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.