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HELLYER LADDER

Team	GP	W	L	PTS
Ice	3	3	0	9
Thunder	4	3	1	9
Mustangs	1	1	0	3
Bears	2	1	1	3
Ice Dogs	3	0	3	0

RURAK LADDER

Team	GP	W	L	PTS
Northstars	3	3	0	9
Adrenaline	1	1	0	3
Brave	4	1	3	3
Lightning	4	1	3	3
Rhinos	3	0	3	0

SCORING LEADERS

Aiden
Wagner (NNS)

Player	Points
Jeremiah Addison (PER)	14
Wehebe Darge (NNS)	12
francis Drolet (NNS)	12
Beau Taylor (NNS)	10

GOALIE LEADERS

N Novysedlak (BRE)

1.000

Goalie	SV%
Tatsunoshin Ishida (MIC)	.952
Rhys Pelliccione (PER)	.950
Leo Bertein (PER)	.912
Jeremy Friederich (ADE)	.912

Mustangs turn tables on Dogs

Sunday, April 13, 2014 - Submitted by Tyler Cameron

The MOAT: Melbourne Mustangs galloped to an emphatic 6-3 victory against reigning Goodall Cup champions the Sydney Ice Dogs on Sunday.

The Mustangs were sharp against the Ice Dogs, who were coming off a 9-2 win against the Melbourne Ice the previous night.

With Fraser Carson in Serbia representing the Mighty Roos at the IIHF Division 2 World Championships, Michael James started in net for the Mustangs. He put in a solid performance, saving 23 of his 26 shots, including denying Simon Barg on a shorthanded breakaway with a huge stretch save in the final minute.

Mustangs head coach Brad Vigon praised James’ performance after the game.

“The huge save there at the end of the game on a breakaway from one of the best players in the game [Barg] was fantastic,” Vigon said. “I’m sure it was probably good for his confidence as well.”

James had plenty of help from his team mates which did not go unnoticed.

“The boys helped me out in the first period and after that I got settled in and I felt really good out there,” James said. “Once your teammates make it easier for you, and you get some confidence after you save a few shots, you don’t want to let a goal in to disappoint them.”

At the other end of the ice, Tim Noting for the Ice Dogs was busy all evening, facing 40 shots from the potent Mustangs offense.

The Mustangs took the game to the Ice Dogs early in the first, beating their opponents to the puck and firing plenty of shots on Noting. At 4:11, Michael Anderson intercepted the puck in his own zone, feeding it to Pat O’Kane who continued his pre-season form with an early goal.

Joey Hughes scored a minute later after a feed from Viktor Gibbs Sjödin, bringing the score to 2-0.

Coach Vigon was quick to acknowledge Gibbs Sjödin’s role in the team.

“So far in this short period of time he’s really fit in with the guys fantastically and I can’t see it going anywhere up from here,” Vigon said.

The Ice Dogs’ Tyler Kubara scored a double with minutes left in the period to tie the score at the end of the first.

After trading goals early in the second, the Mustangs pulled away, scoring a pair of go-ahead goals through Captain Sean Jones and Jack Wolgemuth.

In the third, Martin Kutek added the only goal with only 12 seconds remaining in the match, completing the 6-3 victory.

After the game, Brad Vigon asserted that the Mustangs are up for the challenge.

“[We came here] to show these guys who we really are,” Vigon said. “[We said] let’s come out here and show them that we are the real deal and that we’re a team to be reckoned with.”

With the Ice Dogs scoring nine goals the night before, the Mustangs came into the game prepared for anything.

“That was a bit of a worry for us going in. They’ve got some firepower, they can score, and their goaltender also looked pretty good [Saturday] night, so for us to get six on him is great,” Vigon said.

He added that he is confident the added depth and experience the Mustangs have gained with the signing of Vinnie and Joey Hughes will rub off on the rest of the team.

“Not only do they have experience but they’re big, tough, strong guys. You know they’re going to go to war for you and you’re going to want to do the same for them.”

The Mustangs are back at the Medibank Ice House next Saturday in the highly anticipated Melbourne derby, which will be the only fixture of the weekend. Jamie Bourke will miss the game due to suspension, after he received a match penalty after the final whistle for an altercation with Ice Dogs import John Clewlow.

* Photos by M.J Wragg Photography

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