Fairytale ending to Mustangs’ season

The Melbourne Mustangs are the 2014 Australian Ice Hockey League champions after scoring a 6-1 victory over crosstown rivals Melbourne Ice to secure their inaugural Goodall Cup win.

The Mustangs lead at every change and went on to record the comprehensive victory in front of a packed-out crowd at the Icehouse.

The victory was fitting after Melbourne had played outstanding all year and finished the home and away season on top of the ladder.

Although the Mustangs finished on top, the win was still considered an upset.

Ice had won three of the four clashes between the two teams this season, including the most recent one 5-1, but none of that mattered come finals day.

The Mustangs were on their game and looked sharp from the outset.  They were also cleaner and had a better accuracy on the day.

Both teams had 30 shots on the goal each in the match but it was the Mustangs who regularly found the back of the net.

Ice didn’t manage a successful shot until the final third but by then the Mustangs were already up 5-0 and the damage was done.

In addition to their win, a couple of Mustangs players picked up other awards.

Mustangs player Viktor Gibbs was named most valuable player during the finals series with five goals in his two games and Jack Wolgemuth won Defenceman of the Year, while Sydney Ice dogs player Simon Barg was the winner of Most Valuable Player of the season.

It was a dream come true for Melbourne ice hockey fans with both clubs making their way through the semi-finals.  

The Mustangs had the harder path to the final game overcoming a determined Sydney Ice Dogs outfit, knocking them off 6-4. While Ice was able to cruise through CBR Brave, accounting for them 6-1.

This year was the first time Mustangs had made the playoffs.  In the four years they have been in the competition they have gone from last to first, an extraordinary effort.

Since their debut in the league in 2010 the Mustangs have always played catch up with the Ice, both with memberships and success.

Now they are able to stand alongside Melburne Ice and have proved there really are two teams in Melbourne.