AIHL Review: Lightning erupt for 24 goals as Northstars stay top and Thunder survive marathon shootout

James Lane

Brisbane produced one of the most explosive offensive weekends in recent memory, piling 24 goals past Central Coast across two games. Melbourne Ice knocked off the league leaders. And Perth and Adelaide somehow needed 32 shootout attempts to settle a single point.

Brisbane Lightning 11 – 6 Central Coast Rhinos

The Lightning announced themselves in spectacular fashion on Saturday, overwhelming the Rhinos in a game that steadily got away from the visitors.

The first two periods remained competitive, with Brisbane leading 4–3 and then 6–4. But the final period turned into a rout as the Lightning poured in five more goals.

Alex Campbell was unstoppable, finishing with four goals and three assists in a dominant individual performance.

Newcastle Northstars 7 – 4 Sydney Bears

Newcastle maintained their grip on first place thanks largely to a decisive middle period.

After a relatively even start, the Northstars exploded for four goals in the second while limiting Sydney to one. The Bears’ offence came almost entirely through Nick Seitz, who scored all four of their goals in a remarkable lone-hand effort.

Melbourne Ice 5 – 4 Sydney Ice Dogs (OT)

The Ice Dogs looked headed for defeat before mounting a late comeback.

Melbourne Ice led 3–2 after the first period and stretched that to 4–2 after the second. Sydney fought back with two unanswered goals in the third to force overtime, but Kolton Shindle completed a huge night by scoring the winner. He finished with a hat-trick and an assist.

Melbourne Mustangs 5 – 1 Canberra Brave

The Mustangs put Canberra on the back foot immediately.

A 3–0 opening period left the Brave chasing the game from the outset, and they never recovered as Melbourne secured an important road victory.

Perth Thunder 4 – 3 Adelaide Adrenaline

Perth survived a determined Adelaide challenge in regulation.

The Thunder’s 2–0 first period ultimately proved crucial, while Peter Hrehorcak was involved in everything offensively, assisting all four Perth goals.

Canberra Brave 6 – 3 Melbourne Mustangs

Sunday brought an immediate response from Canberra.

The game was deadlocked at 1–1 after the first and 3–3 after the second before the Brave completely took over the final period. Jake Ratcliffe led the way with two goals and two assists as Canberra earned a split weekend.

Melbourne Ice 5 – 2 Newcastle Northstars

Perhaps the most surprising result of the round came in Melbourne.

The Ice produced a disciplined defensive performance to hand the league leaders a rare defeat, limiting Newcastle to just two goals and continuing their recent improvement.

Brisbane Lightning 13 – 7 Central Coast Rhinos

Then Brisbane somehow topped Saturday.

The Lightning and Rhinos combined for an astonishing 20 goals in one of the wildest games of the season.

Danick Bouchard did everything possible for Central Coast, finishing with three goals and three assists. It still wasn’t enough.

Brisbane’s attack was relentless. Zachary Shankar recorded five assists, Tanner Hopps contributed two goals and four assists, Grant Hebert added three goals and four assists, while Alex Campbell somehow bettered his Saturday performance with five goals and an assist.

Across the two games, Brisbane scored 24 goals and Alex Campbell accumulated nine goals and four assists.

Perth Thunder 4 – 3 Adelaide Adrenaline (SO)

The final game of the round produced one of the strangest endings the league will see all season.

Perth appeared in control after building a 3–1 first-period lead and carrying that advantage through a scoreless second period. Adelaide refused to go away, scoring twice in the third to force overtime.

Extra time settled nothing, sending the game to a shootout that quickly descended into an endurance test.

The teams combined for ten consecutive misses before Jake Riley and Peter Hrehorcak both scored. Then came another eighteen straight unsuccessful attempts.

Finally, after 32 total shots - 16 per side - Hrehorcak converted again to end the marathon and secure the extra point for Perth.

Standings

Despite Sunday’s loss, Newcastle remain comfortably on top with 29 points. Perth and the Ice Dogs are now level on 24, with the Mustangs close behind on 23.

The Rhinos have slipped after a disastrous weekend in Brisbane and now sit on 20 points. Sydney Bears remain on 18, while Brisbane’s offensive explosion has lifted them to 16 points alongside Melbourne Ice.

The ladder remains headed by Newcastle, but the story of Week 8 belonged elsewhere. Brisbane’s attack suddenly looks terrifying, Melbourne Ice have found form at last, and Perth needed 32 shootout attempts to escape Adelaide. Only in the AIHL.