Newcastle Northstars officially clinch their AIHL Finals place for 2026 through grinding out a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the Perth Thunder at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium on Sunday night.
The win guarantees Newcastle their spot in the AIHL Finals while keeping the club on top of the AIHL ladder heading into the final stages of the regular season.
From an early deficit, the Northstars rallied to claim three valuable competition points and continue their impressive season.
The match was a physical contest featuring multiple fights, momentum swings and relentless pressure from both sides.
Perth Strikes First
The Thunder struck first in the opening period when Riley Langille beat Northstars goaltender Matus Trnka to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.
Newcastle responded with relentless offensive pressure, but Perth goaltender Aleksi Toivonen produced a string of saves to keep the Northstars off of the scoresheet.
Tempers flared midway through the period when Northstars defenceman Ethan Hawes and Thunder forward Robert Haselhurst dropped the gloves behind the Perth net. Both received roughing penalties before equipment issues forced Liam Gallagher and Jacob Ruck serving the remaining time.
Despite multiple chances, neither side could add to the scoreboard before the first intermission, with Toivonen repeatedly denying the Northstars to preserve Perth’s lead.
Northstars Fight Back
The Thunder threatened to extend their lead early in the second period, but Trnka denied a breakaway to keep Newcastle within reach.
The breakthrough finally came late in the period when Yevgenii Skachkov found the back of the net to level the scores heading into the second intermission.
Sealing the Deal
Newcastle took its first lead of the night just 11 seconds into the third period, with Wehebe Darge striking immediately after the restart.
Riley Klugerman doubled the advantage moments later before Perth’s Henri Auvinen answered to cut the margin back to one. Calvin Bright restored Newcastle’s two-goal cushion, but the Thunder responded through Yu Hikosaka to make it 4-3 and set up a tense finish.
Despite late pressure from Perth, the Northstars held firm to secure a gritty victory and clinch their place in the AIHL Finals.
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