It was the first time this campaign that all members of the Novocastrian squad were available, including all five Northstars who represented Australia at the IIHF World Championships.

Their additions proved vital, as the travelling Northstars notched their first win of the weekend over Melbourne Ice with a buzzer-beater goal from Robert Haselhurst.

The team was dominant early through first period goals to imports Nick Rivait and Joe Harcarik, but Melbourne pulled back to level the score at 2-all in the second period.

Harcharik netted again to give Newcastle the lead late in the second, and he completed his hat-trick in the third as Ice scored twice to level again.

Haselhurst’s goal came last, right on the 0.00 timer, to secure the first evening’s win.

In the second match at O’Brien Group Arena, Newcastle batted their way through injuries and penalties to score three more points.

Sam Lawson opened the scoring – and his season account – just before Tomas Landa’s face was slashed open by a Melbourne’s players skate, though the Newcastle hero played on with stitches and a full face cage.

Import Nick Rivait scored two and defenceman Hamish Powell added one for the final 4-3 result.

Newcastle travel to Adelaide for a double header against Adrenaline next weekend, then return home on Saturday, May 26.