This Sydney Ice Dogs game against the Melbourne Mustangs is proudly brought to you by BOQ Macquarie Centre. 

After another week long break the Ice Dogs are set to return to action, facing the Melbourne Mustangs this Sunday at Macquarie Ice Rink. This marks the first of four times they will face the team this season.

After an exciting 3-2 shootout win against their Sydney rivals, the Bears, the Saturday before last, the Ice Dogs will be looking to keep on top of the standings and take all three points on offer. 

The Mustangs were defeated in both of their last two games, first by the Northstars in a shootout on Saturday followed by a 6-3 loss to the Bears on Sunday. 

The last time the two teams met, the Ice Dogs took down the Mustangs with an action packed 4-2 win. Since Melbourne’s founding in 2001, the Ice Dogs have only given up 4 losses on home territory, winning 9 of the 12 home games. 

Despite tying their series against the Mustangs last season, the Melbourne team took the final playoff spot by four points. Forward Todd Stephenson believes that the Ice Dogs “have the team to [beat them] this year… We have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the Mustangs… we’ll be ready come Sunday.” While Head Coach Andrew Petrie says he“ expects it to be a battle from bell to bell”. 

The Mustangs currently sit in fifth on the ladder with 11 points in nine game while the Ice Dogs sit in fourth on 14 points in eight games. 

New goaltender Curtis Skip has been standing tall for the Ice Dogs, allowing only seven goals over four games on 126 shots and has a Goals Against Average (GAA) of 1.75 and a Save Percentage (SV%) of 0.944. 

Grant Toulmin leads the team in points (16), as well as tying with Nathan Chiarlitti in goals - with five in eight games. 

After the game this weekend, the Ice Dogs will play the Mustangs on the following dates: 16 June, 22 July, 26 August. 

The next time the Dogs hit the ice will be in Melbourne when they take on the Mustangs again on Saturday the 16th of June followed by a game against the Ice on the Sunday night. 

Tickets for Sunday’s game against the Mustangs at Macquarie Ice Rink can be purchased here: https://goo.gl/W2VKf1