The Adelaide Adrenaline, presented by the IceArenA, have their two biggest games of the season so far this weekend vs the Sydney Bears. June 23 and 24 may loom important as the season ticks on.

Last weekend's 11-4 loss to the hands of Goodall Cup favourites CBR Brave was not pretty to look at any way you slice and dice it. Although there were stretches the team played very well, CBR overwhelmed Adelaide for spurts of the game and piled up the goals. 

The good thing: It's one game. It's also given Adelaide a chance to evaluate and try to fix evident problems. 

Another positive: We've been here before.

Adelaide lost their first game of the year 8-0 but the team rallied together and beat the Mustangs and Ice Dogs in their next two games. Time to do it again because we know they can.

Sport is funny. It's moments like these we see what teams are really made of. Fans are looking for a big effort from the Adrenaline and hope the team will leave everything on the ice.

Adelaide would like a couple victories this weekend to vault themselves back into the playoff race. They Sydney Bears have 16 points and are in fifth. Two wins vs. Sydney puts them nearly level and gives them the tie-breaker. Make no mistake - the season is far from over!

Adelaide and Sydney are similar. Both have young players and both will go through stretches of hot and cold this season.

Sydney's piece de resistance lies in their goalie Anthony Kimlin. The Australian national team starting goalie has dazzled. He has put a team that has struggled to score goals on his back and it's resulted in wins. 

A local goalie of this calibre means another import can jump on the ice. The Bears imports are forwards Ryan Lough and Charlie Adams and defenders Ryan Annesly and Graham Strukoff. 

Kimlin has a league leading .921 save percentage and a spectacular 2.52 GAA. It's this kind of goaltending that has kept the Bears in games. They've launched themselves from behind teams to claim wins or flat out shut the door all together. In their last outing they shut out a high-powered Newcastle team 2-0.

But Adelaide does have some things going for them that Sydney does not.

Sydney only has one player who has more than one point per game on average. That man is import Charlie Adams who has 15 points in 10 games.

Adelaide has five. Imports Caleb Apperson, Ales Kratoska and Alex Adams have fuelled the offence and local support has come from Josef Rezek and Steve Best. Harley Anderson also has six points in eight games. 

The Adrenaline were also 3/4 on the power play the last game out. It's just that defensive zone structure that's struggled - a true sign of a young team.

What Sydney has going from them, from reports around the league, is they work brilliantly together as a unit and play the ultimate team game. The Adrenaline will look to replicate this.

Rest assured, Adelaide has worked on that in training. They've allowed more than 45 shots each of their last three games and will have to try to limit the scoring chances.

As the season goes on the Adrenaline players will get better. Remember, 10 players made their AIHL debuts for the Adrenaline this year so there will be highs and lows. Hopefully June 23 and 24 at the IceArenA are highs. 

Either way, Adelaide need to figure something out this weekend. We're nearly at the halfway point and the Adrenaline need a win to get the kids feeling confident.

We're hoping last week was a great moment for the team to reset and move forward. Judging by this week's practice focus and intensity, the boys will be ready to go.

GAME TIMES

Tickets: www.bit.ly/adrenalinetickets. Save money and time by purchasing online
SPECIAL OFFER: Both games for $30 at www.bit.ly/adrenalinetickets
 

Saturday 23 June, 4:30PM, presented by Old Red Brick Co

- Pregame drinks at Benny Bar

- Post game meal with players at Hilton Hotel/MyBar on Sir Donald Bradman

- Former Avalanche goalie Eric Lien will be the Legend's club representative at the game

- Public skating at IceArenA from 12:30PM 

Sunday 24 June, 4:30PM

- Pre game and post game drinks at Benny Bar

- Our legend's club representative will be James Keane, a 207 game player for Avalanche and Adrenaline

- Public skating at IceArenA from 12:30PM 

KEEP THESE THINGS ON YOUR RADAR

- Want to go on a road trip with the team? Have pretty much everything paid for? The Adrenaline are teaming up with Peregrine Travel Centre SA to raise money for Camp Quality to make this happen. Head to www.rafflelink.com.au/camp-quality-raffle to check out the details

- CANADA DAY GAME, presented by Power Health Solutions, on July 1. We'll be wearing Team Canada themed jerseys and auctioning them off. Stay tuned to these channels for the big reveal

GAME NOTES

- The Sydney Bears are the darlings of the AIHL. Many expected them to struggle to win a game. Instead, they are right on the verge of a finals spot.

- Nearly half their roster was raided by opponents, giving opportunities to new kids. Their foundation is excellent defensive structure and great goaltending. Australian national team starter Anthony Kimlin may be the best goalie - import or otherwise - in the competition

- Adelaide need six points this weekend to get back in the playoff race. They struggled mightily vs. the powerhouse CBR Brave last weekend. It has been described as a "mirror moment"

- Ales Kratoska is putting on a fine season. The return import now has 21 points in 11 games and is coming off his third three point game of the season. 

- Forward Steve Best (Manoel Carpentry) is having a career year. He previously only had a career-high of six points in a season. He has 12 this year.

- Adelaide are struggling to get consistency from their second line. It does not help that forwards Remy McGuiness and Sami Mantere are out due to injury. The addition of new local Tyler Leeming should help.

- Saturday's game is brought to you by Old Red Brick Co - a proud sponsor of the Adelaide Adrenaline