Bears win 2-1
Still searching for their first win of the season the BANQ Ice Dogs suffered a big blow this weekend losing to an understrengthed Bears outfit 2-1 on Saturday night, followed by an embarrassing 9-2 loss to Melbourne on Sunday night.
Whilst the Ice Dogs have had a very busy and tough schedule off the bat it definitely wasn’t the start to the season or home opening weekend the Ice Dogs were looking for especially in front of a good Liverpool crowd on the Saturday night. Captain Anthony Wilson managed to score the two goals in the game against Melbourne showing some character leadership in the third period. “I think we have analysed enough and it is time to take some action. We can’t back down…not now” said Wilson.
”Our special teams (with or without a man advantage) is our big issue at the moment” explains a calm Derek Campbell, who has been on pro league teams in this position before who have managed to come out of it and win a championship. On top of special teams being an issue that needs addressing the team also needs to gel as a unit at both ends of the ice.
Saturday night, the Bears charged off to a 1-0 lead with a powerplay goal. Andrew White replied for the Ice Dogs with a goal from in front assisted by linemates Todd Stephenson and David Dunwoodie. The scores were deadlocked at 1-1 until the third period where the bears scored thier second goal and held on to win despite a barrage of shots from the Ice Dogs in the last couple of minutes. Ex-Ice Dogs goaltender Gabe Robledo stood on his head and the Dogs just couldn’t seem to capitalise in front.
Come Sunday the Ice Dogs managed to have solid start and had the momentum early on until they ran into penalty trouble which you can’t afford to do against one of the best powerplays in the league at the moment. Before they could blink it was a 3-0 scoreline to Melbourne after the first period all being powerplay goals. The early lead seemed to crush the spirits of the home team who came out flat in the second to be behind by 6-0 , fifteen minutes later. “We panicked and lost sight of our game plan which earned us momentum in the first 5 minutes. I think the boys have realised now that there is no silver bullet or easy way out and we have to work hard, develop urgency and be patient” says coach Mark Stephenson.
The Dogs are off to Adelaide and Melbourne next weekend and have 2 practices this week to address some issues to pull off a win this weekend.
Loading ...
May 17th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Dear loyal fans, management, volunteers and all who support the Ice Dogs.
This is a personal apology from me as a player to all of you for our dismal display so far tgus season.
We have never in the history of the Ice Dogs had a start like this.
Unfortunately when teams are this situation you look for all srts of answers and usually it is right there in front of every individual wearing a jersey.
Something that upsets me more than anything is the fact that we have a great fan base and we are playing habitually poor at this current stage of the season.
I would like to ask all of you to hang in there with us.
We are addressing somethings agressively this week at training and hopefully we will notch up a couple of wins this weekend and then back at home in 2 weeks.
Hang in there guys, with a team like this on paper we cannot continue to play this bad for so long.
Thank you so muh for hanging in there with us.
Yours in hockey,
Willo #3.
May 18th, 2010 at 9:03 am
No apologese needed Willo! Your Fans all know that you guys can do it and after watching the Melbourne game it’s evident the Mongrel is still there.
I think you guys need to use “Mongrel”as your cattle call when your heads are down…
Come on Dogs! you owe it to your fans but most importantly to yourselfs to get out of this rutt!!!!!!!!!
LET THOSE DOGS OUT & Sickem boys!!!!!
May 18th, 2010 at 5:42 pm
im a loyal fan and no appology needed willo but thanks for stepping up to the plate release the fire within and let it out show them who owns the ice and attack them on the score board not with penalties thats ur killer they intimate u and u guys fall for it more pucks on net even if u think u dont have a shot at least take it dont be fancy im with u guys to the end
May 18th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
thanks for the post willo,
i dont know if it trying to hard or playing to fancy but you guys will figger it out.
in soccer the more basic you play the easier and better it is for the individual and the team.
focus on the finishing the passes, checks and deffently the puck in the net. we can give the keeper more if he yas score
head up guys results havnt gorn your way this season but the quality we have seen, you guys are up to it.
no need to apoligise its sport you win some you lose its been a shakey start to 2010 season but there is a long way to go.
need to get heads up and start believing in yourselfs and then as a team.
penaltys do kill yas but what i have seen over the 4 games i have seen the worst penalty has come in the way of the refs.
i know i cant blame the refs cause there not playing but its hard with a few dodgy calls to keep in the spirt of the game.
melbourne got away with some dirt shit on sunday and when it comes to the extent of injuries from a dirty ellegal hit or some1 that hits our mate jimmy NO:1 (the keeper) that the refs turn a blind eye to is bullshit.
but from that there is class in the team and the dogs do have what it takes to win the competition.
at the end of the day win lose or draw we will be there to back you guys as supporters in the DOG POUND!!!
hope matty #17 and scotty #7 injuries come under control (hope every one else pulled up ok after weekend).
when i get my voice back yo might hear us a little for and next home game few more surprises from us(dog pound).
oh by the way sitting in the stand watching willo wind up puck sailing straight and pinning top corner BRILLIENT!!!
May 18th, 2010 at 7:31 pm
hey is the team taking a bus to the next canberra game if so are members/ supporters welcome.
or
if any one is keen in pitching in for a bus to canberra can they let me know and i will organise prices and details.
thanks
May 19th, 2010 at 5:43 am
hey willo,
no need for an apology,ive been around team sports all my life and sometimes its the way things pan out.personally i dont think you are playing bad hockey,just momentary lapses which is what the other team is capitalizing on and bang your a goal or two down.saying that watching you guys at newcastle being 3-0 down and then going 6-3 up shows you have def got what it takes to pick yourselves up.not once have i seen you guys as team mates rip into each other on the ice which also shows to me you are all close as a team and honestly i think this is just a minor lull we are in and been a fan for long enough to know you guys can bring it together when you need to
ICE DOG FAN FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!
May 19th, 2010 at 9:20 am
Thanks Boys,
Also we will be looking to do a bus for Canberra Dan. I will keep you posted.
Cheers boys. Without you guys we are nothing, so we are giving it our all regardless of scorelines and penalties for you guys.
Scottie
May 19th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
that would be awsome
May 19th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Thanks Willo, but then appologies arent necessary. loss of key personnel and some unusual refereeing decisions have cost us a fair bit this year. sometimes in sporting life things dont always go the way you want them too. Its how you rebound that really counts. I know that with the roster the dogs have we have the ability to go all the way. what you guys as players need to do now is believe in yourselves your team mates your coaches and your fans. Play hard we’ll cheer hard. hit hard we’ll cheer harder still. Drop the gloves every now and then. (weve got plenty of players that can do this) we’ll go beserk and raise the frigging roof of the rink.
I love this team and everything it stands for we the supporters and players are one big family.
Keeep fighting on and we the supporters will be your sixth skater off the ice.
lets make life hell for our opposition. lets make the LCC and any rink we play in a real house of pain.
Its game on dogs lets do it.
Richard. (27)
May 19th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
second that richard
May 20th, 2010 at 8:27 am
Agreed Richard…….
GAME ON MOLES!!!!!
May 21st, 2010 at 4:51 pm
could not of said it any sweeter richard
NO14: is the enforcer
May 21st, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Thanks for all your comments and support guys.
It makes a big difference and it is great to know that we play for our fans as well.
I think dropping the gloves is part of the game however it also needs to be the right time, not just for nothing. When we were down to Melbourne approx 3 zip that was the right time for a couple of people, none the less our team is always worries about being penalised so we did not do anything stupid.
Hopefully we have a couple of wins on the weekend and see you all next weekend.
May 22nd, 2010 at 10:50 am
yeah big week end for you guys need to take the wins.