ONE goal made all the difference in both of the Newcastle North Stars’ games on the weekend, and neither was in the side’s favour.
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Newcastle lost 3-2 to league leaders Melbourne Ice at home on Saturday then 2-1 in a shootout to the last-placed Sydney Bears in Penrith on Sunday.
North Stars coach Andrew Petrie said the result, which has seen Newcastle slide to fourth position on the Australian Ice Hockey League ladder, was “frustrating”.
“I’m pretty happy with how we played across the weekend but it’s frustrating that the coaching staff, players and management staff are giving 100 per cent effort and just not getting the results,” Petrie said.
“We can take some encouragement from the fact we’re not getting blown out.
“We’re competitive every shift, but I’m pretty frustrated right now.”
Newcastle has lost five of the past six games it has played, which Petrie said: “for an organisation like the North Stars is absolutely unacceptable”.
Long time North Star Beau Taylor made his return to Newcastle on Saturday, joining his University of Alberta-Augustana teammates and 2016 imports Connor McLaughlin and Scott Swiston on the ice.
Taylor, who enjoyed a break from hockey after finishing the year at the Canadian university, made a seamless transition into Newcastle’s 2016 team and fired off a number of shots on goal across the weekend.
“As Beau does, he found himself in a few really exceptional positions and with opportunities to get shots away,” Petrie said.
McLaughlin was the North Stars’ lone goal scorer on the weekend.
He scored first on Saturday to give Newcastle a 1-0 lead over the Ice. Melbourne rallied in the second period, taking the score to 2-1.
A second McLaughlin goal in the third period to equal the game gave North Stars fans hope.
But a third and final Ice goal sealed the game 3-2.
It was McLaughlin again who opened the scoring on Sunday against the Bears.
The game stayed 1-0 until the final period when Tomas Landa for the Bears scored.
The game ended 1-1 and went to a shootout, which the North Stars lost.
The North Stars face Sydney Ice Dogs twice this weekend.
Newcastle are home on Saturday and in Liverpool on Sunday.