Newcastle's Ben Morrison and Gold Coast Captain Ross Howell exchange blows in an Australian Ice Hockey match. Photo by Mark Bradford
Four weeks into the 2009 Australian Ice Hockey League and it’s already a shoot out.
Four games in the last couple of rounds have required penalty shots to decide a victor, putting home crowds on tenterhooks as skaters go one-on-one with the armoured goalies left defending their nets.
This early in the season it’s folly to pick the future, especially while one team has played seven games and another only two, but there’s no doubting some trends.
Newcastle’s North Stars lead the comp but have played the most games, with 16 points from seven games so far.
After six games the Ice Dogs are in second place with 13 points, one outright win short of equalising with the team up the F3.
Melbourne Ice look to be a strong team in 2009 but have had tough games, and boast 7 points from four games, one point ahead of a perfect Adelaide, who have 6 points after just two games. Adelaide’s been watching the other teams battle it out so far, but will now endure a long stretch of double-header weekends to make up their Games Played statistic.
The Knights, Blue Tongues and Bears aren’t having the start they wanted for 2009, but will take plenty of solace in the fact that only four rounds have passed, and now with complete teams and time to train and gel together there’s plenty of room for improvement.
This weekend Adelaide will head to Melbourne for a double of Ice in what should be a very entertaining couple of games. Melbourne’s Oakleigh rink is a fortress of home advantage and even with their fast and flashy line-up the Adrenaline will do it tough this weekend in Melbourne.
The Bears will be the second team to visit the Gold Coast torrents after the North Stars left with the silverware last weekend. The Bears though are at the opposite end of the points ladder to Newcastle and will look to this weekend as a chance to pounce on a vulnerable opponent. Gold Coast remain confident though, that if they can force two shoot outs versus 2008 champions Newcastle, then they can sink a floundering Bears ship.
The other team doing a double this weekend are the Canberra Knights. Home on Saturday versus Newcastle, the Knights then back up on Sunday in Sydney versus the Ice Dogs. The Knights see themselves as finals contenders here in 2009 and will put their hopes on winning both games versus current league leaders, and will need to do so to strengthen their claim on a final four spot in 2009.
For more details visit the AIHL.
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