Reigning Champs Reign on Adrenaline Parade

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Despite a sell-out crowd and sporting a fully healthy roster for the first time this season, the Adelaide Adrenaline fell short of the mark against the defending Australian ice Hockey League champions, the Melbourne Mustangs.
 
The blow-out 6-2 score, much of it thanks to a dynamic four-goal effort from Mustangs forward Joey Hughes, was not reflective of the contest throughout with an abundance of chances and the hard, physical play of the Adrenaline standing out.
 
However, it was the continual three periods effort and higher quality of scoring chances that awarded the visitors a deserved win in the face a numerous defensive lapses from the Adelaide side.
 
Adrenaline Coach, Ryan O’Handley praised his side for effort in playing to the game plan but mused over the fact they trailed the defending champions throughout the contest.
 
“Our game plan worked early, those first ten minutes I don’t think they got out of our zone and then we come in after the first [period] and we’re down 2-0, it’s one of those games were you’re actually doing everything right and you’re playing your game plan but on the scoreboard you’re losing.”
 
Despite the effort, the Adrenaline were never really in the contest, conceding goals at crucial times in the dying seconds of both the first and second periods.
 
Coach O’Handley praised the visitors for the gritty play they brought, noting their clinical execution in front of the net as the difference maker in the tie.
 
“They played better than us in that tough ice in front of the net and that was the difference in the game, that ice in front, they played than we did there,” O’Handley said.
 
The game also saw the first appearance of Canadian import, Kory Helowka, who was solid defensively and provided an ominous goal-threat.
 
Adrenaline defenseman Josh Harding, who returned to the line-up for his first game of the season after sustaining a broken hand playing for the national team, said the inclusion of Helowka as well as his own return meant some adjustment was necessary for the team.
 
“A new guy like Kory coming in, he only landed on Thursday so he’s still finding his legs as well so a couple practices under our belt and I think we’ll be good to go next weekend,” Harding said.
 
The Adrenaline will need to be at their best next weekend as they travel to Newcastle to take on the second place North Stars on Saturday, followed up with a Sunday encounter against the Sydney Ice Dogs.