Sport
Ice Dogs in tense thriller
Pranesh Nageshwar
Tuesday 20 May, 2008 12:01am
THE Sydney Ice Dogs travelled up to Newcastle last Sunday night to take on the Newcastle Northstars in the first of three back-to-back ice hockey clashes.
Dogs captain Brett Thomas put Sydney on the board first.
Playing for the Dogs was new Canadian import, Mike Barrett. He recently played professionally in Europe in the Belgium League.
Barrett snapped two of his sticks off two separate slap shots in the opening minute.
Newcastle responded in a penalty-crazed second period, locking the scores at 1-1. Scottie Herbert managed a tip-in from in front to regain the lead midway through the last period, but before the Dogs could blink, it was tied up 2-2 and the game was forced into a shootout.
Mitch Strang had the opening shot and scored but Newcastle would counter attack every time.
It was goal-for-goal and save-for-save, until finally Todd Stephenson the eighth shooter on the night put his penalty shot home. Dogs goalie Bryce Luker shut the doors to clinch victory.
The Ice Dogs play at home next against the Northstars on Sunday at 5.45pm at Sydney Ice Arena.
