The local fans certainly got their money’s worth at the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium at the weekend.
Hometown favourites Newcastle Northstars produced two thrilling comebacks to knock over the Melbourne Mustangs (5-2) on Saturday and, 24 hours later, the Perth Thunder (6-5) in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL).
In fact, Daniel Berno scored Sunday’s match-winning goal with 48 seconds remaining on the clock.
Firstly, Melbourne proved a worthy adversary in round 10, with the two sides locked at 0-all after the opening term.
They then went to the next break, 2-all, after Zane Jones and Wehebe Darge found the back of the net for the Northstars and Jaxson Lane and Ryan Ruddle did likewise for the Mustangs.
Newcastle turned it on in the third period, courtesy of Ethan Hawes, Darge and Riley Klugerman to snatch a well-deserved victory.
Buoyed by that effort, the Northstars focused on the Thunder the next day.
But, it was the visitors who landed the early blows via Andrew Bellant and Andrew Cox.
Newcastle’s Patrick Nadin narrowed the gap to 2-1.
Conner Jean pushed Perth ahead 3-1 before Jones and Hawes levelled it up at 3-all.
The hosts grabbed the advantage through Darge and Jones to lead 5-3, however Jakob Ruck and Jordan Kyros soon tied things again at 5-all.
It was left to Berno to seal the nail-biter for the Northstars in the dying stages.
“I just went numb, the crowd was so loud and the boys were yelling,” the hero said.
“That always feels good.
“The crowd really bring us up when we need it, which lifts us.”
Newcastle head coach Kevin Noble was ecstatic.
“A win is a win, and a six-point weekend is huge, there’s no doubt about it.” he said.
“We played really well [over the two days] and deserved everything we got.
“Credit to the guys for finding ways to win in these close games because that’s a hard thing to do.
“It’s a really good group we have… and they were excellent.
“I thought we had our moments [tonight] where we were good, and there are some areas we can be better in.
“We had to overcome some of our own adversity; but we are very happy to get the six points.
“Next weekend we have a tough set of games, so every week gets bigger and bigger.
“We have all the guys buying in and pulling on the rope together, which is huge right now.
“It’s a group full of character.”
Noble also praised the home support.
“There’s no doubt our crowd is the best in the league as far as I am concerned,” he said.
“It gives us a huge bump.
“Other teams get energy off this atmosphere because they don’t get it everywhere else, so I am glad they are on our side.”
The Northstars head to the Brave Cave in Canberra on Saturday 17 June, before facing the Central Coast Rhinos on Sunday 18 June.
Newcastle returns to the Hunter on Sunday 25 June.
Tickets are available at northstars.thundertix.com
For more sports stories:
- Newcastle opens’ team wins NSW netball crown
- Lake Mac scores FIFA Women’s World Cup goal
- REAL NRL: Pickers pull apart in-form Roos
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