With just 2 games of the regular AIHL season left to play, it’s time to start thinking about end of season awards and specifically the 2011 Blue Tongues MVP. The MVP and other awards are chosen by those involved with the team, so any discussion or thought is naturally pure speculation.
In my mind there are 4 nominees for the team MVP this season, each bringing a different aspect to the game. Here they are with my thoughts.
Matt Amado (41G 27A 68Pts)
Matt Amado set a new AIHL scoring record this season, breaking the previous record he set in 2007. His 41 goals are 7 more than Newcastle’s Peter Cartwright so he should hold onto that record this season. Matt’s scoring ability is unquestionable as is his value to the Blue Tongues. For ever upside there has to be a down of course, and Matt does have Flaws on the ice. At times he can be selfish with the puck and there have been multiple games this season where his inability to pass the puck has cost the team valuable scoring chances. In a recent game he also took a bad penalty that ended up costing the team the game (documented in a previous blog post).
Tobias Falk (27G 34A 61Pts)
Tobias Falk has quite possibly been the most consistent player on the team all season. A valuable playmaker turned sniper, Falk started the season setting up Amado but of late has started putting shots on goal which has seen his goal tally increase exponentially. Falk has a solid 2-way game and leads the Blue Tongues in shorthanded goals. He also has the lowest penalty minutes (26) of all my MVP nominees, highlighting his Lady Byng qualities on the ice. Falk has often been criticized for not shooting the puck, however that has changed over the latter half of this season.
Mike McRae (18G, 32A 50Pts)
McRae has the same points-per-game s Tobias Falk (2.3) but has played less games (22). Macca, as he’s known on the team has a fantastic shot but is often overshadowed by Falk and Amado who lead the team offensively. McRae’s biggest downside is his penalty count which stands at 83 PIMs, 2nd highest in the team. With the Blue Tongues having a less than impressive Penalty Kill this season, McRae’s visits to the box have more often than not cost the team vital goals.
Dave Upton (8G 19A 27Pts)
Dave Upton has been the Blue Tongues brightest local player since he joined the team as a 15yr old in the 2005 season. His goals and points are down on his average this season, but if you were at the final home game vs the Mustangs you would have seen a classic Dave Upton style goal; undress defenders and then make a fool out of the opposition goalie. Unfortunately this is the last season we will see Upton in the Blue jersey as he is moving to Sydney at the end of the year. His points may not be at an MVP level, but to the loyal Blue Tongues fans, Upton will always been a team MVP.
Tobias Falk is the fan favorite for team MVP by a long shot. The vast majority of fans of the team would pick Falk over Amado due to his team-first style of game.
Who would you pick? Leave comments below.
The pointy end of the season is truly upon us. The Blue Tongues have wrapped up their home games for the season and now have just 4 games left to play, all against tough opponents in even tougher venues.
As it stands right now the Blue Tongues are in 4th position on the ladder, just 1 point ahead of the Adelaide Adrenaline and 7 points back from a 3rd place Sydney Ice Dogs. The Adrenaline are the biggest threat for the Tongues and have the advantage of an easier schedule.
Here is how the 2 teams break down of the final 4 games including the record against those teams this season.
Gold Coast Blue Tongues
Away – Melbourne Ice (1 win, 1 loss, 1 shootout loss)
Away – Melbourne mustangs (3 wins)
Away – Newcastle North Stars (2 losses)
Away – Newcastle North Stars
Adelaide Adrenaline
Away – Canberra Knights (1 win, 1 loss)
Away – Sydney Bears (1 shootout win, 2 wins)
Home – Canberra Knights
Home – Sydney Ice Dogs (1 win, 2 losses)
The Blue Tongues don’t really have any easy teams to face, except maybe the Mustangs.
Tobias Falk has been consistently good all season for the Tongues and deserves to be #1 choice for team MVP
They know they can defeat the Ice as this last weekend showed, and they have the confidence of knowing that they can compete with the Ice down in Melbourne. The North Stars are the key to this series I believe, as the Tongues history against Newcastle, in Newcastle has not been good at all over the years. That said, Matt Ezzy has been very normal this season so as long as our boys can bring the firepower they should compete. The last time they played the North Stars they did so without a full roster and zero team chemistry, so the next 2 games could be vastly different. The Tongues should pick up a win against the Mustangs and I believe they should pick up a win against the North Stars. That gives a short estimate of at least 6 of a possible 12 points.
The Adrenaline on the other hand are playing well and have a relatively easy run of things. The Bears are an easy team for them based on past history with the Knights and Ice Dogs being the key to their season. The game against the Bears will almost certainly be a win (although would love it not be). The Ice Dogs I believe will win once again and based on games this season they should split the 2 games against the Knights. That gives the Adrenaline a short estimate of 6 points from 12.
If both teams pick split their series, the Tongues will remain 1 point ahead and will secure that finals spot.
Right now it’s too close to call.
Warning: If you’re wearing rose coloured glasses, leave now. If you’re a ra-ra fan, leave now. If you were at yesterday’s game and are pissed that we lost, please read on.
It’s not often I’ll start a blog post with a disclaimer, but as there are those who feel fans should not speak ill of a team they support, i wanted to give them a heads up so they can leave now before being blessed with my words of wisdom.
Yesterday’s loss to the Melbourne Ice was a tough one to take. The Tongues played hard for most the game, but fell into a serious lack of discipline at times which cost us dearly. The Melbourne Ice are one of the smartest teams in the AIHL. They knew which players to go after and they targeted our weaknesses, and right on queue the Tongues responded in kind. In short, they fell into the Ice’s plans and suffered accordingly.
But it was with 5 minutes left in the first period where the wheels fell off the bus, and the blame should fall squarely on the shoulders of Matt Amado and Alex Boyd.
Those not at the game, here’s how it went down. Amado drops the stick and challenges Joey Hughes to a fight. Hughes is all for it and goes at Amado. Amado cowers from the fight and tries to get away. Meanwhile, Alex Boyd jumps off the bench and has a go at Hughes. Game misconducts are handed out and the Tongues end up with a 5 minute penalty kill. The Ice go on to score the game winning goal on that powerplay.
It was a stupid penalty to take and an absolutely gutless play. If you’re going to challenge a guy to a fight, either man up and hit him or expect to get knocked the hell out. It was a pathetic cowardly move by Amado and his team mates should be disgusted with him for that. And as for Boyd, to jump off the bench and get involved is a cardinal sin and sheer stupidity. It is an act unbecoming a player at this level! For a so-called MVP player, Amado displayed a total lack of thought on what was a classless play. It was selfish, gutless and it cost us a goal, and the game!
That chain of events entirely changed the game completely. Sure, the reffing was atrocious towards both teams, but that play was the game changer.
Positives from the game…
Adam Geric being back in the lineup adds a much needed defensive forward punch to the squad. Jack Conner was playing really well and that goal by Dave Upton was a thing of pure beauty. Luke Fiveash was shaky in the first period, but stellar when we needed him to be and has been a consistent presence between the pipes for the Tongues. It would be nice to see CJ start a game, but as they say, when a goalie is hot, you keep playing him. At least Kane isn’t playing. Tobias Falk has been consistently solid all season and deserves to be the top nominee for an MVP award. On defense Bob Sannemo has been incredible and helps drive the special teams incredibly well. I also want to send a special kudos to those guys who give 110% every single game and never get the credit they deserve, so this is to the likes of Ben Spillane, Ross Howell, Cam Trew, Alex Hall and others who play depth roles. You guys make this team what it is. Superstars may score the goals, but without you guys playing the depth roles, they would have no ability to do so. So as a fan, thank you. We do notice you on the ice, and we appreciate every single thing you do for this team.
This last weekend was the final home game of the season. It’s sad that we wont see our boys again at home until next season, but this season is not over, and our boys are more than capable of being in the finals this season. Good luck in the next few weeks guys… GO TONGUES!
As always, comments are welcome below.
Saw an interesting tweet just a while back about a particular magical character wearing a league hoodie when not at a particular magical school. If you’re like most, you probably smiled at the thought of that, except it’s possibly not a laughing matter at all.
Is using a fictional character or celebrity to promote a commercial product ok to do? In essence it says the people who own that character possibly endorse the product, which of course is not the case. Last season someone in the UK allegedly received a cease and desist letter because they “jokingly” used a popular movie character to promote a commercial product for a football team.
Ok? Not ok? Leave your thoughts below.
The Sydney bears travel to the gold coast this weekend to play the home team, blue tongues. The Tongues are coming off a weekend they would rather forget after the AIHL ruled the sunday game vs the Ice Dogs a forfeit due to the rink being unplayable.
7 points back from 4th place with 3 games in hand, the Tongues need to win these 2 games.
Games start at 4pm both days, assuming of course the rink works.
