North Stars 3 @ Bears 2

The Sydney Bears were looking to put a couple of big losses against the CBR Brave behind them and start the final month of the 2015 AIHL season on a good note at the Penrith Ice Palace. The Bears were in 6th position and need to climb the ladder urgently to be in the finals at the end of August.

 

 

Looking to maintain their higher spot on the ladder compared to the Bears were their opponents, the Newcastle North Stars. The North Stars are firmly in the race for the top 3 and would like to cement their position. Would this August 1 match up answer any questions about the makeup of the finals?

 

 

In the regular season, the two teams had met twice before. In their first meeting, the North Stars defeated the Bears 8-3 in Newcastle while the Bears defeated the North Stars 6-2 at Penrith in their second meeting. The lineups were fairly similar to the current day lineup in the first match while the second game saw North Stars backup goaltender Joshua Broekman in net. One major change was the midweek announcement of North Stars and league top scorer Luke Moffatt leaving the AIHL and starting a pro contract in Italy. 

 

 

In front of a large pro-Bears fans with some North Stars jerseys sprinkled throughout the crowd, the two teams hit the ice with energy fitting that of a finals game. The atmosphere during the game was fantastic despite the absence of the large CBR Brave crowd from the previous game.

 

 

An early powerplay should have been welcomed by the Bears. However, Robert Malloy scored a shorthanded goal for the visitors in the 3rd minute of play.The North Stars had the run of play in the period with the Bears conceding another goal, this time in the final minute of play. With the penalty boxes mainly empty, the play was able to flow from end to end with both teams having multiple chances.

 

 

Back on the ice in the second period, the Bears stepped it up a notch. Despite this, the North Stars scored next to make the score 3-0 midway in the period. A North Stars power play led to a goal after Richard Tesarik was forced to cool his heels in the penalty box for what was described as unsportsmanlike conduct. It was his second time in the box for the game to date.

 

 

After his trips to the penalty box, Tesarik was on the scoresheet for a good reason soon after. Adrian Esposito made a good break down the ice. Esposito having a tussle with John F Kennedy Jr in the offensive left hand side corner tied up the North Stars defenceman. Tesarik made good with the centring pass to get the Bears on the scoreboard. 

 

 

The next goal also came to the Bears late in the period. Captain Michael Schlamp made a breakaway and handed the puck away to the dangerous Joe Harcharik who nailed his 20th goal of the season. 

 

 

With the score 3-2 North Stars at the start of the 3rd period, there was 20 minutes between both teams and a vital W. If the scores were tied at the end of the period, it would have been interesting to note that the North Stars had not won a shootout so far in the season.

 

 

The last 20 minutes were full of shots and chances for both teams. Both goaltenders were keeping their nets clean and there was only 1 trip to the penalty box (against the North Stars) for the entire period. Again there was end to end action from both teams. Try what they will, both teams were unable to increase their numbers on the scoreboard. All it would take was for one lucky bounce, a shot that went into the net instead of hitting iron or one lapse in concentration.

 

 

Nothing came.  

 

 

The score at the second intermission turned into the score at the final siren, a narrow 1 goal victory to the North Stars, 3-2. It was a hard fought game from both teams but unfortunately for the Bears, the win and the 3 points was heading to the Hunter.  

 

 

Goal scorer Joe Harcharik was in a reflective mood after the game, possibly lamenting one that got away in a tight game. .“We had a lot of good chances at the end,” Harcharik said. “Their goalie made some great saves. We had a lot of good chances to score; it was just one of those nights where they wouldn’t go in. I thought overall we outplayed them, just a couple of bounces their way and they end up winning the game.”

 

 

At the other end of the ice, North Stars coach Andrew Petrie had some positive words for the Bears. “I thought it was all us in the first period,” Petrie said. “I said to the boys after [the first period], they’re going to come at us; their season was on the line. They’re going throw everything but the kitchen sink – I think they even brought that with them.”

 

 

“The [final] thirty minutes of the game, the pressure they put on us; if they did that every game week in week out, they’d be far higher up the ladder,” Petrie said. “I don’t know if the Bears can play any better than that and we managed to leave their building with a 3-2 win.”

 

 

With the North Stars winning the first period 2-0 and the Bears winning the second 3-1, the lack of goals in the third period helped the North Stars and thwarted the Bears. Speaking of help, Harcharik recognised that the Bears might need some help from afar if they are to claim 4th spot back from 9 points behind CBR Brave. “There’s always a possibility of getting in,” Harcharik said. “The difficult bit now is we have to rely on some other teams to help decide our fate.”

 

 

Harcharik's "difficult bit" statement would be that little more telling by the end of the weekend with the Bears now sitting in 7th place after the Melbourne Mustangs have staged a late season charge. The defending premiers have now have overtaken the Bears after spending most of the season in 7th and seemingly out of the finals equations.

 

 

The Bears now have their final home games on Saturday 8 August against the Melbourne Mustangs and the following day against the Melbourne Ice. The Bears have hosted and beaten both teams at the Ice Palace this season. In addition, the Bears also defeated the Ice in Melbourne earlier in the year.

 

 

 

The job is now simple for the Bears in the race for the finals. Bearlieve. Play hockey. Win. 

 

 

Story by Eric Brook

Additional reporting by Ryan Darnley

Photo by Rev William Stewart