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O’Brien Icehouse, Melbourne

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15 APRIL, 2016

Mixed Pre-Season Road Trip

Eric Brook

The Wilson Cup continued after the Easter break and then a forfeit by the Newcastle North Stars with action resuming on the weekend of 9/10 April. With games away from home on Saturday against the North Stars and on Sunday against the Ice Dogs, the Bears were almost certain finalists against the Ice Dogs a week later.

The Bears would head on the road with 4 Australian representatives missing because of the World Championships in Mexico. Captain Michael Schlamp scored both goals in the Bears' Wilson Cup opener against the Ice Dogs. Richard Tesarik (Australia), Cameron Todd (Sweden) & Anthony Kimlin (Canada) have not worn their Bears jerseys yet in 2016 but will do so after their Mexican committments for game 1 of the regular AIHL season.

Taking on the defending Wilson & Goodall Cup champions at their home rink, the North Stars scored in the first minute of play. The first period seesawed with the Bears going to the first zamboni break leading 3-2. Import Geoff Irwin scored his first Australian goal after being denied in the previous game. Former Ice Dog Billy Cliff scored on his Bears debut and Joel Rhodes also scored his first Bears goal.

The second period promised a lot of goals however there was only one goal, to the locals. Teams were tied 3-3 at the end of the second period. What the period lacked in goals wasn't lacking in action on the ice.

The more experienced Bears team took control in the third period with another goal to Geoff Irwin and the final goal to acting Captain Tomas Landa. Bears won the game 5-3 after Newcastle were unable to score in the third period. Both teams were well short of their regular season lineups in an entertaining pre-season game.

On Sunday. the Bears drove across to Liverpool Catholic Club to meet their cross-town rivals Sydney Ice Dogs. With both teams now confirmed as Wilson Cup finalists, pride and boasting rights were still up for grabs in a Final preview. Any Battle Of Sydney is full of passion and hard fought hockey and this game was no exception.

This game basically followed the same pattern as the previous meeting at Penrith Ice Palace with a very tightly fought game with lots of end to end action. The second period saw the puck enter the Ice Dogs twice however the first time by Bear Cameron Smith did not count due to an offside play. Soon after, Tomas Landa scored his first goal of the afternoon and second of the weekend to break the deadlock.

Try as they might, both teams spent a lot of time and energy without result. The hits were hard and both teams had chances to score on numerous occasions. Great goaltending and defence saved the day more than once. Shot after shot and missed opportunities were mounting, as was the tension on & off the ice.

A late timeout was followed by an Ice Dogs goal with the Bears 13.7 seconds away from a hard fought win, levelling the scores. Like one of the Bears/Ice Dogs games in 2015, this game was going to a shootout. Geoff Irwin gave the Bears a hope in the shootout. Ice Dog turned Bear Brian Funes made his return to Liverpool with jeers from the home crowd being heard through the glass above the rink but was denied, just like the Bears.

Being scored on with 13.7 seconds to go and losing in a shootout to your cross-town rival was a heartbreaking way to end the game. It was pleasing to see the improvement across the Bears lineup even considering possible fatigue from a weekend double header on the road.

The Bears will now face the Ice Dogs in the Wilson Cup Final on Saturday April 16 followed by game 1 of the regular AIHL season against CBR Brave on Sunday April 24. Both matches are at home at the Penrith Ice Palace starting at 5pm.

Report - Eric Brook
Photo - Pics By Wulos

Team	GP	W	L	OTW	OTL	CP	PTS
Bears	30	23	5	1	1	0	72
Ice	30	18	7	2	3	-3	58
Thunder	30	15	9	5	1	-3	53
Mustangs	30	13	14	2	1	0	44
Ice Dogs	30	9	17	3	1	0	34

Mixed Pre-Season Road Trip

Mixed Pre-Season Road Trip

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