Ice Dogs Pay Respects For Defence Force Night But Fall Short Against Brave

In a tribute to the brave men and women who have served in the Australian military, last Saturday the Sydney Ice Dogs hosted the Canberra Brave, wearing special camouflage jerseys and socks for Defence Force Night.  

The game was preceded by a bugle performance of the national anthem and last post by Corporal John Byrne, and a ceremonial puck drop by Commodore Matthew Doornbos, father to Ice Dogs players Jackob and Nick Doornbos.

It was an intense battle between the two teams, with no goals being scored through the first period. The arm wrestle would continue through the second, and it wasn’t until halfway through the period that the Brave found the back of the net through Felix Plouffe.

The third period began with Brave quickly adding to their lead with a goal by Austin Albrecht. Determined to fight back, the Ice Dogs cut the Brave’s lead to one by Strat Allen, with Grant Toulmin and Brandon Egli providing the assists.  

Despite a valiant effort by the Ice Dogs, featuring a standout performance by goaltender Jakob Doornbos, who faced an incredible 62 shots, it was Brave who would score the only remaining two goals (Joseph Hughes and Casey Kubara), resulting in a 4-1 loss. 

Looking ahead, the Sydney Ice Dogs are preparing to face off this Wednesday (24 May) against St John's University, an NCAA Division 3 team hailing from the United States. St John's University has traveled to Australia as part of an international tour, providing an exciting opportunity for both teams to showcase their skills and engage in a friendly competition.