Matt and Gordon: welcome to the unofficial podcast of the Sydney Bears Australian Ice Hockey League team. My name is Gordon Goodenough. I'm joined here very closely by Matt Wickens. Matt, how are you going? Good, mate. Near near neighbor. Welcome to my house. Yeah, thank you. we are recording this on Tuesday. issues with the Wi-Fi where I'm staying temporarily here in Sydney. I no longer live here meant that we couldn't record. Last night. so thank you for your hospitality. Just for the record, after tonight, you no longer live here either. Yeah. Well, we are joined by Nathan Graham, who I reckon if anyone could bring Jason Robertson to the Sydney Bears, put him in a Sydney Bears jersey. I reckon it's it's Nathan Graham, the team governor and director of hockey operations. how are you going?

Nathan: You two look very happy there, I must say. Yeah, quite well, thank you guys. look, if he keeps behaving like this, I'm not sure I'd be I'm not sure I'd be interested in him, to be fair. hopefully there's some news overnight and we can we can retain him, but yeah, we'll have to see. And I'm just about to crack a West Coast IPA from my good friends at Beerfontaine. over in botany. So a big shout out to Jeremy, who I have no doubt is listening tonight. So here's to the team at Beerfontaine and great to join you gents.

Matt and Gordon: We we we both have our teas. We're teetotalers tonight, so we're all we're all set. but let Thanks for your generosity. we we did have another big weekend of Australian Ice Hockey League action, ten games over three days. And we'll we'll get into the Bears games soon. But first Nathan, did you wanna take us through the the out-of-town scoreboards?

Nathan: I'll accept it tonight only. I certainly can. Kicking off Friday night in Canberra at the AIS, the Canber Brave had ten different scorers and a 10-1 defeat of the Adelaide Adrenaline. over to Saturday, the Rhinos rallied in the third to beat the Lightning 8-6 in Erina. Rafael Bastille five goals, two assists, Danick Bouchard one goal, three apples. Zach Schenker had a five-point night. Hops, Hebert, Campbell all with three-point nights for the Lightning. A three-goal third for the Mustangs saw them beat Newcastle four-three in Melbourne. The Brave were four-one winners over Adelaide in The second game of that series, and a popular ex-bear, Jake Ratcliffe, he had a hat-trick in that game, all three goals coming on the power play. And finally on Saturday, in Perth, the Thunder defeated the Ice Dogs 4-2 over to the Sunday games. The North Stars were winners over the Mustangs 5-2. Trinker with a standout performance, 940 save percentage in that game. Melbourne Ice, they had a huge day at the office. 14-3 winners. That's right, 14-3 winners over the Rhinos. Colton Schindle, who was very prominent against us on Saturday for potentially the wrong reasons, seven points. David Booth and Tyrone Bronte, five points each. Josh Adkins, four points. The Ice Dogs returned serve against the Thunder 8-4. They were 4-7 on the power play. Kao Costa had six assists in that game. Lakowitz, Dunn, and Vertez all contributing a handful of points. And that is the wrap-up of the non-Bears games for the weekend, gentlemen.

Matt and Gordon: Very well done, Nathan Graham. Any any other points you you got from the other non bears games, Matt? From I I think Nathan covered it perfectly. Yeah, I I th I thought the Melbourne Ice seventy six shots against the Rhinos, that was dominant and Side note it was a s bit of a surprise to see Natan Vertez su suiting up for the Ice Dogs in Perth. he he of course came over as an import for the Perth Thunder a couple of years ago in 2024. so yeah, let's get into that Saturday game, the Bears Melbourne Ice, and it ended ends up being a six four win for the Melbourne Ice and you can look at that scoreline and think, well that's you know the Melbourne Ice coming him with a full strength lineup and taking it to the bears and you know getting getting the win kind of dominating but when you actual when you break it down as we will you know the bears went up 3-0 we had Nick Zeitz in the first period with goal and to take that into the break Dexton Mozell and Lucas Herman then scored Herman shorthanded Tyron Bronte got one back for the ice and then Nick Zeit Nick Zeitz got his second for the for the bears and then the the third period saw five unanswered goals webster bronte booth carijuana and then that then an empty netter from booth let's get into it gents your your thoughts first matt on on the game yeah hugely disappointing it it really was a game of two periods and then a a third wasn't it We played so well and then ran into penalty trouble. I think we were a run total of fifty penalty minutes across the the entire game. But yeah the ice finished their power ten power plays by converting two of them. and Just from a entirely unbiased standpoint, our boys just run out of gas that gas, they were killing penalties pretty much all of the third and large parts of the second. Yeah, your your thoughts, Nathan?

Nathan: really enjoyed this game through two periods, Matt and I actually had the pleasure of each other's company and that of quite a number of our sponsors through two periods I think we were feeling pretty good about ourselves. The beer was cold, the pizza was hot, everyone was having a good time. The rink had a a really great energy to it. And then all of a sudden a lot of those a lot of those nice things disappeared. I think look Matt Matt's probably covered the you know the the summary of the game. I thought the first period we we we dominated defensively. I thought we were excellent to start the game, managed the puck well. you know good good controlled exits. I thought we were quite commanding in that in that period. Perhaps we should have, you know, maybe put one or two more away. and yeah I I thought overall it was quite a polished you know start to the game. Obviously Nick Nick opened the scoring after Toby Gilchrist took that that double minor that you know, probably coming off the back of, you know, some of the momentum that we built last weekend, I I definitely thought we we started the the game really well. you know, heading into the second, there was the there was the goat shindle incident, which I think came quite early. That must have been in the first minute or two.

Matt and Gordon: It was, yeah.

Nathan: of of the game. subsequently we had a huge kill. I think we were short handed for for seven minutes thereafter, including a five on three. And that that was that was such an impressive sort of you know team effort to keep you know the ice scorers at bay. Then Dex made it 2-0. there was a neutral zone turnover and a really great catch from Ruben Nalos who laid off really well for a nice finish from Dex and all of a sudden, you know, we're probably feeling particularly good about ourselves. and, you know, then obviously the third, you know, Herms scored a shorty after a really nice intercept with high pressure from from Seitze who who eventually shot it into a sheeter. He made the save. but then the the rebound came out that he slid to Herms and The rink was certainly alive. It was three zip and you know we were all all feeling great. And then it slowly started to turn, you know, back towards the ice, as Matt said. some some ill discipline probably contributed to that. you know there was there was probably some moments in that game where we just started to to maybe mismanage the game a little bit. you know, we we coughed up a puck in our own zone that Bronte that Bronte ended up scoring scoring on. But then Nick Nick made it 4-1 at the end of the period. Puck Jack, Gus took it up, made a really patient play to find Nick and you know heading into the second intermission. yeah, it was it was all it was all positive ultimately.

Matt and Gordon: Kimmer had had two unbelievable periods and I did make a note that at the end of the second all the boys were, you know, straight over to Kimmer before they went in the dressing rooms. So he'd had just such an outstanding two periods. but as you said, Nathan, that was really where the good times stopped rolling. Worth noting we lost Tommy Lander to a very nasty injury in the first as well. and then off the back of Schindle and the goat getting game misconducts. you know, with two very senior experienced players down one minute into the second period.

Nathan: Yeah. Look I I think that that that passage of play that saw Goat and Schindle get ejected, you know, there's probably some people out there that would look at at look at, you know, Schindle's production as a player and think, you know, you know, as good as GOAT is, maybe that's a really you know, that's a really manageable exchange for us, having having Schindle out, but with the way that we're forced to rotate our defensive group at the moment, you know, I think losing GOAT, you know, really put put us under some pressure. you know, for for the rest of the game. I think it made made life A little bit difficult for that that D group and and certainly the coaches in managing, you know, the way that the defensive rotations unfolded for the rest of the game. your point about Kimmer I think is spot on. I I feel like Kimmer did his job and more throughout this game. You know, perhaps the score line may not suggest that, but he was he was really called upon throughout parts of the second and certainly the third period. And overall I thought he had a had a really strong game. I'm not sure if you'd agree with that, Gordy.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, well a twenty three twenty-three shots second period for the Melbourne Ice and he concedes just the single goal. I I thought he was huge and yeah, that's a big reason why the team came up to him you know, b before the as as before they left the ice. But I think as well, you you mentioned about Goat and I completely agree. We we saw it was a five on three power play that the Melbourne Ice had in in the third period and y Tyrell Clare was one of the players in the box for the Bears. So suddenly that the Bears end up rolling out Kevin Sadovsky, who just came off a plane two days before from overseas, has barely got his legs under him, and suddenly he's the sole defenseman out there on on the on the poundy kill with two forwards out there with him and and it's you could see that moment as being almost an insurmountable challenge and and you know we we held them off at bay for so long and it was a really brave effort. but yeah you They ended up conceding, and and then as soon as the game got to that 4-3 level, you could see the players after killing all those penalties and being on the penalty kill for so long. You've got guys just bunched over, you know, taking in some big ones, and it was just a matter of time. The Melbourne Ice brought a pretty big lineup for an away side. They they brought a big squad, and you know, credit to them. They they managed to have enough in the town. tank and and you know they I I I wouldn't say that necessarily that they outplayed us But I I do think based on, you know, the the full kind of picture of the game, you you can't take away that they also probably deserve to get a win and it it was their first win at the at the Macquarie ice rink since since May twenty seventeen against the Bears. So, you know, congrats to them. But it that that did definitely felt deflating you know, post game and and you could see the players really felt it too. Looking at some positives, I thought Ruben Narlos had an outstanding game on Saturday. And without giving too many spoilers away, he certainly carried that on Sunday. So that was a huge bright spot for me. Ruben had an awesome weekend and really laid the foundation for his great work on Sunday with his game on Saturday.

Nathan: Yeah, I I I I would agree with that. I think, going back to one of your your comments earlier, Gordy, th the guys were very, very disappointed, perhaps as disappointed as I've seen them this season. I think they you know, there was certainly a consensus feeling that, you know, we we probably certainly opened the door at the very least for for the Ice to come back and and give their top guys the opportunity to be top guys. I gave up two two power play goals in the third. That probably came, you know, after penalties that weren't really required, I think. and yeah, I I thought the speaking of the guys after the game, there was there was a general feeling that we more than skated with with the ice throughout that game, and we we proved that we do have an ability to to match up well against you know, let let's face it, now that they've got their their full contingent, you know, at least on paper, one of the one of the strongest teams in the league. it was just an unfortunate set of circumstances there that unfolded, you know, to allow them to get back in in the third period. And you know, then all of a sudden, you know, they they capitalised on their opportunities where perhaps earlier in the game, you know, we probably had additional opportunities to do the same, and we just didn't quite, you know, we didn't roll with a clear ability to really put them away. You know, there were probably times in the second where we had opportunity to do so and for whatever reason didn't convert. So look I thought the ice did well. They they pushed hard in the third and got the result, but there were probably some contributing factors there that the guys would like the opportunity to to control again.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, and and I I think, you know, you you look at the game and speaking to the coaching staff before the game on Sunday, I was chatting with Nico Demopoulos who who said, you know, the one thing that that they kinda took away was this isn't this wasn't a skill issue why we lost the game. You know, we it wasn't like we were out skilled and overmatched and outplayed. These are issues that we can fix. These are mental errors and issues, you know, taking penalties at bad times. times and and things like that, those things can be can be fixed pretty quickly. To kind of do that on on the Sunday. Would you agree with that, Nathan, or what are your thoughts?

Nathan: Yeah, look, I I I I would agree with all of that. you know, I I th there are some positive takeaways out of that that Melbourne Ice game. I I thought, you know, again, going back to what I said earlier, I I thought for certainly the first period, the entirety of the first period and the vast majority of the second, we were the better team for the majority of that you know, of those first two periods. We probably needed to come out of that with a little bit more production. you you you you are playing against the Sheeta who you know we know that he brings quality night in night out again this goes back to that point where we we probably need to show know an ability to really you know put the the foot on the throat so to speak and finish teams when when you've got that momentum in-game but I think yeah I I would certainly I'd certainly agree with that with that sentiment

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, the final note I made on the game was outlasted, definitely not outplayed. Yeah. And and Matt, the the third periods as well, you know, that's that's been something that the Bears, you know, in in you know, including that game, have had some issues with. Yeah, I I mentioned to you both we we've been unfortunate in in the games against the the Mustangs, the dogs. and against the ice to score to concede goals in bunches, but all three of those teams have, you know, got considerable firepower and have shown numerous times over this season that they've got the capability of scoring goals in bunches. So unfortunately we're on the receiving end of it, but I'm sure that's something that Raiser and Nico and the boys will be looking at in terms of you know how do we make sure that we you know we we we shut the door and close games out. But yeah tough one to swallow on on on Saturday. We ready to move into Sunday? Yes please.

Nathan: I I think sorry guys, the only comment that I would make, Matt, you touched on Tommy Lander. Obviously he went down some incidental head contact. There was certainly no malice or anything in in the play. Tommy Tommy is okay for those that are listening. Tommy is okay, he will miss some time, but he he is okay. He's getting, you know, support and treatment via our staff. And yeah, be best wishes to him and his family and looking forward to seeing him seeing him back hopefully sooner rather than later.

Matt and Gordon: Absolutely. Yeah. So let's let's move on to Sunday's game and it was it was a little bit different. It was it w it was a pretty the the Bears scored first again. That's the sixth game in a row that the Bears have scored the opening goal of the game. which is pretty impressive. But you know, I I can remember after I I think it was 11 games we had we had only scored the first goal three times. So that was you know a a little bit of an issue or a difference certainly from 2024 and now we've turned that around. Well now we've scored the first goal of the game more than 50% of the games we played and we've we've done that nine times and conceded eight. So we did that again 30 s 37 seconds into the game, Logan Brody gets goal off a off a broken play, but it was a good good play by Louis Alive and Dexton Moselle causing havoc and Logan Brody finishes. That was all that we saw for the first period. And I'd I'd had a chat with Brisbane Lightning head coach Nathan Dale before the game, and you know brought up the stat that you know we we talked about last week how Brisbane Lightning games tend to be high scoring, they always involve kind of 10 goals or more, and and then I I joke that you know perhaps we could be in for a one-nil master defensive master class. what what were your takeaways from the the start of the game, Nathan?

Nathan: Hard work. I think throughout the lineup guys were really skating with intent. we were very good on the four check. You could tell that they wanted to bounce back after the Saturday. I think one thing that I noticed in this game, particularly watching it back afterwards, you'll see, you know, we put a lot of pressure on the net. We were attacking in numbers. I thought the defense was probably a little bit more active on the Sunday, but you know, that is potentially you know, due to, you know, the nature of the matchup, you know, w with with all all due respect. But I think when you look at when you look at this game, we got contributions up and down the lineup, a lot of the the goals that we scored were a a direct result of good hard work, good pressure, not giving up on puck battles. I think we put Brisbane under a lot of pressure, sustained pressure. They're you know, that they were turning over a lot of pucks, they look quite panicked at times. From from that perspective, and certainly a relentless four check perspective, I thought this was maybe one of one of the best performances that we've put together all season. You know, I wouldn't say some of the hockey at times was the prettiest hockey, but it was certainly very, very effective. And when we did give them a sniff, you know, obviously Hayden at the other end was was absolutely brilliant in net. And, you know, he he he was also well supported. So I think just good, honest, hard work and work ethic and application up and down the lineup. I'm sure the coaching staff would be really happy with with the overall effort of the boys. I thought it was a an outstanding, really really polished mature performance on the Sunday.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, I agree, Nathan. the thing, I mean the opening goal aside, obviously after thirty some seconds, the thing I was looking for from the boys as a you know, as a supporter was how they were gonna bounce back and approach that first period after the disappointment of Saturday night. And again, the words I've got written down are application and effort, they had their feet moving. you know, they were going after pucks in the ozone, turning pucks over in the ozone and That was really encouraging to see. I would have I would have imagined again the coach and staff would have been delighted with the way that the boys approached that first period. It it would have been easy to sort of snooze through it and try and find their feet and you know, build a a basis from the second period onwards to try and eke out a win. But it was just good, honest, hard work from from the the the first puck drop. So super impressed with the way the boys went about it on Saturday night in in the early stages, Sunday night.

Nathan: Yeah, and I I think this is the type of game that really brings some of our strengths and our depth in our forward group to the fore. There weren't a lot of whistles in this game. There was a lot of five-on-five play. I think there was perhaps not even a handful of minor penalties in this game. I think there was maybe three penalties caught in the entire game. And it really enabled us to roll our forward group. at large and you know i I think we just smothered the lightning. We we were relentless. And I think that's a direct contrast to that of what we saw on Saturday, where, you know, the vast majority of the game was actually played on the special teams where, you know, our our special teams, you know, can be dangerous at both ends. But five on five is where we we we really do have you know, that depth and and strength in depth in numbers. And I I think the way that this game unfolded, and certainly pairing that with the discipline that we showed, you know, there was no real garbage in this game, it was just good honest hockey. This is the style of game that that really suits our our group, in my opinion.

Matt and Gordon: Mm-hmm. Yeah. So let's let's just quickly recap the scoring in a second. Logan Brodie gets his second goal of the game. From Dexter Mosell and Tyrol Claire. Finn Whitie scores a goal. Bit a bit of a weird one. Took a weird, maybe a weird bounce off the ice that shot from distance and got through. Louis Olive scored after assisting in the first period, assisted by Mosell and Brody. Kenshin Hayashi, he scores a goal, nice little assist from Noah Mongrief and Dexter Moselle. And we end up closing out the second period with a five-nil lead. i i think that second period i think we won every 50-50 battle and i guys the entire lineup that i thought that third line was really really good with noah moncrief alexander wardlaw ruben nalos was still on the third line at that stage they were causing takeaways they were for checking hard that second line of course was was absolutely buzzing

Nathan: Yeah.

Matt and Gordon: with Dexton Moselle and Louis Olive and and and Logan Brody, they were winning battles and the top line as well. I thought Gustav Remler-Jansen, I think he had about five key takeaways in in the neutral zone. And the it it was, I think, one of our better, if not one of our best periods of of the season. What's what are your your your thoughts, Matt? Yeah I'm gonna double down as as the oldest man out of the three of us, I'm potentially the oldest man in the ring call. Sunday night. I just wanted to tip my hat to Jerry and Jerry Braun and Espo. there was a shift that I watched Jerry Braun dive to get the puck out of of the zone. he was back on his feet and blocking a shot about a two seconds later, and then he literally brought the boom and and

Nathan: Do you mean potentially?

Matt and Gordon: put some guy almost through the glass with a big body check on the same shift, so you know, good on you, Joey. And I also watched Espo escape between Colby and Hugo and there was a there was a half chance that Brisbane had a guy cruising into the slot and and Espo just about saw him over his shoulder, picked him up and got you know un under his stick got a shoulder into him and and and basically took the guy out of the play right on the doorstep. So you know huge credit to those guys. They obviously haven't had a lot of ice time in the last few games but I thought when they were on the ice particularly skating with the young boys, they were really leading by example and and showing you know Hugo, Colby and Ruben you know, what playing at AIHL level is all about.

Nathan: I think guys, this is perhaps a silly comment, but Sunday just felt like good, good Bears hockey. You know, the performance on the ice really fed the crowd. The crowd were returning served to the players. The energy level was right up. And there was a lot of blue collar in that performance as well. You know, the guys, you know, the guys potentially could have dropped their heads for Sunday, you know, coming off the back of Satellite, as I said, you know, that they they weren't impressed.

Matt and Gordon: Mm. It was.

Nathan: That you know, the the body language was down, there was a lot of disappointment. It turned up Sunday, reset, you know, ready to go again, ready to battle. And from first puck drop right up until you know Plimley with his fantastic celly, which I'm sure we'll cover that in bit more detail. The entire body of work is something that that playing group and the coaching staff should be very proud of. If we can apply those ingredients. From here on out, we are going to be on the right side of the ledger more often than not. And fr again, from a spectator perspective, w what an entertaining game it was.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, yeah, a hundred percent. And I I think the crowd, you know, w I I was kind of half listening 'cause it's hard to listen to the crowd when you when you're doing the commentary with the headset. But you could hear the kind of World Cup style chants that were going on in the crowd. The it it felt like the loudest that I've heard it at Macquarie Ice Rink this year. it was an incredible atmosphere. The the fans were were having a real party during the game and and you know they were enjoying the as you say, it it was it was really nice to see the the player the players being rewarded in that fashion.

Nathan: Yeah, absolutely. And further to your point earlier, Gordy, that that middle, particularly through the through the the the core of the game, certainly the second period, maybe even the back end of the first, I thought that middle six was absolutely fantastic. You know, all the guys you mentioned, you know, Noah Moncrief, Dexton Mosell, you know, Logan Brody, absolutely massive in this game.

Matt and Gordon: Huge. Yeah. Yeah.

Nathan: And the and the battle. The battle was absolutely relentless.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, I I thought Noah Moncrieve had his best game of the season. And I know we're used to seeing him score goals, but he contributes in so many other ways. I think. And he was throwing his body around, whether it was i in the neutral zone on the four check. he's he he i it was nice that he got rewarded with two assists. That's a spoiler alert, because he got his his second assist in in in the of the game in the third period. I thought he was he was excellent. And yeah, e every single player I think

Nathan: Yes.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, we we have we've had the comment because I put out some graphics on some player accomplishments from the game and from the weekend that everyone, you know, it was it was a big weekend for everyone and and I there's not a player that you can look at, I think on Sunday and say, I didn't notice you, I didn't I didn't I didn't notice what contribution you made. It was a it felt like a real complete kind of performance.

Nathan: I agree. And look w Noah, you know, Noah Noah's a big body. He's very fit. You know, he's a s he's a strong kid for his size. And he du he does his best work in and around the net. Yeah, when he's got an active stick and he's f and he's fighting for pucks and creating, you know, a a lot of chances, including second and third chances in and around the net. You know, he's an he's a nightmare for goaltenders. You know, when he when he's hungry in and around the net, you know, good good things will happen. And I think it was the correct me if I'm wrong, I think it was the fifth goal, the last goal of the second period. There was initially Kenny in behind the net and then Noah. no Noah set the goal up for Kenny and it was again it was just good, honest, hard work. It was it was beating it was beating your man, winning pucks and and and utilizing those opportunities and it was just little moments like that are actually very meaningful for our group. because it it it's guys playing their role, it's guys taking opportunity, it's guys working hard. and and not giving up in a battle. And I I would have I would have hated being a Brisbane Lightning player on Sunday. They just didn't get a sniff.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah. And and we talked about the fact that this season the Bears have have struggled to close teams out and really keep the foot on the gas. well the third period we saw Lucas Herman score less than two minutes in. And then Kenny Ha Hayashi gets his third goal of the season on on the power play, assisted by both Brody and Moncrief. And then just eight seconds later The Hugo Arp scores his very first AIHL goal, assisted by Ruben Nalos and Tyrol Clare. 620 left, still a little bit of work to do. Dexton Moselle keeps his feet moving in the offend at offensive zone and earns a power play, which I thought was was key. We didn't score on the power play, but I I thought it it it made it harder for Brisbane. I think everyone in in the rink was understanding the moment and And could see the score line and was just I I don't know about you guys, but those last few minutes, I was so nervous. And not just for Plimley, because I I I think a shutout, no doubt it's a goaltender that has to be good. But it I think a shutout is is a team award, team reward. And I was really hoping that that the team could could get to enjoy that. And you saw how hard the boys were working to get it for Hayden and how happy they were for him. So I think I mentioned to you, Nathan, in the in the game the last couple of minutes, you know, how hard the boys were working to get Hayden that that shut out. So yeah, congratulations Hayden. Good on you, mate. Yeah.

Nathan: Yeah, absolutely. And and obviously Hugo's first goal on the AIHL, you know, fantastic moment. I thought it was particularly cool that, you know, he had a couple of his of his close buddies and guys that, you know, he's got a longstanding history of playing with, you know, guys like Ruben and and and Shui. they were both out on the ice at the time. Like what a moment that was. and Matt, we were we were lucky enough to be right there.

Matt and Gordon: Mm. Right there, yeah.

Nathan: you know, w w one one of the most you know, yeah, w one of my favorite moments in a long time. and then shortly after for for Hayden to be surrounded by the team in that fashion, I I think there was a lot of you know, it's they're almost symbolic moments and and they showcase, you know, how close this group is and you know how much you know each guy cares about, you know, the person next to him and the fact that they enjoy each other's company and and enjoy coming to the rink as a group and and playing for each other. it was just some really nice moments that you know throughout and and certainly back into that game.

Matt and Gordon: Yep. I I think as well there's there's a few weird stats that don't matter that I'm gonna assault you guys with here. Logan Brody, the last three games against the Brisbane Lightning, including this one, has had an identical stat line of two goals and two assists in each of those three games. Kenshin Hiyashi, he scored three goals this season. All of those goals have come against the Brisbane Lightning. Ruben Nalos scores his first goal of the season earlier against Brisbane. And then on Sunday, that was his first career multi point game in the AIHL. I think it's been you Finn with As well, he he scored a goal on Sunday. he scored six on the season. Four of his goals have been against the Brisbane Lightning. so the the the boys have have had some success against Brisbane, and you know, some of those were tough games at Boondle. but it was it was a really I I felt a comp as complete a performance, and if you had like a little check checkbox before the game and you're looking at all the things that you want, I think. it it it it pretty much satisfied all the criteria. How good is he, Nathan?

Nathan: absolutely unreal. Yeah.

Matt and Gordon: I mean my weird style would have been I had my first chicken pizza from Divide Eight in the rink, but Yeah, I can't really compete with this man next next to me. And we had so many assists in this game. I tell you what, the best assists, and I've got to post it to our socials, is Matt delivering me some slices of chicken pizza, beautiful Divide 8 chicken pizza during the third period. Which I tried to sneak a a bite or two during play, just couldn't get it done effectively. But post-game, that was the best. post game post game bite it was so shout out to matt that's my pleasure dex all seriousness dex had four assists i was accused by a couple of the boys in the governor afterwards of being the the chairman of the Tyrell Claire fan club but Nathan he his second assist on Logan's goal is a very very pretty goal our second of the game Tyrell won a pluck battle up against the boards spinner armor move complete width of the ice pass to Dex and then Dex went you know far post for for Logan to score so that certainly that assist for me was was was much better than me serving you up three slices of chicken. But thanks for the shout out mate.

Nathan: Tyrell's gonna clip that and play it on repeat, I assure you.

Matt and Gordon: Tyrone Claire just quietly. He is coming up to 100 career AIHL points. He's on 94. So he's got six points left. He's he's had in 15 games he's had nine assists, which is very tidy for for him. And another guy that we've got to keep a watch on potentially for this week is Lucas Herman, who was on 98 career AIHL points with 39 goals, 59 assists. but we will get into into that before we start previewing next week's games. Any final thoughts that you would like to mention. Best Sunday night out I've had in a long long time and I was at some cracking games at Wrigley Field a month ago so that's saying something boys well done.

Nathan: Haha that is. That's that that's a pretty steep benchmark, so we'll definitely take that. I agree. Sunday in the rink had such a great energy to it. And sure, you know, there there were goals scored, you know, all the things that we've spoken about already, but it was such a great feeling to walk out of that rink on Sunday. I think everyone in the building would have had a fantastic time. Another sellout, packed house. we had a lot of sponsors and partners in in the crowd. I spoke to Hugo's parents after the game. It was really nice to see them sort of share an embrace with Hugo. You know, once he came out of the locker room, that was a very nice moment. also a shout out to Brian Chambers' family who were out here from the States. They really enjoyed their weekend at Macquarie. there was certainly a really positive vibe in the rink. And there was actually just one player that I haven't mentioned that I had on my list. Kenny Hayashi.

Matt and Gordon: Mm.

Nathan: Kenny has been huge. The last five or six games, Kenny has been massive. He's played a lot of minutes. You know, he's playing out of position on D. Well, not necessarily out of position, but certainly not his position that he's most familiar with. You know, we've we've thrown a pretty big task to him, you know, over the course of the last month or so. And he's done such a great job, and and particularly over the last probably couple of weeks, to be fair. I think he's been a real standout for us. He's helped us get up ice. He's been creating plays. You know, he he really has contributed at both ends. so a a huge shout out to him as well.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, and and he spent some games where he started the game on D and then and then moved to forward due to yeah, due to the things that have happened and and that's, you know, incredibly you know, that's that's just a a a different challenge. So and he's he's done really well. He hasn't looked out of place at all. and can yeah, good on him. I was I was happy to see him get get two good goals on on Sunday.

Nathan: And then moved, yeah, exactly. Yeah, he's he's he's j he's just a hockey player, he's a very versatile guy. You know, we've obviously already, you know, highlighted his his skating ability in in the last few weeks, but he certainly has an ability to to contribute offensively. he's a he's a heads-up player, he sees the ice well. you know, veteran guy, everyone loves playing with him, so it's been it's been really enjoyable watching him, you know, make such an impact.

Matt and Gordon: So let's move on. Let's let's preview next week's games. And you know, af after this weekend in the standings, we're fourth, with which is where we started the weekend. but the Canberra Brave have made ground on us. We're we're on 30 points. There's three teams stuck on 30 points. Sydney Ice Dogs in third with a game in hand. We played 17, Canberra Brave have played 18, they're on 30. We've got the Mustangs just Behind and then the Melbourne Ice on 28 points. Central Coast Rhinos on 26. If you look at our schedule for the rest of the season, we've got 13 games left. We do not play a team who is more than three points outside of a playoff spot right now. So it's a tough road, and it begins this weekend with a tough home and away series against the Canberra Braves. Who are right behind us, tied on points. boy. What do we think of Matt for this one? Great weekend for a boys' trip, I think. no, Saturday's gonna be fun. and certainly gonna be a tough a tough task. I think if the boys approach the, you know, the start of the game with that same effort and application, Nathan, that we talked about. seeing on Sunday it's gonna stand us in really good stead. Obviously the Brave are a very, very strong side and and there's that, you know, Sydney Canberra rivalry. But yeah, I think we we chatted to some of the players and and you know there was a comment around home and home series being big boys hockey. It certainly feels like it's gonna be a big boys weekend.

Nathan: Yeah, I think I think so, you know, probably somewhat similar to Melbourne Ice, from the perspective of, you know, they've they've, you know, they've built their team, you know, later in the season. you know, not too dissimilar to seasons of the past. You know, they've they've got all of their troops now. They've got a very, very dangerous offensive unit. You know, w we all know what the brave, you know, fixtures bring. I think this is a massive weekend, you know, probably for both teams. You know, it's almost like we're we're sitting in a you know very similar situation in terms of, you know, how the rest of the season needs to unfold for both teams. You know, I think are we equal on points, did you say, Gordy? Equal on points, we've got a game in hand on them. But, you know

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, equals equal on point.

Nathan: They like us would would have pretty pretty high aspirations for the season. And now that we're getting into the business end th these fixtures almost feel like six-point games, to be honest.

Matt and Gordon: Yep, they do. And Canberra's won six of their past seven games. So they are if if not the form team of the competition that they're abouts. And they've they were at ninth in the standings at one stage before this this run. And we all knew it was coming. A as you mentioned, yeah, we've seen it before. They get their imports in late, and then they they make a dash a dash for it. This this one feels huge. We've got some former some former Sydney Bears on the Canberra Brave as well. You mentioned Jake Ratcliffe earlier. how much does does that add to a rivalry like like this, Nathan? Not not just for fans and you know for management and others, but but for the players as well.

Nathan: Yeah, look, I I think the the rivalry with the brave, both, you know, probably on and off ice to be fair, and it's and it's a healthy rivalry. is certainly well noted. I think those those personal relationships that our group has with probably the majority of theirs as well. You know, you factor in not just the ex-bears, but certainly a lot of their senior guys who have played at respective representative levels over many years. There's certainly a high degree of familiarity between the two squads. And certainly a big shout-out to those ex-bears, Jake Ratcliffe, Scotty Clemmy, Tommy Stephen. I know I'm missing someone, Carson. Miller also as an import. you know, there's certainly a lot of ingredients here that make for a a really spicy weekend ahead. You know, their their fans travel very well to Sydney. The same with ours. I'd expect both both rinks to be jumping and and the the the these are these are big time fixtures now at this point of season.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah. Agreed. Yeah, it's gonna be huge. gonna be huge. And looking forward to both games. Yep. Yeah, so we will I'll I'll be calling the the game from the rink live this Saturday, which will be nice. I always love being at the rink. and then Sunday, as we mentioned earlier, we we're gonna do a boys trip down the three of us we're gonna head it head down to AIS we're gonna check out the the the rink there you know talking to we've we've we'll have the interviews that that we'll post up in some format but Dexter Moselle said you know it's it's it's a rink that we haven't played in yet he's looking forward to that experience and you know getting things done in in at at home first and then taking it to them on the road so it should be should be as as Matt mentioned as well big Yeah.

Nathan: Absolutely. And to twenty to any of our fans who are thinking about going down, you know, provided that there are tickets left, I'm not sure if there are. it's an excellent venue to watch, you know, our league, you know, be showcased in. They do a great job down there. It's a really good production. you know probably the closest you're gonna get to sort of true true bowl seating and f and configuration down there and to see our boys you know hopefully pull some points out of Canberra that you know that that that'd sort of finish it off nicely. So if you are if you are thinking of getting down, obviously the game at Macquarie is sold out. but if there are tickets left for the AIS, which there may not be, but if there if there are, I would highly recommend you know taking the trip. It's it's certainly a good spectacle down there as well.

Matt and Gordon: And and now I'm I'm gonna go a little bit off board here. We we got some lovely questions from Jules. We we met some people post game at the Governor both on Saturday and Sunday, and at the rink who came up and and said how much they love the pod and you know, I think Matt you mentioned Yeah, shout out to Colin, he grabbed me and told me he'd been listening to us in the car, I think, and Laura, Georgia and Nikisha, they're very new to the sport. they stood stood behind us Nathan on on Saturday and and asked me some questions about the game and told me that they listened to the pod. So that's that's awesome. And yeah, please do say hi to us if you see us around either on Saturday or Sunday in Canberra. And we didn't I mean I it it cost me a lot.

Nathan: People are actually listening. That's fantastic. I'm in a state of shock.

Matt and Gordon: lot of money to get them to say that to me, but we'll take it, right? But we got

Nathan: Of course. Absolutely we will. Nothing a few beers from the from the bears bar can't fix, that's for sure.

Matt and Gordon: We did we did get a a lovely email with with a bunch of questions and and the the strategy is we're gonna ask some players and coaches to to answer some of these, but there's one that I'd like to ask you, Nathan. sorry to put you on the spot here. but Jewel no I'm not actually. Ju Jules says

Nathan: No, you're not. Don't lie to the people.

Matt and Gordon: Jules Jules asks with the imports, how does that come about? Are we scouting for players in other countries or do they have agents who reach out to Aussie teams? Can you provide a bit of insight on that?

Nathan: We could probably do a whole podcast on this, but the summary would be that it is a mix of a lot of different things. So it's a mix of you know referrals from you know both you know playing playing networks, bears alumni, you know, direct approach, certainly dealing with agents can can come into play. Sometimes players approach us. so it's quite a mixed bag. I would say traditionally, if I'm to sort of you know try and piece this together in a really simple fashion, most of our recruitment has been done either by you know via referral networks or us just simply, you know, r running running you know direct campaigns and and reaching out to players direct to sort of get a feel for their levels of interest in in coming down here in obviously what is their off-season typically.

Matt and Gordon: Yeah, brilliant. Yeah, thank you. Maybe maybe we we should do an episode in the off season just about import recruitment.

Nathan: Yeah, absolutely. You know, look, I I think one thing that I would say for for the average fan that that is is listening, the the job that personnel within teams are doing on the recruitment front is huge. Most teams are starting their recruitment activities probably late in the calendar year. you know, may maybe even as early as, you know, late September or or October. And typically that doesn't really cease until, you know, perhaps the week that's just gone by. rosters in this league need to be set come July one. And you know, that that's quite a large window for teams to be you know, engaging with the marketplace, et cetera. So th there's you know, in in any given team there's typically, you know, one, two, maybe three people that are, you know, that have coverage from a recruitment perspective. It is a big job. There's a lot of things that need to come together. and ducks that need to align to actually get guys out here participating in the season and committed for the season. You know, when different leagues are restarting up, you know, there's a a lot of different moving parts to that. You know, there there's agents that have got their opinions on things. There's different reporting dates attached to different leagues and different programs. So th there are quite a a number of moving parts to it and you know there's a an enormous amount of work that gets conducted across the league in in Clubland to to try and get the best players out here to put a show on for the fans.

Matt and Gordon: And there's only so many phone calls that Darren Ferris and Alan Walsh will take from you.

Nathan: Well, th th that's exactly right. Everyone's got a quota and you've got to make it count.

Matt and Gordon: Hmm.

Nathan: You seem to know it well, maybe you can jump aboard next next season, Maddie.

Matt and Gordon: Mate, I'm I'm I'm warming up on the touchline. Let me know when you wanna throw me in.

Nathan: I I doubt you wanna work alongside me, let me tell ya.

Matt and Gordon: Well, on that note, with that bombshell, any any any final thoughts before we we wrap this up?

Nathan: Let's just let's just go back to back here. Let's let's get as many bodies as we can down at the AIS. Cheer the boys home. Let's take some points you know back up the highway to Sydney and you know continue the the you know generally high level of momentum that I feel like we've built over the last couple of weeks.

Matt and Gordon: Well said. Yep. Beautiful. Great. Well thank you as always for listening. Thanks for your support. keep an eye out on socials as well. We did get some Postgame interviews from players and the coaching staff. We will be finding a way to release them. I think this episode has already gone long enough. We appreciate your patience. yeah, give us a follow. share us your thoughts. We really appreciate it. And until then, go bears. Go bears.

Nathan: bears.