Bears @ ADL (Game 2, 4-3 SO Win)

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Sydney Bears escaped the rainy weather at home on Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 June for a series in Adelaide against the Adelaide Adrenaline. Saturday's game ended with a 6-2 win for the Bears who were eager to repeat the performance on Sunday.


Still missing captain Michael Schlamp and goaltender Anthony Kimlin through suspension for this game, an unchanged lineup took the ice for the second game of the weekend.


The Adrenaline opened the scoring with their first even strength goal for the weekend. Cameron Todd continued his good form over the weekend with his first goal of the day and 4th of the weekend in the shadow of the first intermission. 


Typical of the weekend, there was a lot of physical, end to end action. Each team had many chances however it was the home team who scored 4 seconds before the end of the second period.


Billy Cliff scored near the halfway point of the third period for the Bears with a quick reply by the Adrenaline soon after. With 6.34 remaining in the game, Nic Kawasaki leveled the scores for the Bears. Both goalies kept their teams in the game, as did the pipes at behind the Adrenaline goalie, Peter King. At one stage, 4 shots from the Bears hit the posts and away from the goal crease. Bears goalie James Downie was again putting in a master's performance at his end.


With the departure time of the Bears' plane home fast approaching, both teams headed to a shootout. Under great pressure, Downie kept all of the Adrenaline shooters out during 4 rounds. Finally, Nic Kawasaki broke the deadlock and sent the Bears to the airport with 5 points out of 6 for the weekend.

Winning 6-2 on Saturday and 4-3 in a shootout on Sunday, the Bears made their flight and are now in 7th place on the competition ladder. After the AIHL All Star Weekend on the June long weekend, the Bears resume their charge up the ladder against Newcastle North Stars on Sunday 19 June at Penrith Ice Palace.


Story: Eric Brook
Photo: Sticks & Stones Photography