The CD Dodd Perth Thunder will return home this coming weekend following successive East Coast road trips that saw them earn three wins from four games and five wins from their last six games overall.  The Thunder host the Sydney Ice Dogs for a pair of pivotal home games on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July at Perth Ice Arena.

Saturday 20th July and Sunday 21st July
Perth Thunder (8-W/8-L/1-OTW/1-OTL-27 PTS, 4th Place)
Sydney Ice Dogs (6-W/9L/1-OTW/1-OTL-21PTS, T-5th Place)

Thunder Earn Road Split with the Mustangs in Melbourne

The C.D. Dodd Perth Thunder strengthened their stake to an AIHL Finals claim with a split of weekend road games against the Melbourne Mustangs. On Saturday, the Thunder saw their four-game winning streak snapped with a 6-3 defeat to the Mustangs. Keven Veilleux and Kieren Webster led the Thunder attack with a goal and two assists apiece in the loss. The Mustangs out-shot the Thunder 41-26.

On Sunday, the Thunder showed remarkable resilience in overcoming an early 2-0 deficit and scoring the game winning goal with just 37 seconds remaining to defeat the Mustangs 4-3 and earn the weekend split. It was looking like an opportunity for the Thunder to secure all three points would go begging as the Mustangs had equalized on a power play goal with just 1:25 remaining in the third period. Ben Breault, in his 100th appearance for the Thunder, capped a memorable game with the game winning goal set up by Jamie Woodman and Louick Marcotte. The late game heroics from Breault secured the maximum points and prevented the Mustangs from gaining ground on the Thunder in the race for fourth overall in the AIHL.

Breault Shines in 100th Thunder Appearance

Thunder import forward, Ben Breault, scored the late, game-winning goal, his second point of the game, as the Thunder escaped with a dramatic 4-3 win on Sunday afternoon.  Breault’s ninth goal of the season ensured a happy flight home for the Thunder and continued his resurgent play over the last three weekends.  Over that span, Breault has scored six goals and added four assists for ten points in five games played.  Breault’s recent form has played a huge role in the Thunder working their way back into AIHL Finals’ contention.  

Webster Continues Stellar Break-out Season

Thunder local forward Kieren Webster continues his break-out season and now leads the Thunder with 13 goals scored on the season, good for a tie for seventh in the entire AIHL.  Webster has also added six assists for 19 points in 18 games played.    A move to the top line alongside Keven Veilleux and Louis Marcotte has allowed Webster to find an offensive touch that has seen him reach new personal bests offensively with 10 games still to play in the regular season.  Prior to this season his best offensive season had been a 10-point campaign (3G, 7A) in 2016-17 for the Thunder.  

This Week’s Games

The C.D. Dodd Perth Thunder will host the Sydney Ice Dogs in a pair of crucial games this coming weekend at Perth Ice Arena.  The Thunder will be looking to consolidate their hold on the fourth and final qualifying position in the AIHL standings while at the same time making a push to catch the Sydney Bears for third spot.  The Ice Dogs will be looking to at least keep pace with the Thunder and from their perspective will be looking for a sweep to move back into the Finals race.  

Game time for both Saturday and Sunday is 4:30pm at Perth Ice Arena in Malaga.  The Thunder will be counting on a boisterous home crowd to support them as they make their way down the home stretch in the AIHL’s regular season.  Tickets can be purchased on-line at perththunder.com or at the door subject to availability.

Ice Dogs Offensive Firepower

If the C.D. Dodd Perth Thunder are going to be successful in defeating the Ice Dogs, the key may very well be in shutting down the potent offensive attack the Ice Dogs bring featuring import forward brothers Timand Paul Crowder and offensive defenseman Dylan Quaile.  Tim Crowder leads AIHL scoring with 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points in 15 games played and is followed closely by his teammate Quaile on 16 goals and 30 assists for 46 points in 17 games played, a seriously high output from the back end!  Paul Crowder has tallied 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points in 11 games played, having just returned from injury.

The Ice Dogs are coming off a dominating 10-1 victory over the Adelaide Adrenaline in which Paul Crowder returned from injury with a nine-point game (3G-6A)!  Tim also contributed nine points in the victory (5G-4A-9pts).  Needless to say, one of the keys to Perth winning this weekend will be shutting down the Ice Dogs dynamic offensive trio.

AIHL Finals Series Shifting to Newcastle

The 2019 AIHL Finals Series will be played in Newcastle at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium on the 31stAugust and 1st September.  This will mark the 5th occasion that Newcastle will host the AIHL Finals series and Goodall Cup Championship having hosted previously in 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2012.  Ticketing information is available via the AIHL website.

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