Post-Game Recap: Bears score 6 straight to rally against Adrenaline

Adelaide Adrenaline faces second tough loss in the season as the Sydney Bears prove too much to handle.

It’s the Adelaide Adrenaline franchise's first home game since the 2019 AIHL season, a season where they went 0-28.

In their first game of the season, they fell 2-6 after outshooting the Perth Thunder 51-34, an unfortunate loss to get the season started on. The Adrenaline went into today’s game searching for a morale win. Head coach Stu Henly’s message to the team was hard on pucks, chaos in front of the net. No excuses.

Possessing several dangerous scorers vying to get on the board, Adelaide was hungry. Key for Sydney Bears’, shut down the scoring, get pucks on net, a likely high scoring affair. Starting in net, Jeremy Friederich for Adelaide and Dane Brumm for Sydney.

Adelaide came out of the gates flying, passes crisp, overwhelming pressure in the offensive zone, smooth transition game, things were looking promising.

They dominated the first ten minutes of the first period but unfortunately, it was not sustainable.

Five minutes into the game, season opener lone scorer Andrew Hamilton got on the sheet once again, the assist going to fellow import and Robert Morris University alumni, Darcy Walsh.

Sydney Bears Shawn Rooke and Brian Funes went to the penalty box at the 13-minute mark, leading to a 5-3 power play for the Adrenaline.

Adelaide took advantage to make it a 3-0 game. Tyler Leeming getting his first goal of the season, assisted by Darcy Walsh once again and Steve Best getting it high to Zach Steele for a goal from the blue line.

The floodgates had seemingly opened for the Adrenaline, a frustrating lack of scoring in Perth appeared to have been opening night nerves.

A time-out called by Sydney, a reset in the game. There seemed to be little hope of the Bears flipping the momentum, and yet, they did.

At the 7:25 mark, an undisciplined play put the Adrenaline’s Josh Bortingnon in the box, Bears star import Ace Cowans capitalised, netting a powerplay goal. Cowans had a four-point night in their season opener.

The Bears continued to dominate the offensive zone with Friederich earning his keep. 

With two minutes remaining in the first period, U-20 national team captain Kenshin Hayashi and Thomas Stevens put two quick ones in the back of the net to tie to game.

Going into the end of the first period 3-3, each team had owned a half of the first period. The landslide was falling in the direction of the Adrenaline. 

Fresh period, Adelaide needed to take it out of the gate, however the Bears came ready to pounce, it seemed any momentum the home team started with had been dashed.

A scoreless 10 minutes came to an end after a high stick by Zach Steele, unluckily drawing blood from the Sydney player. Steele went to the box with a double minor, a four-minute penalty kill was the last thing Adelaide needed. 

It was an unfortunate result for Steele, who up until that point had got himself on the scoresheet and thrown some huge hits, however with high physicality, the time in the box will come around eventually.

A high intensity penalty kill by the Adrenaline sadly went for naught, ten seconds before the end of Steele’s first minor, an unlucky trip by Bortingnon put the Bears on the 5 on 3 powerplay. 

Sydney did not pass up the opportunity, taking their first lead of the game with Captain Ryan Annesley quickly getting them up 3-4. One second remaining on the first two minutes of Steele’s double minor meant Sydney continued the 5 on 3 regardless.

They were putting the squeeze on the young Adelaide team.

Dane Brumm made back-to-back on a few opportunities toe saves but a lack of net front presence by the Adrenaline put the hopes of a rebound tap-in to rest.

Lukas Vaic made it a 3-5 game at 4:50, Ryan Annesley and Scott Clemie getting the assists.

Sydney had gotten on their horse and ran away with it, Adelaide was letting the little things get through them, controllables were not being controlled, puck battles not being won. 

Darcy Walsh took matters into his own hands to close out the second, opportunity after opportunity including a nifty between the legs shot, he just couldn’t buy a goal.

Walsh is yet to get a geno on the board, it seems inevitable with his current momentum, but he’ll have to start finishing the job if the Adrenaline want to pull themselves ahead.

An undisciplined third period shone some light on a surprisingly improved penalty kill for the Adrenaline, killing off four minor penalties.

However, in the end, it was too steep a task. 

It would be the Bears Michael Schlamp to put the final nail in the coffin for the Adrenaline, potting an even strength goal to close the scoring.

The Sydney Bears outshot the Adelaide Adrenaline 41-28, dominating the score sheet.

Final score, 3-6 for the Bears.

Adelaide Adrenaline shots on goal: 28 (11-11-6)

Sydney Bears shots on goal: 41 (16-14-11)

Adrenaline 1 for 5 on the power play. 18 penalty minutes

Bears 2 for 7 on the power play. 12 penalty minutes

Dane Brumm invoked the old hockey saying of “having a short memory,” his early game downfalls seeming to have totally left his mind, shutting the door for the last 50 minutes of the game. 

Adelaide is yet to win a game in the 2023 AIHL season, not helped by the light opening schedule. They make their way to New South Wales next weekend for a double header against newcomers Central Coast Rhino’s, both teams desperate to pull themselves out of the winless column.

Much seemed to be improved since the Adrenaline’s first outing, however there are some clear holes to be addressed. Sloppy plays and a lack of discipline need to be ironed out quickly. Falling even further into the early season slump could prove devastating to morale. 

The Bears dominated the front of both nets all game. The Adrenaline will need to step it up in those tough areas if they are going to be successful. In the first period, all but one of Sydney’s shots came from outside the hash marks, clearing the middle of the ice needs to be a priority. Some tough lessons for Adelaide. 

On a lighter note, a sell-out crowd who was eager to cheer on their home team showed positive signs towards the health of Australian and Adelaide hockey. The Adrenaline have a lot of great people in their court.