Coach Vlad Rubes praised his teams hard work as the Sydney Bears finished regulation tied six goals a piece but lost in a shootout against the Newcastle North Stars.

The Bears came from behind three times to draw level, but lost in a shootout at the Penrith Ice Palace on Saturday.

Early play showed little domination from either side until a powerplay opportunity for the North Stars, capitalized on by Rob Starke.

Things got worse for the Bears after 4 minutes as the North Stars scored again through Peter Cartwright.

The Bears drew level quickly with two goals inside two minutes from Michal Lauko, the first an individual effort, slotting home from a tight angle, before scoring from the slot as the Bears went 3 on 1 on the rush after an excellent counterattack.

The Bears momentum began to drop off, conceding penalties late on in the first period.

The Bears did not start the second period well, Cartwright scoring a brilliant goal, firing home from a tight angle to put the North Stars 3-2.

The North Stars really began to take the game to the Bears, completing passes and not allowing the Bears out of their own end, and it paid off mid-way through the period with two goals to Brian Bales.

Then followed a brilliant four minutes for the Bears as Michael Schlamp, Michal Lauko and coach Vlad Rubes scoring within three minutes of each other, drawing level before the break.

Schlamp was denied a goal according to Coach Vlad Rubes as “the referees were behind the play so couldn’t see it, but it was in the net.”

The third period started badly for the Bears again going down after four minutes to Matt Lindsay, after a good period of sustained pressure by the North Stars.

The Bears hit back in style, with Brett Nelson Bond scoring a rocket from the blue-line about a minute later.

The game ended in a 6 all draw after regulation, but the North Stars grabbed the extra 1 point, winning in a penalty shootout.

The Bears next home game is against the North Stars Sunday the 16th of May, puck drops at 5pm. 

Article by: Patrick Angel