Amado, Tobias Falk, Jon Bale, and Bob Sannemo. CJ Anderson had very commendable game in goals facing 29 shots.

On Sunday, the home team, Adelaide came out simply to strong and took the outright win 5-3. Matt Amado and Mike Mcrae had a goal and assist each, with Dave Upton scoring the third goal and Tobias Falk picking up an assist in the game. Goalie Kane Easterbrook faced 21 shots.

The injuries to locals Adam Geric (broken wrist) and Matt Johnson (shoulder) were big blows to the team on the road. Geric is out for six to eight weeks and Johnson could be out for up to four weeks.

This Saturday and Sunday (4PM) on the Gold Coast at Iceland in Bundall the Blue Tongues take on sixth place Canberra Knights and will be looking to leap frog Canberra and keep pace with fifth placed Adelaide Adrenaline.

Management has changed the make up of the forward lines to that of the first four games to find the combinations that will start the team on its winning ways early in the 28 game season. Potentially the new combinations could see the Blue Tongues light up in the goals production.

The line up for the weekend’s two game is:

Forwards:

Alex Hall, Zach Daunt, and Jack Connor

Matt Amado, Dave Upton and Brad Young

Mike Mcrae, Tobias Falk, and Jon Bale

Defencemen:

Bob Sannemo, Ben Spillane, Ross Howell, Marco Bertossa, and Cam Trew

Goalies:

CJ Anderson and Kane Easterbrook

The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues faced off against the Newcastle North Stars in the second of opening weekend's double header home games on Sunday afternoon at Bundall Iceland.

Newcastle came out hard and strong in the first period, forcing the Blue Tongues to turn the puck over numerous times in both the offensive and the defensive zones. Peter Cartwright, assisted by Beau Taylor, put the first goal on the board for Newcastle 1 minute and 23 seconds into the game.

For the next ten minutes, the game was end to end hockey, with both teams battling for the puck and turning it over. Cartwright scored again, assisted by Brian Bales, with 3 minutes and 3 seconds left in the period.

Only 6 seconds after Newcastle's second goal was scored, Blue Tongues' forward Dave Upton and Newcastle's Matt Price both were penalised for roughing (Upton) and Cross-checking (Price), putting both teams on 4-on-4 for 2 minutes.

Matt Amado showcased his offensive talent with 4 goals in Sunday's game.

Just as the penalties expired, Blue Tongues import Matt Amado gave the Blue Tongues the lift they needed by scoring their first goal of the game, assisted by Adam Geric and Marco Bertossa to take the teams to the first intermission 2-1.

The Blue Tongues came out firing in the second period, putting some good pressure on Newcastle's goaltender, Matt Ezzy, however he remained solid in net and deflected or saved all attempts in the first five minutes. Brian Bales, however, assisted by Beau Taylor, gave Newcastle their third goal of the game 4 minutes into the second period.

Brad Young and Sean Oultram dropped the gloves 20 seconds later, and with sticks and helmets joining the gloves on the ice, teammates and linesman cleared the area as they duked it out before being escorted off the ice and given 5 minutes for roughing and a 20 minute game misconduct each. It gave the Blue Tongues the momentum they needed as 2 minutes later import Tobias Falk closed the gap in score to 3-2, assisted by Dave Upton.

Newcastle immediately hit back 8 seconds later, with a quick goal by Justin Chwedoruk, assisted by Ray Sheffield and Rob Starke.

The Blue Tongues gave the North Stars their first powerplay when Bob Sannemo was sent to the penalty box for interference. Newcastle took only 7 seconds to capitalise on the man advantage, and Peter Cartwright, assisted by Brian Bales and Rob Starke, celebrated his hatrick, taking the score to 5-2. A minute later, Matt Amado closed the gap to 5-3, assisted by Alex Hall and Tobias Falk.

The Blue Tongues gave the North Stars their second powerplay opportunity with 2 mintues and 48 seconds left in the second period, however Newcastle's Matt Ezzy was penalized for a delay of game, which was sat by Peter Cartwright, just 16 seconds into the powerplay, causing the teams to play 4-on-4 for 1 minute and 44 seconds and giving the Blue Tongues an unexpected 16 second powerplay. Both teams were unable to capitalise however, and they went to the second intermission locked at 5-3.

The lone penalty called in the third period was on Blue Tongues forward Jon Bale, 2 minutes for checking from behind and a 10 minute misconduct with 13 minutes and 17 seconds left in the game, effectively putting him out of most of the remainder of the game. Both teams battled for the puck relentlessly as they fought for possession of the puck throughout the third period.

Cartwright extended the North Stars lead to 6-3, assisted by Matt Price, with 6 minutes and 19 seconds left in the game and it looked like the writing was on the wall for the Blue Tongues. This team, however, has a never-say-die attitdue, and in the last two minutes of the game fought back with such tenacity, the crowd were on the edge of their seats and screaming.

Matt Amado scored his hatrick with only 1 minute and 16 seconds left in the game, unassisted, closing the gap to 6-4 as the crowd lifted the roof off the rink. With 32 seconds left in the game, Newcastle's Scott Thauwald scored an empty net goal when Coach Peter Nixon pulled Blue Tongues goaltender Kane Esterbrook for the extra skater in a last attempt to score points in the dying minutes of the game.

At 7-4, anyone would think that would be the final score. But no, once more Coach Nixon pulled the goaltender, and once more, Matt Amado sailed the puck past Matt Ezzy for the fourth time to close the gap in score to 7-5 with only 27 seconds left on the clock.

And if you thought that was the end of the game, think again! With 1.75 seconds left on the clock, import defenseman Bob Sannemo scored his first goal of the season, assisted by Matt Amado and Dave Upton to give a final score of 7-6, with Newcastle taking the 3 points for the win.

All is not lost however, as the team is very motivated and positive going forward. This weekends games highlighted the offensive power that the Blue Tongues possess. With the return of Mike McRae to the lineup for next weekends games, the Blue Tongues look very good going foward.

The Blue Tongues head south of the border to South Australia next weekend to take on the Adelaide Adrenaline on their home ice before coming back to Bundall Iceland on the 14 and 15 May to face off against the Canberra Knights!