The Adelaide Adrenaline have a tough task ahead of them as they face reigning premiers Melbourne Ice in two games this weekend at the IceArenA.
They play Saturday May 5 and Sunday May 6 at 4:30PM.
This won't be easy. The Melbourne Ice only lost three games in regulation in 2017 and have won both their games so far. They set the single season points record with 71 last year.
The Adrenaline have surprised a couple teams this season with their style of play. They have a 2-2 record after losing to the Ice in Melbourne, beating the Mustangs on the road, and splitting a weekend series with the Ice Dogs last weekend.
Adelaide welcomes Josef Rezek, sponsored by Croudace Constructs, back to the line up after he starred for Australia at the World Championships the last two weeks.
Here's how the rest of the game stacks up. First, let's start with the team and then some game notes:
GOALIES
#1 Jeremy Friederich - Jason and Tania Geyer - Won MVP at pre-season tournament.
#30 Glen Forbes White - Jason and Tania Geyer - Stopped 14 shots in the third period of Sunday's game vs. Ice Dogs in relief of Anderson.
#35 Sebastian Andersson - Blind Dimensions - Stopped 41 pucks in a 3-1 win over Melbourne and 42 vs. Ice Dogs on Saturday. Game changing goalie.
DEFENSE
#4 Corey Stringer - Melissa De Zwart - Recruit from Melbourne in offseason has slotted in really well.
#6 Zach Boyle - Tad Transformers - Promising young defenseman getting better every game.
#20 Jordan Geyer - Matt Barrie Home Improvements - Had increased minutes to shoulder the load of some injuries. Always getting better.
#21 Alex Adams - Dr. John Chen - Import from U-Sports / SPHL. Makes his debut after stepping off plane last weekend. Had four points in two games.
#37 Caleb Apperson - Dr. John Chen - Import. Won Power Play Sports player of the weekend in Round 2 with five points in two games.
#49 Jamie Holland - Adelaide Tigers - Diverse player who can play both forward and defense.
FORWARDS
#3 Brad Chenoweth - Morsetal Powder Coaters - Rookie for the Adrenaline. Had impressive AJIHL career with Adelaide Generals.
#7 Ryan Foll - Ben Gregor Construction - Had a couple great opportunities last weekend. Knocking on the door of a goal.
#9 Andrew Stapleton - Robert Rogerson - Returned to AIHL and settling in well with a couple scoring opportunities and used on special teams.
#12 Sami Mantere - Mirafloor - Returning to AIHL full time for first time in over five years. Looking for that first goal after coming close last weekend.
#13 Nathaniel Benson - Kalo Lolomanaia and Mitch Brown - Rookie who got first point Round 1.
#14 Remy McGuiness - LOOKING FOR SPONSOR - Played a hard-nosed gritty game last week. Valuable penalty kill minutes eaten up.
#15 Tyler Leeming - Adelaide Bite - Dominant Forward in IHSA competition with Adelaide Red Wings. Let's see if he can translate to top level.
#18 Dylan Pope - LOOKING FOR SPONSOR - Like a bulldog on the wing.
#29 Harley Anderson - Queensland - Four points in three games for the QLD rookie.
#33 Quenton Tombleson - LOOKING FOR SPONSOR - From Adelaide Falcons, 33-year-old rookie.
#47 Ales Kratoska - Tad Transformers - Leads AIHL in scoring with 8 points.
#73 Steve Best - LOOKING FOR SPONSOR - Scored game winning goal Sunday.
ABOUT THE MELBOURNE ICE
They're tough there is no doubt about it. But Adelaide nearly beat them in South Australia last season. Adelaide was within one goal in the final minute both times before the Ice added empty net goals to sink the home team.
The Ice are the deepest team in the competition who rolled through Adelaide 8-0 in Round 1.
While Adelaide's Ales Kratoska has eight points in four games, Melbourne's Dillon Lawrence has 8 points in two games. Adelaide will have to limit his space.
Goaltender Mike James is an x-factor for the visitors. He shutout Adelaide in Game 1 and dominated them in the 2016 Browns Tournament.
GAME NOTES:
- The Ice are the team to beat in the competition. They only lost three games all of last season and have only lost eight games the last two years combined. In 2017 they set the points record by totalling 71 points in a season.
- Adelaide has not beat Melbourne Ice since May 2015 (12 game losing streak). It would be an upset and a statement to the rest of the league if Adelaide can win a game this weekend.
- Adelaide welcomes the return of Josef Rezek who was on National Team duties with Team Australia. Rezek led all Adrenaline locals in scoring last year and had 33 points on the season.
- Steve Best has registered a point in three straight games. The first time he's done this in his career.
- Melbourne welcome back to the line up five players who were with the National Team (Jack Carpenter, Liam Webster, Tommy Powell, Matt Armstrong, Chris Wong)
- Adelaide has two wins and two losses on the season (Wins: @Mustangs, vs. Ice Dogs. Losses: @Ice, vs Ice Dogs)
- The Ice beat Adelaide 8-0 in Round 1 and nipped Perth in a shootout 5-4 last weekend.
- Rookie Harley Anderson scored his first goal of his career last Saturday. He has four points in four games since coming over from Queensland.
- Look for #12 Sami Mantere to have a big game. Mantere was buzzing around the net on Sunday vs. the Ice Dogs but couldn't find the back of the net.
BEARS
ICE DOGS
NORTHSTARS
THUNDER
ADRENALINE
RHINOS
MUSTANGS
BRAVE
ICE
LIGHTNING
