The punches flew as fast as the goals as the Bears won a crucial 4-2 victory over the Sydney Ice Dogs on Sunday.

Bears forward Brett Nelson-Bond stated after the game “We played hard and never gave up, and managed to score four goals in the final period, it wasn't that pretty, but that's what you've got to do to win these hard games.”

The Bears let in an early goal in the first five minutes of play through Derek Campbell, scoring after a flurry of shots at goaltender Nick Boucher.

Whilst the goals were not forthcoming for over twenty-five more minutes, the huge crowd was witness to some fierce end-to-end action and some tough physical play.

After a rough second period, and the score at 1-0, the Bears entered the final period with the season hanging in the balance.

The Bears started the 3rd period on the power play, and capitalised through Vlad Stransky, deflecting the puck through a crowded goalmouth to draw level.

With the game in the balance the Bears Daniel Shaw cleared the puck out of an open net to deny the Ice Dogs the lead.

The Bears went ahead on the powerplay through Eric Begin, taking the puck from the neutral zone and past three players before hitting the top corner to the delight of the home crowd.

Ice Dogs Todd Stevenson then brilliantly set-up Andrew DeCrisoforo with 6 minutes to go, holding off a defender for what seemed an eternity, before passing across for an open-net finish.

Begin then provided the assist to Scott Townsend, taking the puck from the neutral zone, around the net and providing the pass for a critical shot from the slot.

A cross ice pass from Stransky then allowed an unmarked Michael Lauko to hit the top corner to put the Bears 4-2 up.

The Ice Dogs pulled their goalie with 1:35 to go, but the only remaining action was a fight on the boards behind the Bears net.

The Habitat Furniture Man of the Match went to Scott Townsend for scoring the game winning goal with 3 minutes to go in the game. 

The Bears will face a fiery rematch with the Ice Dogs at the Penrith Ice Palace next Sunday, puck drops at 5pm.

Article by: Patrick Angel