Midway point in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) has delivered yet more epic games and storylines. The finals picture is starting to take shape as each team looks to make their mark.

We had a cup contender rise to the challenge, former WHL star delivers, game boil over in the PIM column, and an ice crew coming up clutch.

Hockey Hype Australia looks at five things which caught the eye in this week’s Five for Writing.

Bears Den comes up clutch

Every time the Sydney Bears are put to the test, they seem to come up trumps. Two big games against the Perth Thunder and Melbourne Ice winning both.

Bears forwards Adam Kadlec and Lucas Herrmann were influential combining for 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) across the back-to-back home stand, Brody Lindal getting the overtime goal in the 7-6 win against his former team.

Two big wins for the Bears who sit second in the Hellyer equal on 44 points with the Ice and play their next three games at Macquarie Ice Rink including a Sydney Derby.

Respect your Elders

Kaden Elder arrived at the Adelaide Adrenaline with a big pedigree, Western Hockey League experience and time in Sweden at Kalmar HC.

Week 10 would see Elder with his biggest game for the Adrenaline with a four-goal performance as the A’s beat the Rhinos 6-2.

Included were one powerplay and shorthanded marker in front of an Adelaide crowd starved of home wins. Fingers crossed Elder continues to delight the home fans with high level finishing.

Bubbling to boil over

The AIHL is like a scene out of the movie Forrest Gump, you never know what you are going to get. But that’s why we love it.

Tempers boiled over between the Melbourne Ice and Newcastle Northstars, hinges on the penalty box door needed regreasing after 60 minutes.

Zero penalty minutes in the first period were offset by a massive 88 minutes in PIM for the remainder of the game. No love lost between these two Goodall Cup contenders.

All eyes now on July 21 when Northstars travel south to face the Ice again.

Dogs are barking

Sydney Ice Dogs got back to winning ways beating Brisbane Lightning 6-5 in overtime. It has been a tough season for the Dogs who sit last in the Hellyer Conference.

Alex Macdonald, Mike Dalhuisen and Cameron Todd had massive games, all three combining as Todd came up with the OT winner.

Under Jason Kvisle the Ice Dogs continue to make positive strides and an away win up north against the Lightning is sure to please their passionate Sydney fanbase.

Ice crew keeps it going

Not even some ice issues were going to stop the Adelaide Adrenaline from picking up two much needed back-to-back home wins.

What looked like an embarrassing moment for the AIHL was sorted in front of a relieved home crowd. The repair team hit the ice and got the game going again.

Thankfully the ice crew at Adelaide Ice ArenA moved swiftly to fix up an issue with signage coming through the rink surface.

So, to the entire crew out at Adelaide keeping our rink surfaces going, this weeks Five for Writing says thanks.

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