The BANQ Sydney Ice Dogs and Penrith Bears re-ignited the most historic rivalry dating before the AIHL in a game that had end to end action, plenty of saves, near misses, goals and some push and shove.  The Ice Dogs took and early lead at 1-0 courtesy of Imports Derek Campbell and Andrew DeCristoforo who combined for a very pretty goal as DeCristoforo pulled the puck between his legs eventually passing it to Campbell who put it home. 

If the Dogs had the momentum in the first period it was the Bears who had the puck and control in the second period however thanks to the efforts of Jimmy Herbert the scores remained 1-0 in favour of the Ice Dogs after the second.  An encounter with Penrith Bears Goalie Boucher resulted in Derek Campbell dropping his gloves and being removed from the rest of the game.  This didn’t help the Ice Dogs as Brett Nelson Bond scored on a Bears power play tying the game at 1-1.  The Bears then scored on their very next powerplay opportunity and it would be DeCristoforo again to help out his team but this time he was the one putting the puck in the net thanks to a great pass from behind Todd Stephenson’s back.  Stephenson however was also removed from the game for getting in Boucher’s way after the goal. 

That would be as close as the Dogs would get to trying to take the season series lead and will have to wait til next week as they get another shot at the Bears in Penrith with both David Dunwoodie and Andrew White back in the lineup. 

Battle of Sydney