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HELLYER LADDER

Team	GP	W	L	PTS
Ice	4	4	0	12
Thunder	6	4	2	12
Bears	4	3	1	9
Mustangs	2	1	1	3
Ice Dogs	5	1	4	3

RURAK LADDER

Team	GP	W	L	OTW	OTL	PTS
Northstars	4	3	0	1	0	11
Lightning	6	3	3	0	0	9
Adrenaline	3	1	1	0	1	4
Brave	6	1	5	0	0	3
Rhinos	4	0	4	0	0	0

SCORING LEADERS

Jeremiah
Addison (PER)

Player	Points
Aiden Wagner (NNS)	18
Wehebe Darge (NNS)	15
francis Drolet (NNS)	15
Zane Jones (PER)	13

GOALIE LEADERS

N Novysedlak (BRE)

1.000

Goalie	SV%
Rhys Pelliccione (PER)	.950
Tatsunoshin Ishida (MIC)	.933
Leo Bertein (PER)	.905
Charles Smart (NNS)	.903

Brave clinch finals birth, down Mustangs

Monday, August 11, 2014 - Submitted by Ellanor Pavlovich

The CBR Brave became the second team to make the 2014 AIHL finals, taking the second game of the weekends double header against the MOAT: Melbourne Mustangs 4-2 in front of a capacity home crowd.

After loosing the night before 4-2, the CBR Brave had one last chance to secure a win in their final home game of the season, and they didn't disappoint. As the puck dropped both teams were out to prove themselves, with the Mustangs looking to go one step closer to the minor premiership after securing their spot in the finals after Saturday’s game.

Mustangs assistant coach Mark Connelly said that despite the loss, the Mustangs performed strongly, missing the likes of Viktor Gibbs Sjödin and losing Joey Hughes due to injury.

“I think the way the game went and shortened bench, we are very proud of our boys,” Connelly said. “When we’re back to full strength, I think it will be a different story.”

Star Brave forward Anton Kokkonen said although the weekend was split, it was mission accomplished for the Canberrans.

“I think it was pretty much the same kind of game we had yesterday,” Kokkonen said. “The Mustangs are a good team and either game could have gone either way. I think it was a fair result that each team got three points. That’s what we wanted from this week; making sure we were in the playoffs.”

In the stands for the game was the ACT’s Sport and Recreations Minister, Shane Rattenbury who came to see Brave’s final home game. Mr Rattenbury said he was impressed to see what the CBR Brave had been able to accomplish this season and had heard great feedback through Canberra’s sporting community and particularly social media.

Brave import Corey Wilkie scored the opening goal of the game, his third in three games and setting the Brave up for a solid performance.

The Mustangs Joey Hughes answered the goal only seconds later. Play was stopped as Joey Hughes received an impacted tooth and the blood cleaned from the ice. Hughes was then taken for medical treatment at the end of the second period, missing the remainder of the game.

Alternate captain Matt Harvey gave the Brave the lead at the first break, scoring his seventh goal of the season.

The Mustangs went into the second period with the upper hand on a power play but were not able to capitalise on it. Both the Brave and the Mustangs brought their A-game and there were plenty of hard knocks and shots on goal as the second period progressed.

The Brave extended the lead when Anton Kokkonen scored the home side’s third goal of the night. However, the Mustangs don’t lay down and Joey Hughes completed his double before getting medical attention.

As the teams came back to battle it out for the third period tempers increased, but not before Brave’s Matt Lehoczkhy secured the Brave’s fourth goal for the night, sealing the win.

While the Mustangs took three points from the weekend, captain Sean Jones said that he was proud of how his team battled through both matches.

“I think we played not as well as we can play but we showed a lot of heart,” Jones said. “Obviously it was a loss so it wasn’t the result we were looking for. It was good to get the win yesterday so we’re still on top and now we’ll look to Thursday for the big game against the Ice.”

Brave coach Matti Luoma said he felt his team played a strong game.

“We maintained the pressure pretty much for the full three periods,” Luoma said. “I think we played for each other more tonight and outworked them but we’re happy for the win.”

As the weekend came to a close, both the CBR Brave and Moat: Melbourne Mustangs have secured their respective places in the 2014 AIHL Finals presented by Air Canada.

Kokkonen said that the Finals will be anyone’s for the taking.

“I think the Finals matches will be pretty much the same,” he said. “We’ll see who we have to play first. There are four teams and anyone can beat anyone so you’ve got to be best on the day.”

Next week, the Mustangs play the Melbourne Ice on Thursday, before taking on the Newcastle North Stars on Saturday, both at the Medibank Icehouse. The Brave travel to Adelaide for a double header against the Adrenaline.

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