Stampede win two from two over Makos
The Southern Stampede are back at their best.
The Stampede recorded two big wins against the Auckland Mako for the defending champions to remain at the top of the national men's ice hockey league table.
Playing at home in Queenstown, the Stampede thumped the Mako 11-2 on Friday.
It was a red-hot start where Colin McIntosh and Axel Ruski-Jones each had a double in the first period to add to team-mates Jack Robbie and Jett McCullum's goals.
Thomas Clark scored for the Makos to trail 6-1.
Ruski-Jones added another two in the second period and Maxwell Macharg, Connor Harrison and McIntosh added another to round out the big win.
The Stampeded followed up with a 6-1 victory on Saturday.
Harrison and Nolan Ross scored a brace and Ruski-Jones and Ollie Ruski-Jones added the others.
The Dunedin Thunder had a 6-3 loss to the West Auckland Admirals. They played again yesterday and the Admirals won again, 4-3.
In the national women's league, the Wakatipu Wild had a 4-2 win against the Thunder.
Former Thunder player and Ice Fern Caitlin-Judith Heale got the Wild under way 17 minutes in with the opening goal.
But Ice Fern team-mate Sammy Heyward struck back for the Thunder to be 1-1 at the end of the first period.
Kellye Nelson added another for the Wild in the only points in the second period.
French import Lea Mullender levelled the score for the Thunder early in the final period. But the Wild hit back with late goals to Inge Kemp and Kelli Burstein to seal the victory.
The Wild and the Thunder played again yesterday. The Thunder won 3-1.
kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Mixed news on injuries for All Blacks v Argentina
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson. The All Blacks have touched down in Argentina for their opening Rugby Championship match, but coach Scott Robertson has confirmed today that they'll be taking the field without two key players. Prop Tamaiti Williams and Wallace Sititi are still out, rehabbing long term injuries, and should return for the second test in Buenos Aires. Robertson confirmed that Scott and Beauden Barrett are both fit and available for selection, after the brothers sustained injuries that hampered their involvement in the French series. But the Sititi situation raises an interesting possibility around a call-up for Simon Parker straight into the test arena. Robertson was confident the 25-year-old was up to the challenge if named. "He's a Taniwha, he's ready to roll," said Robertson, adding that Parker had been welcomed with a haka from his new teammates. "He's slotted straight in. He talked to the team about what it meant for him to be here, what's inspired him, and how he's got here. (The haka) was a nice moment for him. It's All Black tradition, when someone arrives and is named into the squad. It was a great moment for us to get him into the group and be part of the All Blacks." Robertson said last year's shock 38-30 loss to the Pumas in Wellington was something that would motivate the All Blacks' performance this weekend. "It's still in our memories, a year ago," he said, with the result a rude awakening to the realities of test rugby for the then-first year coach. Conversely, the victory was the start of a fantastic 12 months for Felipe Contepomi's Pumas, who also beat the Wallabies, Springboks, France and the British & Irish Lions. "They're a team with a lot of experience, a lot of them play in Europe, they're really well coached, and they play with passion. It's been a long time since we've been in Cordoba and played with their fans and the passion that comes with it on the night." Robertson certainly has first-hand experience of that: his match-winning try to deny the Pumas a famous victory in 2001 in Buenos Aires was arguably his most notable moment in a black jersey . "Anyone can beat anyone on the night, you've got to be at your best - every game. That's the exciting part of this tour."
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
Why Chiefs playmaker Josh Jacomb should move to the Highlanders
While Ruben Love is the All Blacks' third-choice first five for the Rugby Championship, that picture could alter once Perofeta returns from injury with Auckland in the coming weeks and with Richie Mo'unga confirming his homecoming from Japan next year. Jacomb, though, should be firmly in that frame by now. After turning down an offer to join the Crusaders, he's spent two years largely fulfilling back-up duties to Damian McKenzie at the Chiefs. Learning his trade from McKenzie, with the odd start and cameo appearance mixed in, might have been fine for one season, but the 24-year-old Jacomb is clearly wasted sitting in reserve. To evolve, he needs to be playing, competing, every week in Super Rugby Pacific. While Cameron and Godfrey enjoyed game time with the Hurricanes, Kemara and Reihana played pivotal roles as the Crusaders rebounded to claim this year's title and Jacomb's development stagnated. Jacomb is contracted to the Chiefs next year but his opportunities to start are likely to remain limited, with McKenzie recently re-signing with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) through to 2029. McKenzie will skip Super Rugby Pacific with his agreed sabbatical in 2028, the year following the next World Cup, but does Jacomb want to wait two more years to temporarily seize the reins at the Chiefs? Shaun Stevenson's departure to Japan leaves an opening at fullback next year but with Emoni Narawa, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Trask and Moana Pasifika recruit Kyren Taumoefolau on the Chiefs' books, they have ample cover, which should allow McKenzie to stay at first five, where he commands more influence. Every player has circumstances beyond rugby to consider in any future decisions. Jacomb, with a young family, is no different but the Herald understands the Highlanders are making a serious play for his services. From a pure rugby development perspective, moving to the Highlanders, where he would be a guaranteed starter, is a no-brainer. In this regard, NZR should have a role to play in encouraging the spread of talent rather than the frequent player-hoarding scenarios that leave the same teams contesting Super finals year after year. Breaking contracts to shift teams is common in the NRL. Not so in the New Zealand rugby landscape. Last year, though, Brodie McAlister secured an early release to switch from the Crusaders to the Chiefs. That move paid immediate rewards, with McAlister winning promotion to the All Blacks, making his debut off the bench in the third French test in Hamilton and retaining his place as the third hooker for the Rugby Championship. Outside backs Waisake Naholo, Caleb Tangitau, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and former All Blacks Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa are among those to take a chance on the Highlanders by seeking game time and exposure. All significantly improved their stocks. The case for Jacomb to move south is exemplified by Lima Sopoaga after Jamie Joseph convinced him to move from Wellington to join the Highlanders. Sopoaga progressed to play an influential role in the Highlanders' sole title success in 2015 – the same year he debuted for the All Blacks. Since Sopoaga's departure in 2018, the Highlanders have struggled to source a consistent, reliable replacement at No 10. Joseph, after resuming as Highlanders head coach this season, is on another recruitment drive as he attempts to offset a familiar disparity in squad quality and depth compared to his New Zealand counterparts. The Highlanders have hired David Kidwell as their new defence coach and are believed to have signed former All Blacks and veteran Blues prop Angus Ta'avao and promising New Zealand Under-20s backline utility Stanley Solomon for next season. Luring the tough and talented Jacomb, though, would be a game-changer for the southern franchise. Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Volts name former batter Tasman-Jones as coach
Former Otago top-order batter Josh Tasman-Jones knows his first challenge will be to win people over. The 35-year-old has been appointed Volts coach on a two-year contract, and he is not shying away from the fact he will have to earn people's confidence. He takes over from Ashley Noffke, who left a year into his two-year contract. Tasman-Jones' coaching resume is not lengthy. He has coached at club level and has led the Otago A team for the past two seasons. He has also been a Volts' selector since 2022. The Otago Cricket Association has taken a punt on him, but it has also put in place a solid support system. Former Black Caps coach and interim Otago coach Gary Stead will remain on in an advisory capacity. And former New Zealand all-rounder Andre Adams has been named as the assistant coach. Stead has a wealth of experience and Adams has a decent resume as well. Adams has worked with the Bangladesh national team as a bowling coach and had a stint with Auckland in the same role. He played a lot of cricket, clocking 173 first-class games. Tasman-Jones said between having both men in his corner to bounce ideas off, and with the likes of Neil Broom and Shayne O'Connor also around the team, he had plenty of support. "Having a man like [Stead] in our corner as a team and as an association is incredible," Tasman-Jones said. "It fills me with a lot of confidence, and he's already been a massive source of confidence." While Tasman-Jones said he appreciated the perception people might have about his lack of coaching credentials, he believes he has the skills to be successful in the role. Otago famously took a punt on Mike Hesson, who went on to help the province win its first list A title in 20 years before carving out an impressive international record with the Black Caps. Hesson was even younger than Tasman-Jones when he took over the Otago reins. But he helped stitch a rag-tag bunch from all corners of the country into a competitive unit. Tasman-Jones moved down to Dunedin from Auckland 10 years ago to have a crack at making the Volts lineup. He made his debut in a first-class game against Northern Districts at the University Oval in March 2017 and made a good impression. He was trapped lbw for 35 by Ish Sodhi but swatted 59 not out from 61 balls in his second innings. But he was unable to establish himself in the lineup, and played the last of his seven first-class games in March 2019. He had a second dip in 2021 and opened the batting for the Volts in the Super Smash. "Straight off the back of that, I went into a selector role with the Volts, which has been a great experience and kind of got me into this kind of coaching way of life and given me a great perspective on the game from the other side of the rope." One of his challenges as a young coach will be to negotiate his way through the potentially difficult terrain of previous relationships and his new responsibilities. "I think the relationships I have with the boys will hold me in good stead. "I know how they operate and I can get straight into the conversations. "So I think it's a really positive thing, to be honest. "But having had that experience from the selection side of things over the last three years, I've had to be really mindful of that, drawing a line with some of those relationships and just keeping a bit of distance. "I can see how it could be perceived, but I'm completely comfortable with managing those. It is about just having really good up-front conversations." Balancing his family life with his new demands will be another hurdle. Tasman-Jones and his wife Chelsea have a 2-year-old son, Miles, and a 6-week-old baby son Levi. Tasman-Jones previously worked for Dynasty Sport as a regional sales representative. One of his clients was New Zealand Cricket. He has gone from supplying the playing kit for the Volts to supplying the plans for success.
