The CBR Brave held on to first place on the Australian Ice Hockey League ladder after a visit to the Newcastle Northstars for two games over the weekend. The Northstars sat second on the ladder before the weekend’s games – and had previously not suffered a loss for this season.
The weekend would feature the four leading points-scorers in the League, all members of the CBR Brave, and the two League-leading Goaltenders – games which were eagerly awaited by supporters of both teams.
Saturday’s game ended up being dominated by the CBR Brave. In his 100th game for the Club, Alternate Captain Casey Kubara opened the scoring for the Brave. This was followed by goals to Wehebe Darge and Mitch Henning – the latter scored after a stretch pass beat the Defence and put Henning one-on-one against the Newcastle Goaltender.
The Brave piled on the pressure in the second period, netting another goal from Mario Trabucco before the home team got on the board through a well-placed shot by Newcastle Forward Richie Tesarik. Scoring for the Second Period was rounded out by Lynden Lodge, who scored on the breakaway and established a four-goal lead for the Brave at the Final Intermission.
The Final Period was notable for the Home team killing multiple penalties and the Brave piling on the pressure to add to their score. At the end of one of those penalties, a battle on the Blue Line was won by Brave young gun Nick Christensen and he slapped the puck past Newcastle Goaltender James Downie to complete the scoring for the evening – at 6 goals to 1 in favour of the CBR Brave.
A lop-sided shot count told the story of the game – with the Brave shooting 45 shots on net to 20 for the Northstars. The relentless attack of the visitors and dour defence – led by Goaltender Tetreault – contributed to one of the better wins for the year.
It was expected that Sunday’s game would be closer – and this proved to be the case.
From the outset, the pace was frenetic – with both teams having good chances to score. It was the Northstars, through their Captain Liam Manwarring, who were to open the scoring in the First Period. The scores were tied up in the final minute of the Period by Brave Alternate Captain Bayley Kubara – with an assist credited to his brother, Casey, which registered his 150th point for the CBR Brave.
In the Second Period, penalties for both teams put the pressure on – but it was the Brave who were to capitalise on a man-advantage in the fifth minute, with Import Forward Mario Trabucco putting the Visitors ahead two goals to one.
The Third Period saw the Brave sitting multiple penalties and the man-advantages to the Home team finally paid dividends – with a second goal to Liam Manwarring and the go-ahead goal to Francis Drolet. The Brave pressed hard to even the score but were not successful, and the Northstars won 3 goals to 2.
Despite outshooting the Northstars 32 to 27, the Brave were unable to convert their chances and penalties in the Second and Third Periods set the Brave on the Defensive for some time.
The Brave have no games next weekend – their next hit-outs will be July 2 and 3 in Melbourne, when they face the fourth-placed Melbourne Mustangs for the first time this season.
Written by: Scott Stevenson
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