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Blue Tongues Keeping Pace: Face Mustangs This Weekend
Written by Dave Emblem
The Mustangs are the AIHL's newest team, joining in 2011
The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues are within striking distance of the top four in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) and wins in this weekend’s two games against the Mustangs Ice Hockey Club can move the Blue Tongues from sixth place up to fourth place and within one point of the Mustangs who are currently sitting third on the ladder.
The team has had a run of early season injuries to local players Adam Geric, Matt Johnson, and Marco Bertossa, however will welcome the addition of Aussie Alex Boyd who lives in Canada and is returning for his second year in the AIHL. Alex’s commitment to sport in the Australian winter is very demanding playing for the Blue Tongues as well as rugby union for Souths.
Mustangs are playing beyond most everyone’s expectations in only their first year in the AIHL. Melbourne’s second based team has already beaten defending champions Melbourne Ice as well as this year’s league leaders, Newcastle North Stars. The Mustangs have been born out of giving more local Aussies in Melbourne an opportunity to play in the AIHL. There was certainly questions by many down south on whether the Mustangs could be competitive with so many young players and an import list that on paper doesn’t rank with those of the top teams like Melbourne Ice and Newcastle. To date the Mustangs have answered those critics.
Last year the Mustangs came to the Gold Coast to play a couple of exhibition games as part of their pre-requirement to enter the AIHL. In the first game the Mustangs of last year came out strong early against the Blue Tongues, however their lack of experience probably let them down over three periods and the Blue Tongues came home with a convincing win. In the Mustangs second game they played the local Gold Coast Grizzlys, a rep team of Gold Coast players playing in the local Gold Coast competition, and the Mustangs were too good for the Blue Tongues reserves team.
The Mustangs as their early form suggests are a more complete team this year than last year with their full compliment of imports and a couple of local recruitments from previous experienced AIHL players.
Nonetheless our Blue Tongues are hungrier than ever with a weekend off last week, and a momentum of three wins in their last four games.
The line up for Saturday is as follows:
Goalies: CJ Anderson and Kane Easterbrook
Defencemen: Ross Howell (Captain), Bob Sannemo (Import Sweden), Cam Trew, Ben Spillane, and Alex Boyd
Forwards: Jon Bale - Zach Daunt - Jack Connor, Dave Upton (Assistant Captain) - Tobias Falk (Import Sweden) - Alex Hall, Matt Amado (Assistant Captain and Import Canada) - Mike Mcrae (Import USA) - Brad Young
Games played Saturday and Sunday at Iceland, 15 Strathaird Road, Bundall - Puck Drop 4.00 PM - Tickets available at the door.
Weekend to Forget and Weekend to Look Forward To
Written by Blue TonguesThe 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 wait is over!
The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues open their season this weekend, Saturday and Sunday 4.00 PM at Iceland in Bundall.
Like any opening game of the season in any sport, everyone involved with the team is excited about the prospects of the upcoming season.
Matt Amado makes his return to the Blue Tongues
Talk is always positive amongst supporters, volunteers, and administrators... “the best team put together in years”, “final four spot waiting” etc etc, at the end of the day this season will come down to how the players perform on the day.
The attitude amongst the group is that there is no doubt they have the talent to make the final four and indeed win the national championship. However as one they all agree they must play the season game by game, weekend by weekend. The only game the playing group are thinking about is Saturday, and only when the buzzer sounds to end the game will they start thinking about the Sunday game.
The Blue Tongues were dealt an unusual draw this year where every team in the national competition has played at least two games and the team they are facing for this weekend’s double header, Newcastle North Stars, have already played four games, and have started the season undefeated with four wins a row.
Melbourne Ice (last year’s champions) and Newcastle are the yard sticks at the start of most AIHL seasons. Newcastle always so strong in recruiting imports have kept up their reputation by returning last year’s top two leading scorers Brian Bales and Peter Cartwright. These two imports are already placed one and two in the scoring this year.
So if the Blue Tongues didn’t think they were up against it having to play a team who have played four games and they themselves haven’t played one game, the Blue Tongues will have to go into the game without their own leading scorer from last year, import Mike Mcrae. Mcrae had to leave the country this week to apply for a visa that will allow him to continue his education. The Club is expecting Mcrae to be available for next weekend’s road trip to Adelaide. The team is trusting last year’s coach Kevin Sands is looking after the scoring champion at his residence in Phuket, Thailand!
In the AIHL each team is permitted to play four overseas imports, and with Mcrae missing this weekend, this year’s other three imports including Canadian Matt Amado, and Swedish stars Tobias Falk and Bob Sannemo will have to lift to another level. They will be supported by an improving group of locals and first time players in the AIHL.
The team for Saturday is as follows:
Forward Lines:
Matt Amado - Tobias Falk - Brad Young
Adam Geric - Dave Upton - Jon Bale
Nick Jones - Alex Hall - Matt Johnson
Defencemen:
Bob Sannemo, Cam Trew, Ross Howell, Marco Bertossa, Ben Spillane, and Jack Connor
Goalies:
CJ Anderson & Kane Easterbrook
Beware of the sneaky Lizard!
Mailing List
Next Game
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May 19, 2012
4:45pm Icehouse
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Previous Game
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May 13, 2012 Bundall |
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League Standings
| DIVISION: Bauer Conference | ||
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GP
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Pts
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| Sydney Ice Dogs | 5 | 12 |
| Newcastle North Stars | 6 | 9 |
| Canberra Knights | 6 | 6 |
| Sydney Bears | 4 | 3 |
| DIVISION: Easton Conference | ||
GP
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Pts
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| Adelaide Adrenaline | 5 | 11 |
| Melbourne Ice | 5 | 10 |
| Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 5 | 6 |
| Perth Thunder | 3 | 4 |
| Melbourne Mustangs | 3 | 2 |
2012 Stats Leaders
| Goals: | Mike McRae |
7
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| Assists: | Andreas Camenzind |
7
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| Points: | Mike McRae |
12
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| PPG: | Mike McRae |
3
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| SHG: | - |
-
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| GWG: | Mike McRae Andreas Camenzind |
1
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| PIMS: | Ben Spillane |
26
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-
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| GAA | Anthony Kimlin |
2.75
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| SV% | Anthony Kimlin |
0.90
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The Australian Ice Hockey League
