19/10/2022 Adelaide A Grade Ice Hockey Grand Final game3 – Jokers v Blackhawks 4-3

Selected photos available from the Adelaide A Grade League Ice Hockey Grand Final game 2 between the Jokers and the Blackhawks played on 19/10/2022 at the Ice Arena, Adelaide, South Australia.  Taking out game 1 with a 4-3 win the Jokers were matched with the Blackhawks taking out game 2 (3-2 win) a few days later, so it was up to game 3 to decide the championship.    Goaltenders were Tyler Duchene for the Jokers and Charlie Wragg for the Blackhawks.

The game started off in similar fashion to last week with a scrappy type of play and neither side able to find a lot of open space.  A bit less than 5mins into the period Blackhawks Caleb Staher was sent back to bench for a 2min hooking minor giving the Jokers the powerplay.  Jokers would make light work of it scoring within 30secs through Nikita Loria, with an assist from James Williams.  It would take some time before the Blackhawks struck back to even the score.  Troy Collins scored at the 9:42 mark off Rhys Page and Dave Hancock assists.  The Jokers would give the ‘Hawks another chance with the powerplay when Bryce Wallace headed back to the Jokers bench for roughing.  The penalty went by the wayside, but it would be the ‘Hawks who would score the go-ahead goal with 5:17 left in the period.  James Hearne found a loose puck in front and rifled it past Duchene, the Jokers netminder.  The Jokers then levelled the score at 2-all when Lukas Arhipoff combined with Tayilor Ewers with 3:36 left to play.  Shots on goal for the period ‘Hawks Wragg and Jokers Duchene faced 7 a piece.

The scrappy play continued in the second and neither team was able to dominate.  A hooking penalty to ‘Hawks James Hearne gave the Jokers the man advantage but they were unable to break the deadlock.  Eventually they did though at even strength with 2:32 remaining when Ewers scored off a Loria assist.  Shots on goal for the period saw both netminders facing a meague 5 shots a piece.

The ‘Hawks got themselves into penalty problems at 12:09 (Pier Clemente, roughing) and 8:13 (Dave Hancock, hooking) but the Jokers weren’t able to find a way past the ‘Hawks penalty kill unit both times.  With 3mins remaining in the game they went further ahead when Ben Davis scored after assists from Loria and veteran Sami Mantere.  The ‘Hawks would have one last roll of the dice and managed to peg back the margin to one goal and a glimmer of hope of saving their season and the championship.  Rhys Page was the goal scorer with the assists going to Chad Wilson and Hearne.  However it was too little to late in the end and the Jokers took out the game 4-3 and the 2022 A Grade Championship.  Shots on goal for the game saw Blackhawks Wragg face 18 shots, and Jokers Duchene face 20 shots.  It was great to see some emerging talent with Bantam players (Nikita Loria for Jokers and Ash Beadell for Blackhawks) get amongst the action and the big league.  Congratulations to the Jokers for the 2022 A grade Championship.