The Sydney Ice Dogs claimed its first win and points of the season on Saturday night, defeating the Sydney Bears 4-3 in a thrilling penalty shootout at the Liverpool Catholic Club Sports Complex.

The Ice Dogs win saw the end of streaks for both sides with the Ice Dogs snapping a 10-game losing streak, as well as bringing the Bears’ four-game winning streak to an end.

Under the direction of new head coach Mario Passarelli, the Ice Dogs delivered their best performance of the season, holding off a late charge and clinching the game in a shootout.

“It was a great win for us tonight,” said Passarelli. “For me, coming into the dressing room tonight, it was all about a fresh start.”

Passarelli, who has previously suited up for the Sydney Bears earlier this season as both a skater and a goalkeeper, was announced this week as the Ice Dogs’ new head coach, a move designed to spark the Ice Dogs squad.

“Some changes had to happen and we’re starting to look like a complete team,” said Passarelli. “Tonight we had to come out and play a full game. In some stages we were up and in other stages we were down but we had to play a three full periods tonight and that’s what it takes to win.”

Both sides came out strong in the first period, but failed to find the back of the net.

Despite a lack of the scoring the crowd was treated to some bone crunching hits, as both sides looked for a physical edge.

The turning point of the match came late in the second period, with the Bears leading 2-1 and on a power play.  

Ice Dogs penalty killer  Sean Hamilton, blocked a point shot, gathered up the loose puck and buried his break away chance, to even the game at 2-all and give the home side the momentum heading into the third period as well as the teams’ first shorthanded goal of the year.

Ice Dogs forward Strat Allen gave the home side the lead with his second goal of the night.

However, the Bears clawed their way back into the game with a controversial goal to Cameron Todd with less than four minutes left on the clock.

With players crashing the goal crease, the net appeared to be dislodged before Todd’s shot went into the net.

Despite objections from goalie Matt Grogan and the Ice Dogs bench, the goal stood and tied the game up.

Straight off the face-off, the Bears had another strong chance with Grogan denying a close range shot, sending the game to a shootout.

Ryan Strayer and Sean Hamilton converted for the Ice Dogs and goalie Matt Grogan stopped both Bears attempts, to clinch a 4-3 win, sending the home crowd into rapturous applause and the players into hysterics.

“It was pretty nerve racking going to a penalty shootout” said Ice Dogs captain Brain Funes. “Matt (Grogan) is always solid in net; he just put up a wall and we all believed that he’d get it done.”

Grogan was sharp in net, stopping 34 of 37 shots on the night for his first win of the season, while at the other end, Bears keeper Kamil Jarina, was busy, stopping 23 of 26 shots.

Looking to build on the team’s first victory, Funes spoke about what that the win means for the team moving forward.

“We just need to keep the momentum going and bring the same intensity against Newcastle tomorrow,” he said. “We just need to bring the energy we had tonight and take it to them”

Bears assistant coach Ron Kuprowsky said his side had the chance to win the game but couldn’t take those opportunities.

“It really came down to missed opportunities for our team,” Kuprowsky said. “It was tough to have our winning streak come to an end like that, we thought we should have won that game, but missed opportunities where the difference.”

The season series between the two Sydney sides, which has been labelled the Battle of Sydney – is now tied at 1-all for season 2015.

Both sides will be in action next week with the Sydney Bears playing the CBR Brave in Canberra in a Bears home game as well as the Melbourne Ice on Saturday and Sunday respectively, while the Ice Dogs host the North Stars in Sydney on Sunday.