Hi,

With the Ice Blacks and HC Storm rolling into town this Friday, I’ll paste in a couple of reports, with links to photos that I’ve received, from games one and two.

Game one of two in Auckland was a thriller that hung in the balance to the very end, but the Ice Blacks held on for a tremendous 7 ? 5 win.  NZ started the game all over the Finns and the packed house was roaring as the Ice Blacks jumped out to lead 2 ? 0 at the end of the first period. 

Rookie Chris Eaden from Christchurch led the Ice Blacks with an impressive three goal hat-trick as the team surged to lead the Storm 6 ? 2 by the end of the second.  However, the Storm came thundering back in the final period , including two goals in the last 5 minutes, before the Ice Blacks managed to seal it on a wicked slapshot by Dan Nicholls on his debut with only 1.4 seconds left in the game. 

The NZ team put in a powerful performance for their first competitive game of 2009.  ?It was
a good game that we will look to build on over the rest of our series with the Storm,? said Corey Down, the Ice Black Captain who leads the team on defence.  ?The boys were really fired up and it is great to play with incredible support from the home crowd, unlike when we play in Europe.  We are looking forward to having vocal fans at the World Champs in April,? added
Down.  The Ice Blacks take on Ireland, Turkey, Luxembourg, Greece, and Mongolia in Dunedin from April 10th to 16th.

The game was fast and clean but physical, with the Ice Blacks in particular delivering serious physical punishment to the Finns.  Shots were a lopsided 45 ? 29 in favour of NZ.  Brett Speirs, NZ?s all-time leading goalscorer, showed his touch scoring one and adding another assist.  Josh Hay and Braden Lee also chipped in with goals. Assistant Captain Danny Smith had two assists, as did KC Ball and Mitchell Oak who both play for the NZ National Ice Hockey League champion Botany Swarm.  Rick Parry had a strong game in net for the Ice Blacks, recording 22 saves.

Another big crowd turned out at Paradice Botany for the second game of the series on Saturday night to see NZ beat Finland?s HC Storm by a score of 6 – 3.  The Ice Blacks again started strong and this time dominated the entire game, especially the second period. 

Josh Hay opened the scoring halfway through the first period.  After going back to the dressing room up 1 ? 0, the Ice blacks came out firing on all cylinders.  They peppered 28 shots on the Finnish goaltender in the second period and led 4 ? 1 at the break, dominating the period.  KC Ball, Brett Speirs, and Danny Smith all scored for NZ. 
Just before the second break the game took a dramatic turn when Chris Eaden broke through the Finnish defence, only to be hauled down from behind and given a rare penalty shot.  Though he didn?t convert, it brought the fans to the edge of their seats.

?Our second period was the best hockey we?ve played all year,? said Jeff Bonazzo, the Ice Blacks head coach. ?Everything came together for us and we really showed what we?re capable
of.?

The Storm pulled the score back to 4 ? 2 in the final period before the Ice Blacks put the game away with an astounding two goals in under a minute while down a man, killing a penalty. Brett Speirs scored his second of the game and Adam Soffer broke down the ice after grabbing the puck to score the final goal for NZ by rifling a shot over the goaltender?s glove hand. In the Ice Black net, Zak Nothling performed extremely well, getting the start and turning away 32 shots on his 20th birthday.

?We have a young, fast, tough team that is hungry to win at this year?s World Champs in Dunedin,? said Charlie Reid, the manager of the Ice Blacks.  ?The guys are looking really impressive.?

NZ?s Ice Blacks finish the 4 game series against Finland?s HC Storm with games in Queenstown on March 26th and Dunedin on March 27th.  Tickets can be purchased at the door.  For more information, go to http://www.nzicehockey.co.nz <http://www.nzicehockey.co.nz>  or
http://www.iceblacks.com.

Game 1

NZ Goals: Eaden (3), Hay (1), Speirs (1), Lee (1), Nicholls (1)

NZ Assists: Ball (2), Smith (2), Oak (2), Lee (1), Hay (1), Speirs (1)

NZ Saves: Parry (24), Nothling (2)

Storm Goals: Icarhunen (1), Karhu (1), Haakana (1), Yoskela (1), Vuorinen (1)

Storm Assists: Yoskela (2), Viltasalo (1), Kuoppala (1), Haakana (1), Icarhunen (1)

Storm Saves: Ruuhinen (38)

Game 2

NZ Goals: Speirs (2), J Hay (1), Ball (1), Smith (1), Soffer (1)

NZ Assists: Soffer (2), Lee (1), Rout (1), Challis (1), Down (1), Nicholls (1), A Hay (1)

NZ Saves: Nothling (32)

Storm Goals: Haakana (1), Yaskela (1), Viltasalo (1)

Storm Assists: Kuoppala (2), Yaskela (1), Karhu (1), Kathunen (1)

Storm Saves: Ruuhinen (48)

Here is the site with all the photo. Down load as many as you want!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nzihf/sets … 571207233/