Team Canada Down Under

I stayed up late last night because there was some hockey to watch. As you're likely aware, the Melbourne Mustangs are my chosen squad that I'm following in the Australian Ice Hockey League, and they're struggling with consistency this season as they look to defend their Goodall Cup championship from last season. Having a long weekend in Canada means I can squeeze some extra sleep in this weekend, so I committed to staying awake to watch Melbourne battle the league-leading Sydney Bears while honouring the Canadian players on the roster with the jerseys above! Would the Canada Mustangs erupt for goals like they did two nights earlier?

Just for the record, the Mustangs showed up in a big way on June 28 against their archrivals in the Melbourne Ice. The Ice had yet to lose on home ice at the O'Brien Icehouse, so the Mustangs - who share the rink - were looking to erase that perfect record sported by the Ice at home. After being tied 1-1 after the opening frame, the Mustangs exploded for six goals in the second period as Hayden Dawes recorded a hat trick, and the Mustangs would indeed end the Ice's dominance at home with a 7-3 win. The win pushed the Mustangs to a 9-11-1-0 record where they'd face the Bears on Sunday.

The game against the Bears appeared to be one that the Mustangs would need to take very seriously as the Bears have been averaging 5.8 goals-per-game this season while surrending just 3.3 goals-per-game. Defence and goaltending would have to come up big for the Canadian Mustangs, and that goal-scoring shown on Friday would need to show up again on Sunday!

After falling behind 1-0 through 20 minutes, the fans who showed up wearing red-and-white had a little more to ponder after Sydney's Noah Moncrieff and Christopher Eaden made it a 3-0 game for the Bears at the 13-minute mark with two goals in 1:44 of play. The Canadian Mustangs would respond while down a player, though, as Vadim Virjassov scored his seventh goal of the season while shorthanded, closing the gap to 3-1 with eight minutes to go. That would be the score when we hit the second break, and it was clear the Mustangs had some work to do in the third period.

Things looked good when Rylan Freed scored his fifth goal just 5:03 in the third period to cut the Bears' lead to 3-2, but the Bears locked things down over that final 14:57 despite Team Canada Melbourne applying all sorts of pressure at times. Despite the spirited effort from the home side, the Bears would prevail by that 3-2 score.

The loss drops Melbourne to 9-12-1-0 on the season, and they get a few weeks to regroup as they won't play again until July 13 when they visit the Perth Thunder, a team they trail by nine points. The two games against the Thunder could close the gap to three points which would go a long way in improving Melbourne's chances at playoff success this season, but winning those two games would set up a very interesting July that ends with a home game against the Thunder on July 28. Third-place is not out of the question.

If there was one thing that was certain in staying up to watch that game that ended at 1am CT here, it was that the Mustangs were the best-dressed team on the ice by a kilometer. While the result wasn't worth staying up for, watching the players buzz around in the familiar colours of Hockey Canada was pretty cool to see. Well done, Melbourne Mustangs, on another incredible promotion!

With Canada Day passing tomorrow, settle into July by playing some winning hockey, Mustangs! Third-place can be had by showing some consistent play, and the title defence will begin after August's remaining games are played. Make it happen, and go Mustangs!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!