Selected photos from the Elite Summer Ice Hockey League Grand Final Game 2 between the Cowboys and the Voltage played on 28/03/2026 at the Ice Arena, Adelaide, South Australia. After winning game 1 of the best-of-3 Grand Final series the night before, the Cowboys, who had been dominant all season wnning all of their games played to date, were looking at taking out the inaugural ESIHL championship. The Voltage on the other hand were desperate to take it to Game 3. In between the pipes for the Cowboys was Jeremy Friederich (who had recently re-signed for the AIHL Adelaide Adrenaline) and for the Voltage, Matus Trnka. Voltage saw the return of Zac Steele who was looking at having a real impact on the game.
Play was tight with neither team able to find a way through some excellent defence. With players crashing the Voltage net it would result in Marcel McGuinness heading to the penalty box for goaltender interference at the 11:56 mark. Ironically it would be his goaltender who would face the ire of the referees next, as Jeremy Friederich would be deemed for interference at 8:45 left in the period. It would take until a minute left in the period before either team would score. It would be Cowboys Marcel McGuiness, scoring with assists from Nathaniel Benson and Grady O’Brien. About 40secs later the Cowboys would stun the Voltage with another goal, this time to Benson (assist from Steve Best). In frustration, Voltage’s Adam Wise would receive a hooking penalty wit one second remaining in the period. There would be a lengthy delay in the game as one of the Perspex sheets at the scoreboard end cracked after a solid check between two players on the boards. Shots on goal for the period were even at 7-6 in favour of the Cowboys.
The 2nd period saw the Cowboys continue with their momentum scoring the first goal of the period as Jared Siemens got a shot past Matus Trnka at 13:51 (assists Steve Best, Marcel McGuinness). The Voltage would go on a 4 minute 5-on-4 powerplay at 11:05 when Tristan Reece was pinged for high-sticking, giving the Voltage a real chance to get back into the game, and also test the Cowboys penalty kill units. The penalty kill units would prevail and see off the lengthy penalty keeping the 3 goal margin intact. Very late in the period with 10secs remaining the Voltage would get onto the board with Jye Sarsich scoring (assists Dave Gal and Black Ung). The Cowboys had outshot the Voltage 12-6 with shots on goal.
The 3rd period saw the Cowboys protecting their 2-goal lead with the Voltage desperate to get closer to the Cowboys. It wasn’t helped when Zac Steele, who had been aggressive most of the game received a 5min major penalty for boarding at 8:44. There would be no change to the score as the Voltage penalty kill units did their job but they couldn’t find a way past netminder Jeremy Friederich. Shots on goal for the final period saw the Voltage edge the Cowboys 10-9.
So, the Cowboys, so dominant in this inaugural Elite Summer Ice Hockey League season would take the championship and the large shiny cup!
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