The last two times the Sydney Bears and the Canberra Knights it was in front of Sydney's home fans, and the Bears came away with their first win of the season, a decisive 6-1 victory.   On May 18th, the Bears made the trip to the nation's capital to face the Knights on their home turf.    

The last time these two teams faced off against each other, it was on Newcastle's home ice and the game was a very close one.   In their undefeated start to the season, it was the closest game the North Stars have had to play, but ultimately they still came out with a 2-1 victory.   Would this night in Sydney be one where the Bears get revenge for that narrow defeat in Newcastle?  

Both the home town Bears and the visiting Perth Thunder had something to prove on Sunday at the Sydney Ice Arena. The Bears coming off of a great win the night before against the Canberra Knights wanted to continue their winning ways and move up the table. The Thunder were in a different situation having lost 13-2 the night before in Newcastle, they needed to prove that they were ready for their first win of the season.

Upon entry to the car park at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium some things feel familiar. The tail gate party held by the faithful Star Gazers and the signs of teams warming up in the car park can only mean one thing. It’s Newcastle’s first home game of the 2013 AIHL season.

The Sydney Bears made the trip up the F3 Freeway with a game plan to shut down the North Stars imports, a plan that had worked well in previous meetings.