Preview: Bears V Thunder

For the first time in 2016, Sydney Bears play host to Perth Thunder on Saturday July 23 at Penrith Ice Palace. In 2015 with vastly different lineups, Bears won both games in Perth while Thunder won both games at Penrith. Thunder are looking to consolidate their spot in the Top 4 while Bears need to keep winning to maintain their hopes of qualifiying. 

On the competition ladder, Thunder are currently in 3rd place. With 18 out of 28 games played, Thunder have 34 points (9-5-3-1). Meanwhile, Bears have 25 points from 20 games (4-8-5-3) and are in 6th place. Currently, Bears are 9 points out of the Top 4 and also are 9 points behind Thunder on the ladder.

Last weekend, Bears traveled to Melbourne for the last time in the regular season. On Saturday, they defeated Mustangs 3-1. Bears goalie Anthony Kimlin was 12 seconds away from a shutout while Nic Kawasaki scored 2 goals. On Sunday, they went down 4-1 to the Ice with 2 late powerplay goals inflating the final margin. The team will have more players to choose from this week and can run a longer bench than a travel weekend with ill and injured players to consider.

Thunder were idle last weekend and would have enjoyed their last weekend off before AIHL Finals in Melbourne at the end of August. The previous weekend (9/10 July), Thunder hosted CBR Brave on a double header weekend. On Saturday, Thunder came from behind to win 4-3 in a shootout. On Sunday, Brave won 4-2.

Leading the scoring for Thunder are Ben Breault (16-14-30) and Michael Dorr (13-16-29). For Bears, Tomas Landa (10-16-26) & Cameron Todd (10-6-16) are equal top goal scorers with 10 goals each, closely followed by mid-season signing Nic Kawasaki (8-1-9). Landa & Brent Vandenberg (5-16-21) both have 16 assists each. 

In net, Bears tender Anthony Kimlin has a 2.66 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. For Thunder, Thomas Heemskerk has 2.68 goals against average & .926 save percentage. It will be Heemskerk's first visit to the Ice Palace. 

Bears only have one match this weekend against the Thunder on Saturday while Thunder face Sydney Ice Dogs on Sunday. This game is the Fox Sports Game Of The Week (telecast on Thursday 28 July) which means that there is no livestream available.

Story: Eric Brook

Photo: Injected Ideas Photography