Bear Essentials: Crushed Ice
Welcome to the second edition of ‘Bear Essentials’, a weekly series that recaps the week that was and previews the week ahead. First, let’s break down the Bears’ dominant win on Saturday against the defending Goodall Cup champion Melbourne Ice.
The Bears entered the weekend fifth in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) standings in points and sixth in points percentage. The Melbourne Ice, sitting in ninth entering the weekend, would have leapfrogged the Bears in the standings with a regulation win.
Instead, the Bears inflicted a 4-1 defeat on the Ice, ensuring the Bears stayed in a playoff spot. Although the Bears did not move up the AIHL standings, they overtook the Melbourne Mustangs in points percentage and now sit fifth in both points and points percentage.
The Bears won the special teams battle (2/4 on the PP with both units scoring, 8/8 on the PK), scored more five-on-five (2-1), put more shots on net (42-35), and looked the more dangerous team.
Four different players put the puck in the net, including three for the first time this season: Noah Moncrieff, Brian Chambers, and Louis Olive.
Perhaps the only two criticisms would be, firstly, that they could have done a better job staying out of the box, as going on the powerplay half as often as the penalty kill is not a sustained recipe for success, and secondly, based on their chances, they could have scored a lot more with better finishing.
Alexandre Gauthier was assessed a five-minute major and match penalty for a check to the head against Nathan Cachia, and may miss the trip to Brisbane this weekend. There didn’t seem to be any malice on the play; Gauthier isn’t that sort of player at all, and although the game was physical, there was no ill intent from either team.
What’s Trending
Anthony Kimlin is trending in a big way. The 36-year-old netminder from Ipswich, QLD, has had an outstanding start to the season. He improved his GAA to 2.14 (best in the league), and his save percentage to .931 (second in the league).
Kimlin looked comfortable all game against the Ice; his best save of the game came when he stoned Kolton Shindle with a ten-beller pad save on a breakaway. His lateral movement was excellent with no wasted movement; he was square to shooters and hardly gave up any rebounds.
When James Downie returns, the Bears boast arguably the league's best local goaltender tandem.
Tomas Landa and Lucas Herrmann continue to lead the line offensively for the Bears. Landa has recorded a point in each game this season (5G, 5A in 6GP), and Herrmann is on a three-game goal-scoring streak. Illustrating Herrmann’s importance to the team, the two games that the Bears have lost in regulation coincide with the only games this season where Herrmann didn’t find the back of the net.
What’s Next
This weekend, the team travels to Brisbane for a double-header at Boondall Ice Arena. The Lightning are eighth in the standings, but are undefeated at home. It’s a tough challenge for the Bears, who are missing key personnel due to injury, but games played are always an opportunity to climb up the standings.
By the end of this weekend, the Bears could sit anywhere from first to ninth, depending on results. The following weekend, the Bears return home to face the Ice Dogs in the Battle of Sydney on Friday night and the Adelaide Adrenaline on Sunday. Get your gameday tickets here.
