Adrenaline fall to Thunder

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The Adelaide Adrenaline, proudly presented by Hards Transport, was struck down by the Perth Thunder on Bite Nite at the Ice Arena.
 
In front of another packed crowd on a night promoting both local baseball and local ice hockey, the Adrenaline couldn’t muster a win, losing 3-2 to a well-drilled Perth outfit.
 
Perth held the edge through the majority of the contest and despite a third period fight-back from the home side, which saw the Adrenaline fire 23 shots on net. Thunder goal Thomas Heemskerk was dominant through the game. He was well positioned and limited rebounds.
 
Thunder Head Coach, Dave Kenway praised Heemskerk’s performance in getting his side the victory.
 
“Thomas stands up every game, he’s been a really good signing for us, he really helps the boys out and makes the big saves,” Kenway said.
 
Adrenaline defenseman, David Huxley also praised the performance of Heemskerk but emphasises the need for his side to play a full three periods of hockey.
 
“They have a really good goalie, realistically on anyone else we would have had five goals, he made some good saves… we need to play a full game tomorrow,” Huxley said.
 
Despite opening the scoring, the Adrenaline was made to pay for their inconsistency against a quality Perth outfit who tied the game late in the first period.
 
The visitors took control of the contest in the second period, with two unanswered goals and two near misses that stayed out thanks to the crossbar.
 
Adrenaline Head Coach, Trevor Walsh felt his side’s inconsistent performance and lack of effort early cost them the game.
 
“We were pretty disappointed with the first two periods, the effort just wasn’t there, we wanted to jump on them, we knew they’d been travelling but we just didn’t come out of the gate.
 
“In the third period we got our work ethic up and if we play like that for all three periods it would be a different story I’m sure,” Walsh said.
 
Kenway will be wary of an Adrenaline fight-back, crediting the home side’s third period effort and anticipating an even tougher match tomorrow.
 
“Adelaide are always a tough team, you never count them out no matter how far down they are, they’re always going to come back,” Kenway said.
The Adrenaline will need to improve and bring the consistency Walsh demands if they are to take any points of the weekend with the disciplined and well-lead Thunder unlikely to relent.
 
The side’s will face-off again tomorrow in game two of the weekend. Puck drop is 4PM. Tickets are still available online via TryBooking: http://trybooking.com/LCOZ