In the first game of the double-header at the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium, the AIHL-leading CBR Brave dominated the shot count and the scoring - to run away with a 6 goal to 1 win against the second-placed Newcastle Northstars this evening.

A sizeable contingent of Brave fans made the trip up to Newcastle for the weekend - and, on the ice, the Brave welcomed back Andy Camenzind and the Perth-based duo of Lynden Lodge and Alastair Punler for this weekend.

The game was expected to be fast and skilful - and it lived up to its billing from the opening whistle.  The first score occurred in the sixth minute - with Casey Kubara scoring from short range, after an assist from Mario Trabucco.

From the restart, the Northstars immediately freed a man and had a 1-on-1 breakaway - which was broken up by Brave Goaltender Alex Tetreault. The teams traded penalties - with the Brave and the Northstars both successfully killing Tripping penalties.

In the sixteenth minute, the Brave scored again - with Tyler Kubara finding Wehebe Darge unmarked at the far post, and beating Newcastle Goaltender James Downie with a well-worked play.

The Brave scored their third goal on the stroke of the First Intermission - with a stretch pass from Bayley Kubara finding a surging Mitch Henning behind the defence, and he beat the Newcastle Goalie with a well-worked shot.

The Second Period had barely begun and the Brave made it 4 goals to nil - with a delay shot from short range by Mario Trabucco. The visitors piled the pressure on to the Northstars - forcing a penalty for too many many on the ice, which was successfully killed. The Brave then took their own ‘Too Many Men’ penalty - and had a short-handed breakaway shot, which was successfully saved.

The Northstars finally opened their account with a breakaway of their own in the fifteenth minute of the Second Period - when Richie Tesarik had a one-on-one chance with Brave ‘tender Tetreault and made no mistake with the shot. Minutes later the Northstars had another chance - a 2-on-1 breakaway that was again thwarted by Tetreault.

The score was made 5-1 in the nineteenth minute, when a crisp set of passes by the Brave found Lynden Lodge, who beat Downie and established a four-goal buffer at the Final Intermission.

The Final Period was notable for the Northstars killing a five-on-three penalty - which almost immediately turned into a five-on-four penalty to the home team. It was at the end of the five-on-four that a battle at the Brave’s Blue Line resulted in Nick Christensen winning the puck and shooting it past James Downie to make the score 6 goals to 1.

At that point, the Northstars changed their Goaltender - sending Ethan Spelde into net to replace Downie. The Brave continued to press their advantage but could not add to their score, and the game ended with a 6-goal-to-1 win for the visitors.

A lop-sided shot count told the story of the game - with the Brave shooting 45 shots on net to 20 for the Northstars. The relentless attack of the visitors and dour defence - led by Goaltender Tetreault - contributed to one of the better wins for the year.

The Brave play the second game of the away double-header against the Northstars tomorrow at the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium - with puck drop at 4pm. If you cannot be at the rink in person, the game will be available on Kayo Freebies (https://kayosports.com.au/event/sport!icehockey/event-northstars-v-cbr-brave!138881).

Goals:
CBR Brave:  Casey Kubara (2); Wehebe Darge, Mitch Henning, Lynden Lodge, Nick Christensen (1)
Newcastle Northstars:  Richie Tesarik (1)