Northstars aiming to end the season strong

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The Northstars had an important 3 – 2 victory over the Central Coast Rhinos on the weekend, which keeps them on track to finish first in the Rurak Conference.
 
Looking ahead to their final game of the regular season, Newcastle will face the visiting Melbourne Mustangs on August 10^th. This game is an important one as a win will put them on 52 points.
 
The Canberra Brave are close on the Northstars tail, in second place on 44 points, and can finish on a maximum 50 as they try to chase down Newcastle. The final placings for the AIHL finals series will be decided on August 10 and 11.
 
In the game against the Rhinos on the weekend, goals from team leadership and veterans Francis Drolet and Beau Taylor secured the win for the Northstars to put them one step closer to the conference win.
 
“The message to the guys afterwards was first and foremost that getting the win was huge,” started Head Coach Kevin Noble. “They showed some perseverance, we were the better team and we’re very fortunate and pleased to get the win.”
 
It would be a tough challenge to play and win three games in a row in Melbourne, making securing the top conference spot crucial for the Northstars campaign.
 
A regulation win on August 10 sends the Northstars straight to the top four to play on Saturday August 24. Noble shared, “What our body of work has done for us this year is that we have the ability to either do it Saturday or do it the following Friday.”
 
“Our penalty kill line is still showing that solid strength that we need particularly in the tough games we’re going to face in Melbourne,” continued Noble. “ “I thought our whole team were ok and worked hard as a team.”
 
“I thought we played competition level, and I thought their goalie was very good. He can play free and he doesn’t have a lot of stress and creates problems for teams.”
 
“The game is different when you have to play with stress and tonight we looked like a team that had everything to lose, against a team that had nothing to lose or gain, which are very dangerous opponents.”
 
The Northstars will play Melbourne Mustangs August 10^th at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium for the final game of the regular season.