Bears beat Adrenaline at home

The Sydney Bears have recorded consecutive wins on home ice, defeating the Adelaide Adrenaline 5-4 in a thriller at the Macquarie Ice Rink on Sunday night. Forward Saxon Air was the hero for the home side, firing home the game winning goal in the dying minutes of the final period to clinch a dramatic win. Jackson Brewer was also a stand out for the Bears, scoring his first AIHL hat trick.

 “It was a back and forth game,” said Air “I didn’t want to go to another shootout, we’ve had our fair share this year. It was good to get a regulation win and get the boys rolling, ready to go to Melbourne next weekend on a high.”

Despite trailing for the most of the game the Bears managed to find a way to win, scoring the game winning goal with under three minutes left on the clock.

The Adrenaline jumped out to an early lead 2-0 in the first period, Cam Critchlow scored a power play goal and Joey Rezek took advantage of some flat footed Bears defencemen to register a shorthanded goal.

Defenceman Tyerell Clare cut the lead in half with 5 minutes remaining the first period to send the sides to break 2-1.

The second period was the Jackson Brewer show, the import forward scored his first two goals of the game to give the Bears a 3-2 lead, before Rezek tied the game with 10 seconds reaming in the second period.

Both sides traded chances in the final period, Adelaide forward Casey Babineau gave the visitors the early edge, before Jackson Brewer tied the game with his hat trick goal with under six minutes left to play.

With time winding down and both teams pushing hard, it was the Bears who edged in front. Forward Saxon Air scored his first goal of the season on a broken play in front on the Adelaide net, to seal the 5-4 win for home side.

“It was a bit of a hap-hazard play,” said Air “Myself, Esposito and Vasquez where all in tight at the front of the net and the puck popped out in the high slot. I just raced for the puck and took a swing around slap shot and it went in.”

The win lifts the Bears to fourth on the AIHL ladder with 19 points. Hot on their heels are the Mustangs and Ice Dogs with 18 points with games in hand. The Bears will travel to Melbourne this weekend to face the Melbourne Ice at the O’Brien Group Arena for a season defining double header.

The Adrenaline will enjoy a much needed week off to recuperate after their NSW road trip. Forward Greg Oddy took a slap shot to the arm Saturday night against the Northstars and wasn’t in the line-up on Sunday. The Adrenaline will be back in action on the 8^th and 9^th of July when they host the high flying Melbourne Ice at the Ice Arena in Adelaide.