Game Preview: Ice Dogs vs Ice

After a tough weekend, the Sydney Ice Dogs will face first placed Melbourne Ice for the first time this season.

ICE DOGS VS. ICE

All-Time: 14-30-7-1 (7-13-4-0 at home; 7-17-3-1 on the road)

2016-17: Sunday's game is the first of four meetings between the Ice Dogs and Ice. The Ice Dogs fell to the Ice, 4-1, in the last meeting between the two teams on August 14^th 2016 at O’Brien Group Arena.

WHO’S HOT

• Grant Toulmin has registered 18 points over the past nine games including 13 goals and two hat tricks, the first coming against the Newcastle Northstars and again on July 1^st against the Perth Thunder. He heads the Ice Dogs in goals (18) and points (27) this season and leads the AIHL in goals (4). In addition, the forward ranks 13^th in points amassed and leads the league in goals scored this season. Toulmin registered 2 goals against the Bears last weekend to continue his strong play.

• Damien Ketlo has posted an 8-10-0 record, along with a 2.46 goals against average (GAA), a .929 save percentage (SV%), and 2 shutouts in 18 games in 2017. He leads all AIHL goaltenders in SV% and is only one of three goaltenders to record two shutouts this season.

• Rory Rawlyk has registered 19 points so far this season, including an assist on Grant Toulmin’s goal against the Bears last Saturday.
   

STATUS REPORT

• After missing 15 games with a lower body injury veteran forward Billy Cliff will potentially play this Sunday and is expected to re-join the team at training this week. "We didn't want to rush his return. We will see how training goes this week and whether he is fit to play for the Ice game this Sunday" says general manager Jason Juba.
• Dave Upton will miss his 12^th game due to injury