Adrenaline Win Home Opener in Front of Sold Out Crowd

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A sell-out crowd saw The Adelaide Adrenaline, proudly presented by Hards Transport grind out a tough 3-2 win against the Sydney Ice Dogs in the team’s opening home game of the 2016 AIHL season.
 
The hockey was rarely pretty as both teams battled hard in the corners and played a physical and punishing brand of hockey.
 
However, it was the Adrenaline, buoyed by a vocal home crowd who managed to get over the line and secure their first win of the year.
 
Adrenaline Coach, Trevor Walsh was relieved with the win but emphasised the need for his team to clean up their defensive play.
 
“We are happy to get the points, that’s for sure, it wasn’t pretty, we had some mental lapses in our defensive zone… we’ve definitely got to clean up our end,” Walsh said.
 
The game began in an even manner as both sides traded early scoring chances in what was an open, offensive affair.
 
The visitors had multiple opportunities to open the scoring through gritty fore-checking in the offensive zone, forcing frantic goal-line defence and numerous big saves from Adrenaline goalie, Peter King.
 
The Ice Dogs had a chance late in the period with the first power-play of the game after Graham Charbonneau made the first of many trips of the penalty box.
 
Unfortunately for the visitors, a terrific shot block sprung Wehebe Darge on a breakaway.
 
The Adrenaline star made no mistake, opening the scoring with a short-handed tally 10:29 into the opening frame.
 
Sydney Ice Dogs Coach, Vladimir Rubes rued his side’s inability to capitalise on early scoring chances.
 
“I think we started quite well but we had chances, we didn’t capitalise and then they get an opportunity on the breakaway and score a goal,” Rubes said.
 
After the open play of the first period, Trevor Walsh addressed the defensive errors in the intermission with his side.
 
“In our end we have responsibilities, especially in the slot area… we just tried to concentrate on that better in the second period,” Walsh said.
 
The physicality certainly went up for the home side as they looked to lock down defensively.
 
Both teams made multiple trips to the penalty box but Walsh’s words rang true and it was the Adrenaline who capitalised with the extra man.
 
Wehebe Darge netted his second of the game thanks to a beautiful back-door setup from TJ Battani to make is a 2-0 game to the visitors mid-way though the middle frame.
 
The third period saw a strong fight back from the visitors as two early goals from Grant Toulbin and Strat Allen saw scores level 2-2 after only four minutes.
 
Ice Dogs Coach, Vladimir Rubes praised his side’s come-back and overall third period performance.
 
“It was a good comeback in the last 20 minutes and if we play like that in the first two periods we probably win this game but we gave them too many chances,” Rubes said.
 
It was only one more chance that the home side needed to settle the contest, as TJ Battani scored on the power-play mere minutes after the Ice Dogs levelled the game.
 
This is how the game would end as the Adrenaline held off late pressure from the Ice Dogs to secure the win by a single goal.
 
The Adrenaline and The Ice Dogs face each other tomorrow in the second game of the weekend. Puck Drop is 4PM. Tickets are still available online via TryBooking: www.trybooking.com/LCOZ