The Sydney Ice Dogs defeated the Adelaide Adrenaline to win its first game of the 2024 Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) season. For Ice Dogs’ Head Coach Jason Kvisle, the victory was a triumph over incredible adversity.

Already struck with injuries, suspensions, and key players away with the Australian national team, the Ice Dogs struggled through the first two periods against the Sydney Bears Friday night.

The Ice Dogs scored the final goal in each of the two periods to trail 1-4 and 2-9 through 40 minutes of play. Starting goaltender Arvid Ljung got the hook early in the second period after giving up the sixth goal.

A stern intermission speech from Kvisle changed things around. “All it took [was] me blowing a gasket,” Kvisle told Hockey Hype Australia. Ljung re-took the crease in the third period and the Ice Dogs were noticeably stouter defensively.

In fact, the Ice Dogs outshot the Bears in the final frame 15-6, and, importantly, didn’t concede any further goals. The game finished 9-2 in the Bears’ favour, but the tide was starting to turn.

Less than 24 hours later, the Ice Dogs took the ice against the Adelaide Adrenaline. Although the Adrenaline hadn’t won in Sydney since a 2-0 victory against the Ice Dogs back in July, 2017, the team was fresh off a home win against the Sydney Bears.

A powerplay halfway through the opening period led to a goal by the visitors. Daniel Handberg’s shot took a funny bounce off the netting behind the goal and landed perfectly for Julian Friederich to tuck past Ljung.

“He [Ljung] wasn’t happy with the goal,” Kvisle said, “but my response was simple: welcome to Australia, buddy, where we are blessed in some rinks with nets and not glass.”

Adelaide continued to press, but the Ice Dogs’ defence was much better at clearing the net front and preventing secondary chances. “We addressed areas of concern in the D zone pre game,” Kvisle continued, “and wanted to make sure everyone knew their roles.

“Arvid said it was the first game where it looked safer in front of the net.” The Ice Dogs scored the equalising goal after spending the opening two minutes of the second period stuck in their own end.

Multiple icings maintained the pressure until the Ice Dogs created a two-on-one opportunity which Alex Macdonald buried. Just 15 seconds into the third period Macdonald struck again to give the Ice Dogs a 2-1 lead.

It was not only the first Ice Dogs’ lead of the game, but it was the first time the team had led in any of its five games this season. The Ice Dogs doubled the lead shorthanded just a minute and a half later, as Connor Lee and Braden Costa created another two-on-one opportunity.

Lee tried to pass across goal to Costa, but Adrenaline forward Josh Adkins desperately lunged to break up the pass. Unfortunately for Adkins he put the puck past his own goaltender. Lee was credited with the 3-1 goal.

Veteran import Grant Toulmin effectively iced the game with a fine deke and backhand finish to create the final 4-1 scoreline.

Top line forwards Toulmin and Macdonald recorded three points apiece, pleasing Kvisle. “Touly and Mack have been getting points but not as many as they want, they want more from themselves. So for them to get three points along with the General Lee (Connor Lee) getting a shorthanded goal was a great confidence boost.”

The victory in the context of a whopping list of absentees was especially gratifying for the Ice Dogs’ bench boss. “We kept copping the raw end of the hockey gods – Ivan Kuleshov was too unwell to play, we were down a few more rookies and the numbers were dwindling before game time.

“So it was great to see the confidence, determination, and resilience to come back from being down in the first period and then score the next four goals in a row with a depleted bunch.

“Now we get to watch our brothers in arms compete in Serbia and watch the team be led by one of our boys (Cameron Todd). Watch out for the Doggies, when we get our reinforcements it will be a quality side.”

It would take the most partisan of supporters to not feel pleased for the Ice Dogs getting a first win in the face of such adversity. However, an anecdote Kvisle shared reveals just how few and far between Ice Dogs’ victories have been.

Kvisle explains, “What was funny was singing the team song when only like five guys in the room knew it!”

If Saturday’s performance is any indication, the Ice Dogs’ players will be learning the team song in short order once reinforcements arrive.