Bears v Brave [6-4 Loss]

Sydney Bears fought hard from 4-1 down however could not overcome CBR Brave, losing 6-4 at Penrith Ice Palace on Sunday 31 July. The large crowd from both fan groups had plenty of action to absorb in an entertaining contest. 

CBR Brave opened the scoring midway in the first period with 2 powerplay goals in the space of 2 minutes. Tomas Landa replied with a goal for the Bears with 2.32 remaining in the period. 

Two further goals within 2 minutes to the Brave midway in period 2 (powerplay then shorthanded) saw the visitors leading 4-1 with 20 minutes to play.

Bears had a lot to do to stage a comeback. Captain Michael Schlamp led from the front, scoring 2 goals (16.49, 7.41). Schlamp's second goal was a powerplay goal while Brain Funes' shorthanded goal almost 2 minutes later saw the Bears tie the score 4-4 with just under 6 minutes to play. The latter 2 goals were at close range and in traffic.

41 seconds later, the goals continued with special teams on the ice with a powerplay goal to the Brave. Bears kept playing up tempo hockey in period 3 and created an extra attacker however could not score.

Brave sealed the win and killed the tremendous Bears 3rd period fightback with an empty net goal with 28 seconds remaining. An exciting game ended a lot closer than the second intermission score of Brave 4-1 score would indicate. Bears were close but the final score of Brave 6-4 was the same score the previous time the two teams met in Canberra.

Bears play Thunder in the next three games with their next game on Sunday August 7 at Penrith Ice Palace followed by the final road trip to Perth on the following weekend. 

Story: Eric Brook

File Photo: Injected Ideas Photography