Adrenaline Report: Games 2&3 April 29-30 2017
Farewell:
Wehebe Darge has been with the Adrenaline since 2009, and has played hockey continuously around the globe for the past 5 years, bringing his talents to teams including the Florida Eels (MetJHL), Alaska Avalanche (NAHL), Dayton Demonz (FHL), Chiefs Leuven (BeNeLiga) and, most recently played for the Peterborough Phantoms in EPIHL. He has also represented Australia at an international level, most recently in Romania at the IIHF Div2 A World Championship, where the team picked up the Silver.
He’s now taking a well-earned break before returning to the AiHL in June, where he will, for the first time, suit up with the CBR Brave. (It hurts so bad, please look after him)
Wehebe was the first player on the Adrenaline that I followed as a fan and I know that the Brave are getting a great player, who last season, racked up 20-32-52 points in 28 games, the second season in a row where he’s hit the 20-goal-mark. Thanks for everything, perhaps one day we’ll see you back in the City of Churches
Okay, on with the games.
This weekend the Adrenaline travelled to Victoria, to take on the oldest of the two teams who represent the state, the Melbourne Ice. Playing at O’Brien Group Arena, the home team came out strong and didn’t back off, downing the visitors, 5-2.
Melbourne Import, Kristoffer Backman (Umeå, Sweden) scored the game-winner, with fellow Swedes, Viktor Gibbs-Sjödin (Uppsala), Niklas Dahlberg (Visby) and Sebastian Ottosson (Karlskrona) scoring. Canadian-Born (Orleans) Aussie Matt Armstrong scored the other Ice goal. The Melburnians outshot the Adrenaline 42-15, and had Goodall Cup-Winning Dayne Davis in net.
Adelaide had goals from Darren Corstens, bringing his 2-game total to 3. Newly-minted Aussie (formerly of the Czech Republic) Josef Rezek added the other Adrenaline goal, as well as an assist.
Sunday saw us lacing up for a re match against the Ice, who are favourites to win the Goodall Cup this year. A much better game to start, with both teams piling in the goals. Melbourne came out on top, once again. The final score 8-5.
Backman racked up a hattrick for the Ice, including the GWG (a penalty shot), and had a total of 5 points for the game. Canadian Import Cameron Critchlow, playing for the Adrenaline, played incredibly to score a total of 4 goals. Fellow Canadian, Cole MacMillian scored the other goal for the Adelaide team. The Adrenaline scored all 5 goals on just 14 shots.
Critchlow is currently sitting second in league scoring with 7 behind Northstars’ Felix-Antoine Poulin (8). The Adrenaline are in sixth position in the standings*, going 1-2-0-0 over the first 3 games. Perth Thunder are currently on top of the ladder (2-0-0-1).
Adelaide played without Graham Charbonneau who welcomed a son, Parker John during the week. Sean Greer also stayed behind, also on baby-watch.
*Point System
Win (Regulation) 3 Points
Loss (Regulation 0 Points
Win (OT Shootout) 2 Points
Loss (OT Shootout) 1 Point
*I’d like to point out that it is extremely hard to stay neutral on these reports.
