Adrenaline Rally Late to Leash Ice Dogs

---

 
The Adelaide Adrenaline commenced their second home weekend of the season with a spirited come from behind victory against the Sydney Ice Dogs.
 
The win means the Ice Dogs are still yet to record a victory this season and despite showing significant improvement, collapsed in the face of a third period Adrenaline onslaught that saw the home side score three unanswered goals to take the win 3-2.
 
Despite two shaky periods, the Adrenaline took a stride towards solidifying home ice and establishing themselves as a real contender after consecutive weekends away on the road.
 
Adrenaline Coach, Ryan O’Handley reserved great praise for the leadership in the dressing room in rallying the team after a lacklustre opening two periods.
 
“I didn’t really tell them much, we’ve got a lot of leaders in that locker-room, they had some words to themselves, I just told them we have got to get a puck in deep early,” O’Handley said.  
 
Despite a growing list of players watching from the stands, O’Handley refused to blame injuries for his side’s lacklustre start and said the team needs to be better prepared mentally to avoid having to win from behind.
 
“I think it’s mentally, the guys have just got to be ready to go, we’ve talked about it, nobody is easy in this league,” O’Handley said.
 
He also credited an improving Ice Dogs team who came out the gate strong and dominated for much of the first two periods of play.
 
“The Ice Dogs haven’t won a game yet but they’re hungry and they’re not a bad club so you’ve got to be ready to go,” O’Handley said.
 
Despite looking the worse side for much of the first two periods, the Adrenaline came out the gate strong with a fierce and physical opening five minutes.
 
The rough and tumble opening culminating in punches being thrown as Adelaide’s Wehebe Darge and Sydney’s Shannon McGregor’s war of words escalated into a centre-ice brawl.
 
After Adrenaline goalie Peter King took a delay of game penalty, it was the Ice Dogs who capitalised with a power-play marker to take a 1-0 lead into the first intermission despite a flurry of late chances to the Adrenaline.
 
The Ice Dogs added a second goal within forty seconds of the middle frame, with Brian Funes beating Peter King.
 
The Adrenaline were forced to make a goalie change with Charlie Smart taking over net-minding duties after Peter King went down with a hamstring injury, adding to the Adrenaline’s injury woes with the side also losing Wehebe Darge to a hand injury in the first period.
 
Despite trailing 2-0 after two periods, the Adrenaline mounted a rally in the third with an early goal from Jonathan Boxill followed up by two highlight reel efforts from star forwards Tyler Grove and Greg Oddy, allowing the home side to secure a 3-2 win.
 
The second game of the weekend between the Adrenaline and the Ice Dogs commences at 3.30PM Sunday 31^st May. Tickets available online via our website or at the door.