The Ice Dogs were in for a tough weekend of ice hockey and unfortunately were unable to come out victorious losing 6-3 to the Canberra Knights in Canberra on Saturday and 6-4 to Newcastle on Sunday at home in Liverpool.

With a depleted line up due to sickness and injuries the pups didn’t help themselves down in Canberra as they amassed a whopping 68 minutes in penalties in comparison to the Knights measly 24.

Canadian Jassi Sangha calmly sniped the first goal of the game for Sydney before the storm of penalties would give Canberra’s Fin Marco Raita the chance to even the match with the man advantage.

The Knights managed to add to their tally, scoring with 12 seconds left in the first period before Dogs top defenceman Andrew White was kicked out of the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The more the Dogs tried to reason with the referees the more trouble they found themselves in facing another three player ejections before the night was out. Despite the penalties the Ice Dogs kept on barking and were tit for tat with the confident Knights. The Ice Dogs did look like a chance at the start of final period as David Dunwoodie put home a ripping slap shot in hope of encouraging a comeback from 4-3.

The Canberra Knights had other plans and finished the job to make it 3 wins over the Ice Dogs this season which is a first in AIHL history for Canberra giving a bruised and battered Sydney side a lot to think about on the 3 hour journey home.

Onto the first place Newcastle Northstars the very next day and the Ice Dogs were met with yet another challenge when Newcastle charged off to a commanding two goal lead in the opening stanza. David Dunwoodie knew what to do scoring in similar fashion to the night previous.

American Import Matthew Monaghan levelled the game as he converted his break away goal shooting the puck off the top bar and in over the Newcastle goaltender Matt Ezzy’s glove.

Just as the feisty pups could sniff a lead, Newcastle’s Import John Halverson replied on his own breakaway goal to make the score 3-2. Ice Dogs Jason Gibson staged a second comeback for his team in impressive style scoring right off the draw hitting the far post and in catching Ezzy off guard.

The Ice Dogs relapsed their way back to the penalty box at the worst time possible allowing the Northstars to get two more goals and eventually a 6-4 win.

As we hit the halfway point of the season the playoff race has tightened up and Sydney will need two big wins this weekend as they travel to the Gold Coast to keep in it.