Bears 3 @ Ice Dogs 4 (SO)

The Bears headed to the Liverpool Catholic Club rink on Saturday 13 June for the second Battle of Sydney against the Sydney Ice Dogs. The Bears had won the first encounter between the two teams at Penrith 7-2 and were on a 4 game winning streak. Meanwhile at Liverpool, the Ice Dogs had yet to earn a point in the regular season despite improvements over recent weeks.

 

One of the changes starting with this game for the Ice Dogs was a new coach and someone familiar to Bears fans - American import Mario Passarelli. Having suited up for the Bears as a goaltender and a skater during the Wilson Cup and the regular season, Passarelli has a new mid-season challenge on his hands but one that he is looking forward to - coaching the Ice Dogs. Good luck, coach Passarelli!

 

Despite the positions on the ladder (Bears 6th, Ice Dogs 8th), the newly named Battle Of Sydney between the two clubs certainly are battles and this game was no exception. Unlike the previous Bears home game against the Melbourne Mustangs where the Mustangs opened up a 3-0 lead in even time and the period saw 9 goals scored between the teams, the first period here was goal-free and mostly penalty free. There was no shortage of hits and feelings, though.

 

Early in period 2, .two former Ice Dogs helped get the Bears on the scoreboard. Richard Tesarik scored from Paddy Ward & Bears veteran Adrian Esposito. The Ice Dogs hit back shortly afterwards which was then followed 31 seconds later with an unassisted goal to Bears import Ales Padelek. The goal scoring then settled down again before an Ice Dogs short handed goal with 90 seconds left in the period. At the end of 2 periods, the Bears and Ice Dogs were even at 2-2.

 

The intensity was up in the third period but the scoring wasn't for the first 15 minutes. Each team had chances before Strat Allen put the Ice Dogs in the lead with 4 & 1/2 minutes remaining to put the Ice Dogs in the lead for the first time in the match 3-2.

 

Soon after, the Bears were awarded a goal to forward Cameron Todd. The officials conferred and the goal was confirmed with the original call standing. As the announcer told the good crowd, there was movement of the net but it was not caused by the Bears so the goal was allowed.

 

With 2 seconds to go, Allen tried to seal the win for the Ice Dogs. A Canadian (Allen), a Czech (Bears goaltender Kamil Jarina) and a Scotsman (Bears defenceman Paddy Ward) ended up in the back of the Bears net but importantly for the Bears, the puck did not cross the goal line.

 

At the end of regulation time, the score was tied 3-3 and each team had a minimum of 1 point as they went to a shootout. This would be the Ice Dogs' first point of the year. The Bears were unable to convert any of their 5 powerplays.

 

Former Bear Ryan Strayer (he played Wilson Cup for the Bears in the pre-season) shot and scored first in the shootout for the Ice Dogs. Unfortunately for the Bears, Joe Harcharik was unable to repeat his Perth shootout form and was denied by Ice Dogs goalie Matt Grogan. Ice Dog Scott Clemie and Bear Ales Padelek were unable to score which left Sean Hamilton (ex Perth Thunder & Melbourne Ice) with the shot which sealed the Bears shootout loss and much celebration on the Ice Dogs bench - their first win of 2015.

 

Bears assistant coach Ron Kuprowsky said his side had the chance to win the game but couldn’t take those opportunities.

 

“It really came down to missed opportunities for our team,” Kuprowsky said. “It was tough to have our winning streak come to an end like that, we thought we should have won that game, but missed opportunities where the difference.”

 

When asked to compare this game to the previous game where the Bears beat the Mustangs 7-6, Kuprowsky said "It seems that our intensity was a little bit down, new rink, small ice, takes a little bit of getting used to but that's still no excuse."

 

Comparing the Ice Dogs from the first Battle of Sydney, "They (the Ice Dogs) are getting better, Their goal tender is showing improvement now. They're showing a little more offense instead of sitting back, They are coming along."

 

Story by Eric Brook

Photo by Rev William Stewart