Mustangs Win the Bear Hunt

The James Melbourne Mustangs have taken five of the six points on offer against the visiting Sydney Bears this weekend in two high tension games, to remain in touching distance of the teams ahead of them in the standings.

Jamie Bourke was an offensive machine all weekend, with a hat trick of goals on Saturday on the way to a 7-6 victory for the team, followed by two regulation time goals and two shootout goals on Sunday to take the rematch 6-5 in overtime.

Anton Kokkonen was also a hero in both games, scoring the game winner on Saturday and an incredible goal with eight seconds left on the clock on Sunday to force the game to overtime and ensure the Mustangs at least one point.

Goaltending was the story on Saturday, with Mustangs goalie coach Damian Holland making his AIHL debut at the age of 48. He did point out that despite never playing in the league before, his name is on the Goodall Cup - from 1986!

The Bears had a 3-1 lead going into the first intermission, however five penalties in the second period gave the Mustangs extended time playing five-on-three. Two power play goals gave the team a 4-3 lead with twenty minutes to play.

The third period was a see-saw with the Mustangs repeatedly taking the lead, before the Bears tied the game each time less than two minutes later. Thankfully for the Mustangs faithful, Kokkonen's goal to make it 7-6 was the only goal the Bears didn't answer, ensuring the Mustangs all three points available and the AIHL's oldest rookie a win on his debut.

With the Bears' Anthony Kimlin being the national team goaltender, the Mustangs knew they were unlikely to score seven goals on him again on Sunday. Up against him was Mustangs development goaltender Jack Hayes. Hayes and Kimlin both held their own through the first period, which remained a scoreless tie.

After Matt Beattie tied the game at two each less than a minute into the third period, the Mustangs suffered three Bears goals in less than two minutes. The team remained 5-2 down until there was 8.30 left in the game. Pat O'Kane started the come back before Bourke closed the gap to one. With Hayes out of the net and the Mustangs fighting to tie it, the Bears couldn'tfind the empty net before Kokkonen's heroics.

A rattled Kimlin, who had a season goals against average of less than three heading into the weekend, did not regain his composure during the shootout. After three of the five shots he faced went in, Kimlin left the ice before the handshakes.

The Mustangs will be facing the Bears again in Sydney on June 11 after a visit to Newcastle on June 10.