I know that this is predominantly a hockey blog, but those who know me will know that I’m also a big Toon fan. That’s Newcastle United Football Club (NUFC) of the English Premier League.
Earlier this morning Newcastle played Scunthorpe in round 2 of the Carling Cup. Below are the highlights from the game. The game winner in extra time was Sammy Ameobi’s first goal in the 1st team. Not a bad way to score your first goal I’d say!
Full review of the game can be found on the Premier League website.
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.
The Weekly Faceoff is a regular column talking about all things Tongues, in and around the AIHL.
Div II Group A World Championships
In case you didn’t hear the cheers rising from down south, Team Australia won the Gold at the Div II Group A World Championships this last weekend. Representing the Blue Tongues on the Aussie team was local favorite Dave Upton. While I do wish the Kiwis had finished better (i’m a Kiwi, would you expect any less), I would like to offer my congratulations to Team Australia for a fantastic result.
Mike “Basil” McRae
Mike McRae was impressive for the Tongues last season, putting up 27G and 20A on the season, leading the Tongues in both goals and points. We were therefore very pleased to hear that McRae is returning to the Tongues for the 2011 AIHL season. Last year many fans coined Mike “Basil” as a sign of respect, a reference to NHL legend Basil McRae. Mike has been playing alongside Matt Amado during intersquad games, and has looked very good.
Around The League
Teams around the league have been naming their import players over the last few weeks. Adelaide have a very strong team on paper, and look to be a force to be reckoned with this season. Newcastle have the return of AIHL scoring leader Brian Bales and Peter Cartright and wont be an easy team to get past, especially with Ezzy coming off a good run at the Worlds. The Mustangs are the dark horse of the league, but their roster lacks depth so how they do is anybodys guess. All eyes will be on the Ice vs Mustangs matchups, as the derby matches are sure to breed a great rivalry between the two clubs.
The Ice and Mustangs open the 2011 AIHL season this Thursday 14th April.
A year ago Brad Smulders lit the AIHL up on the score sheet, setting an impressive 76 points AIHL record in the process. His 33 Goals and 43 Assists helped the Tongues make their first ever finals appearance.
Last weekend that record was beaten, not just by 1 player but 2, from the same club.
Brian Bales & Peter Cartwright have been standout imports for the Newcastle North Stars all season, helping them finish as regular season premiers and once again be a strong contender for the cup. Last weekend while the Blue Tongues were in Newcastle for their final 2 games of the season, the Bales / Cartwright duo turned a depleted and under-manned Blue Tongues squad into new AIHL records.
In the 2 games over the weekend Bales put up 5 goals and 8 assists putting him on 81 points (30G 51A) , well past Smulders’ previous record. Cartwright put up 7 goals and 8 assists on the weekend giving him a season total of 78 points (36G 42A). Cartwright also set a new North Stars goal scoring record, passing the previous record of 35 goals set by BJ Pelkey in 2008. The current AIHL goal scoring record is held by Matt Amado of the Brisbane Blue Tongues in 2007.
Congratulations go out to both Bales and Cartwright for their accomplishment.
The level of quality of players is increasing each year in the AIHL and no doubt Bales new record will be challenged and beaten by someone else at some point in time.
Congratulations also to the Blue Tongues 15 year old rookie netminder Nick Novysedlak who was thrown in the deep end this last weekend against a very strong North Stars squad. Nick played with great poise and positioning and sent a message that he is a player to watch out for in the future. Nick is the son of Blue Tongues veteran netminder, Milan Novysedlak.
The Bartercard Gold Coast Blue Tongues Supporters, team members, sponsors and hockey fans around South East Queensland would like to congratulate the Blue Tongues on their first ever appearance at the Australian Ice Hockey League Finals series, 29-30 August, 2009 at the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium (HISS), Warners Bay, Newcastle, NSW.
We would also like to congratulate Blue Tongues import Brad Smulders on breaking the AIHL scoring record, previously of 69 points held by Brad Wanchuluk of the Newcastle Northstars in 2007. Brad finished the season with 33 goals, 43 assists for 76 points off just 22 games.
The Blue Tongues finished the regular season in 4th spot with 14 wins, 7 losses and 3 overtime losses, good for 44 points off 24 games.
The Blue Tongues will take on top seeded Newcastle Northstars in their semi-final matchup, scheduled for 7:30pm, Saturday 29 August, 2009.
