In a thrilling contest between the Sydney Ice Dogs and the Central Coast Rhinos, the Ice Dogs emerged victorious with a final score of 9-5. The game was filled with fast-paced action, intense scoring, and impressive individual performances.
The first period started with a goal from Joakim Erdugan of the Central Coast Rhinos, giving his team an early 1-0 lead. However, the Ice Dogs quickly responded as Strat Allen found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. The Ice Dogs then took the lead with a power-play goal from Brady Heppner, assisted by Brandon Egli and Grant Toulmin. The Rhinos fought back, with Saxon Air scoring to level the score at 2-2. Robert Malloy then capitalized on a power play, giving the Rhinos a 3-2 advantage. Erdugan scored again, extending the Rhinos' lead to 4-2 before the end of the first period.
The second period was action-packed, with the Rhinos' Erdugan scoring another power-play goal, widening the gap to 5-2. The Ice Dogs refused to back down, with Thomas Voller finding the net to bring the score to 5-3. Grant Toulmin then scored for the Ice Dogs, assisted by Brandon Egli and Brady Heppner, tightening the gap to 5-4. The Ice Dogs continued to push, and just before the end of the period, Brandon Egli scored a power-play goal, equalizing the score at 5-5.
Entering the third period with a clean slate, the Ice Dogs took control of the game. Kyle Hunter netted a goal, assisted by Jeremy Vasquez and Nicholas Doornbos, giving the Ice Dogs a 6-5 lead. Brady Heppner extended the lead to 7-5 with a goal, assisted by Strat Allen and Grant Toulmin. Jeremy Vasquez added another goal, assisted by Dmitri Kuleshov and Kyle Hunter, further solidifying the Ice Dogs' advantage at 8-5. Dmitri Kuleshov sealed the victory with a goal, assisted by Grant Toulmin and Brandon Egli, bringing the final score to 9-5 in favor of the Ice Dogs.
The game showcased the Ice Dogs' offensive prowess, with multiple players contributing to the scoring frenzy. Grant Toulmin, Brandon Egli, and Brady Heppner played crucial roles, tallying points and assisting their teammates. Joakim Erdugan had an outstanding performance for the Central Coast Rhinos, displaying his scoring abilities with three goals.
The Sydney Ice Dogs' victory sets a positive tone for their upcoming matches against Newcastle and Melbourne this weekend. They will look to carry this momentum forward as they continue their AIHL campaign in search of a playoff spot. Be sure to get in on the action and cheer on the Dogs at home this weekend!
For tickets to this weekend’s games, please visit: https://icedogsshop.com.au/collections/tickets-1
