Selected photos from those taken at the Australian Ice Hockey League game between Adelaide Adrenaline and the Newcastle Northstars played on 15/07/2023 at the Ice Arena, Adelaide, South Australia. Newcastle has traditional been a strong team and this was no different as they posted the first 2 goals of the game (Riley Klugerman, unassisted at 13:37, and Patrick Ward with assist from ex-Adelaide/Ex-CBR Brave Wehebe Darge and Francis Drolet 6:20). The Adrenaline would however fight back a minute later with a goal from import Brett Radford at 5:06 (assists from import Coy Prevost and Zach Boyle) and second to level the score at 4:12 when Prevost scored after an assist from Steve Best. This set the stage for a hard fought slog….or would it? The Northstars were on a powerplay 4-on-3 with less then 2mins remaining when Daniel Berno found the back of the net (assists from Drolet and Josh Adkins). This would start an avalanche of goals for the Northstars to take a dominant lead into the first break. Darge would score from a Drolet assist, and Klugerman, his 2nd goal for the game with 8secs remaining (assists from Darge and Drolet). The period had seen 6 penalties, 3 for each time, but crucially two for the Adrenaline at the same time. During the period Adrenaline’s starting goaltender Jeremy Friederich had to head for the bench after some issues with his equipment. He had faced 10 shots, and replacement Matus Trnka 10 shots. Northstars Charlie Smart had faced 10 shots.
The 2nd period in contrast only had 2 penalties giving the Adrenaline a chance to strike back. Northstars Tim Stanger for delay of game at 10:55, and Hunter Ellen for high-sticking at 5:49. The Adrenaline however couldn’t find the back of the net, but the Northstars could. Two goals were scored, Berno again at 11:16 with an assist going to Liam Mainwarring, and Drolet getting a goal of his own at 6:30 (assists from Darge and Klugerman). Shots on goal for the period, were Adrenaline’s Trnka facing 15, and Northstars Smart facing 8 shots.
It must have been a spirited locker room talk at the 2nd break as the Adrenaline came out all fired up to claw back some of the 5 goal deficit. Ben Handberg scoring their 3rd goal at 17:57 with assists coming from captain Joey Macdougall and Ryan Foll. Northstars Tanner Butler would head to he penalty box for hooking at 17:09 but there was no change in the score, not at least until 14:05 when Macdougall scored the Adrenaline’s 4th goal with assists from Radford and Prevost. Three goals were gettable in the time remaining, but a tall ask against a strong side like the Northstars. Adrenaline’s Morris O’Handley was deemed for interference at 13:16, right at the same time Northstars Butler would extend the margin back out to 4 goals and end the Adrenaline’s comeback chances. Northstars Manwarring would make it a 5 goal game at 12:06 (assists from Berno and Adkins). Adrenaline’s Prevost received a tripping penalty at 7:09 but no change in the score resulted. Adrenaline’s Julian Friederich (recently in the Syd Tange U18 National Championship) chipped in with a goal to bring the difference back to 4 goals at 3:39. A penalty to Adrenaline’s Prevost (cross-checking) and Northstars Klugerman for hooking at 2:06 evened up the players on the ice and the score remained at 9-5. Shots on goal for the game saw Northstars take 53 shots in a dominant display to the Adrenaline’s 31.
