The Adelaide Generals flexed its championship credentials with a dominant 7-1 victory over the Melbourne Glaciers in the opening game of the 2023 Australian Junior Ice Hockey League (AJIHL) Showcase series. In the evenings’ second game at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Newcastle, the Sun Devils, an amalgamation of Queensland and Western Australian players, dispatched the Sydney Sabres 7-2.
Adelaide Generals 7 defeat Melbourne Glaciers 1
The Generals started the game strong with an aggressive forecheck and crashing the net-front. The strategy paid dividends quickly as Daniel Chen collected a rebound in the crease and squeezed it past Glaciers goaltender Patrick Ivens (QLD) to give the defending champions the lead.
Adelaide doubled its lead less than a minute later, forcing a turnover on the forecheck before Julian Friederich found a gap blocker side. The goal was incorrectly credited to #6 Tyler Boyle, possibly because #4 Julian Friederich isn’t listed on esportsdesk.
Halfway through the period Friederich was involved again, this time clipping a Glacier player, Cooper Porter, in the head, leading to an automatic major penalty and game misconduct. There seemed to be no ill intent from Friederich, and he returned to check on the player, but intent is not measured with head contact.
The Glaciers had a golden opportunity to get back into the contest, however, it was the Generals who found the back of the net. Daniel Chen used his speed and skill to deke through two defenders and score shorthanded for the 3-0 advantage.
Melbourne failed to gain any time in the offensive zone, and shortly after the penalty expired the Generals made it 4-0 with a beautiful re-direct by Timothy Benson off a smart shot-pass by Daniel Koudelka.
Adelaide’s dominance continued in the second period as Tyler Boyle scored on the powerplay with a top-shelf dart from the right faceoff circle. Daniel Chen then set up Cameron Hughes with a backdoor tap-in to make it 6-0, and Melbourne was reeling.
Finally, midway through the third period, Melbourne got on the scoreboard through a fine two-on-one opportunity. Generals’ goaltender Jeremy Friederich had no chance as Alex May set up Timothy Nikitin with the wide open net.
With five minutes to play, Daniel Chen created a breakaway and unselfishly set up Cameron Hughes again who deked the sprawling Melbourne netminder for the 7-1 marker. It was Chen’s fifth point of the night in a dominant Generals performance.
Sun Devils 7 defeat Sydney Sabres 2
In the evening’s second game, goals started a little slower than in the first, it took almost half a period before the first marker, but it was worth the wait.
Sydney Ice Dogs’ prospect Max Miller circled through the offensive zone on the powerplay, and sniped top-shelf from in between the circles. The goal was incorrectly credited to #9 Noah Moncrieff.
Brayden Maybee restored parity a few minutes later, creating a gap between two defenders before wiring a quick snapper short-side over the Sydney goaltender’s shoulder.
Kai Zeller put the Sun Devils up 2-1 just over a minute into the second frame with a skilful individual effort. A pass from Quentin Greenwood found Zeller in between three Sabres players. A nifty dangle put him in alone on the goaltender, and he fired far-side for the lead.
A couple of minutes later, Noah Moncrieff found the back of the net for real, firing through a screened goaltender, and in a crowd of five Sun Devils, to tie it at two.
The Sun Devils took the lead 35 seconds later as Bryce Hodges set up Jack Mollee in the slot for a snappy one-timer.
Mollee doubled his tally and the Sun Devils lead a few minutes later as it was Bryce Hodges again with the vision to find Mollee alone in the slot.
Minutes later Hodges went from provider to scorer, poking a rebound past the goaltender on the powerplay for a commanding 5-2 lead.
Charlie Ross and Brayden Maybee put the game to bed early in the third period to seal the 7-2 victory. First, Ross converted on a two-on-none breakaway, and a few minutes later Brayden Maybee attempted a cross-crease pass which was blocked, but he fired the loose puck home.
Upcoming Games
Today’s games features the Melbourne Glaciers vs Sydney Sabres at 6:45 pm AEDT, followed by the Sun Devils vs Adelaide Generals at 9:15 pm AEDT. Thought Fox Media is streaming all of the games via YouTube, click here for the playlist of all the games.
Stay tuned to the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League socials for updates throughout the tournament, and make sure you’re following us for additional coverage.
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