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Posted on Thursday July 9th at 2:38 p.m.
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The double-header will be the last chance for fans to see the Ice Blacks in action this year. With national pride at stake and a global audience looking on, both matches are expected to sell out especially as the New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) comes to the end of a highly successful season.
"We couldn't have picked a better curtain raiser for the ice events," said Winter Games NZ CEO, Arthur Klap. "Ice hockey epitomizes what international winter sport is all about - excitement, energy, thrills and spills. Throw in some old-fashioned Kiwi-Aussie rivalry and the two matches should be fantastic to watch."
The Ice Blacks have never beaten Australia at senior level but Graeme Glass, immediate past president of the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation and co-ordinator of the test series for Winter Games NZ, believes they are getting closer.
"This is as good a chance as we've ever had of beating the Aussies," he said. "We lost 4-2 last time out in Australia but we're a better side now. They were relegated to IIHF Division II in April just as we won the Division III World Championships in Dunedin. I'm sure there'll be the same cracking atmosphere in the stadium when we're back there for Winter Games NZ."
Players showing real form in the NZIHL this season and likely to be the stars of the Dunedin tests include Paris Heyd and current top-scorer Chris Eaden from Canterbury Red Devils, Braden Lee, Brett Speirs, Hayden Argyle and Simon Glass from Southern Stampede plus goalies Zak Nothling from West Auckland Admirals and local boy Rick Parry from Dunedin Thunder.
Tickets for both matches are available from TicketDirect and are priced from just $15. All tickets are subject to booking fees.