Battle Of Sydney 4 [5-4 Win]

Sydney Bears have defeated Sydney Ice Dogs 5-4 in the 4th & final Battle Of Sydney at Penrith Ice Palace on Saturday July 2. Regardless of where both teams are on the competition table and recent form, these games are always a battle and this game was no exception.

Nic Kawasaki opened the scoring for the Bears within the first 3 minutes, shorthanded. Unusually, Bears goalie Anthony Kimlin was credited with a secondary assist on the goal.

In a period with the special teams getting a lot of work done, Cameron Todd scored a powerplay goal for the Bears with 5.57 remaining in the first period, helped by Ryan Annesley & Brent Vandenberg.

A short time later, another goal was scored with a team short handed. On this occasion, however, the Ice Dogs scored a powerplay goal to narrow the gap, In control, the Bears took a 2-1 lead to the first intermission.

Early in the second period, Bears scored again - the first even strength goal of the game. Rookie Jeremy Vasquez playing his 4th game for the club nailed his first AIHL goal in a great reward for effort. 

In a low scoring but exciting period, Ice Dogs replied soon after with another goal however the Bears were still ahead by a goal (3-2) at the second intermission. The large crowd on hand had plenty to cheer about with lots of physical play, good attack, good defence and quality goal tending at both ends. 

After several breakaway chances during the game, Tomas Landa finally converted a chance into a goal early in the third period. Goals then alternated between the Ice Dogs then Bears at semi-regular intervals for the rest of the period with imports scoring for both teams. Ryan Annesley scored the final Bears goal before the Ice Dogs concluded the scoring. 

Bears penalty kill units certainly had a lot of work to do and did it well - only allowing 1 Ice Dogs powerplay goal out of 7 chances.  Bears never lost the lead at any stage of the game. Even with the Ice Dogs battling hard, Bears completed their mission with a win in regulation time at home - their first home regulation time win in 2016. 

The following day, Bears would travel to Newcastle to take on the Newcastle North Stars. 

Story: Eric Brook

Photo: Injected Ideas Photography