ONE to scratch from the memory was the Newcastle North Stars 6-2 loss to the Sydney Bears on the weekend.
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The North Stars, now on a two-game losing streak, travelled to Penrith to face the Bears, returning home with the shocking loss.
“There was irony involved,” coach Andrew Petrie said.
“It’s the first time we’ve gone bell-to-bell playing 100 per cent each shift but we still walked away with the loss.”
It was the second game in two weeks that the North Stars, one of the teams expected to be in the final four at the end of the Australian Ice Hockey League season, have been handed a defeat.
Following their 5-4 loss to Canberra Brave in Newcastle the weekend before, Petrie challenged the side to give 100 per cent.
The North Stars did just what Petrie asked, however the coach said that odd-man rushes by the Bears, goaltending and rink differences combined to work against the visitors.
“I won’t diminish how the Bears played,” Petrie said.
“They played to a very very simple game plan and executed it very well and did a very good job.’’
The Bears led 2-0 at the end of the first period.
Import Luke Moffatt put a point on the board for Newcastle moments into the second period, which was followed by a second and last goal from the North Stars’ Matt Wetini.
The Bears broke the stalemate to end the second period 3-2 and ran rampant in the third to end the game 6-2.
The North Stars will face the Melbourne Mustangs in Warners Bay on Saturday.