Tastes like Chicken?

With the festive season well and truly over it’s now time to get back to business as Adelaide Adrenaline head up to the Sunshine state to feast on a rich serving of Goanna. Game 1 on Saturday 21 January and game 2 Sunday 22 January at Ice World, Acacia Ridge.

Adrenaline head up to Brisbane holding a 2-0 advantage in the four game series after two very convincing wins in Adelaide back in round 1 on 22 and 23 October 2011. Adrenaline took that series scoring 18 goals to 1.

Adrenaline as they have all season dominated neutral ice through their defensive lines which has been the catalyst of their game. Brisbane will have to find a way to be able to break these lines down and find the same dominance and drive to have any chance of reversing the round 1 results.

This of course is not impossible for Brisbane but Adrenaline also have an ingredient that is just as important.

The hunger, passion and drive the ladies from Adelaide have are unmatched and are a massive tool to their success this season.  Not only does a team require smart coaching, silky skills, they also need to love. Not just the game or the piece of silverware at the end of the road but for each other and this is what makes these ladies front up to every training session and every game.

Brisbane’s goal tenders will once again have to work hard while Erin Webber and Tamara Jones will have to find the form they produced in round 1. They will need more support going forward as was noted after the round 1 match up.

With the well-earned break and a new year to kick off at home ice, Brisbane will not be a push over and with the potential showed last year Adrenaline will have to continue to work hard to clinch a series win against a hungry Goanna.

The other key to Adelaide’s game is their work along the boards and the contested puck, this starts with Adrenaline’s defensive lines and filters through to the forwards. The ability to win these contests will be crucial for both teams.

Head Coach John Botterill has cleverly coach his ladies and his player rotation has been an important and impressive feature to date. I don’t expect John to change much but continue to exploit what he has at hand given the situation of play.

I predict Adelaide to continue their dominance but not without a serious challenge from a Brisbane outfit with everything to gain and nothing to lose on home ice.

If you are on Twitter  follow @ADL_AdrenalineW and @IceandAll for all your AWIHL news out of Adelaide.

Reminder to keep the last weekend in February free on your new 2012 Adelaide Adrenaline Women’s calendar. The AWIHL finals are coming to Adelaide and will be proudly hosted by the Brisbane Goannas. Support women’s hockey and make sure you are there for what will be an incredible weekend of hockey at the IceArena, Thebarton.

We will also be raffling a fully signed 2012 Adrenaline Women’s calendar so don’t miss an opportunity to win this, more details coming soon.