It is finals day today with University Blue Whales taking on Albany Alligators at 3.15pm in the men’s final while Momona will play City Highlanders at 1.45pm.
University was the losing finalist last year to Kings United but won in 2015.
The most successful club in the competition, the Whales have top seeding and comfortably dispatched Taieri last weekend in their semifinal. They will be looking to their duo of O’Connors, Vincent and Kieran, as well as experienced players in defender Garrick Hately and goalie Dominic Dixon, both of whom have played in the NHL.
Albany comes into this weekend with the strength of recent history on its side having won four of the past six seasons.
The side missed the final last year but back in the big dance this time is now a mostly new team since its previous title.
Albany will be leaning on the experience that has been there, done that, such as captain Nathan Gilbert and midfielder Gabe Rawcliffe, the goal-scorers in the 2-0 semifinal win over Kings.
Keeper Hamish van Dyke has arguably been the find of the season, and will have to be on his game to combat the strikers from the Whales who top the goal-scoring in premier hockey this season.
Gilbert thinks it will be a tough battle and that the team that does the work will get the treats.
Predictions from the outside suggest University will be too strong as it was the most recent time the sides met, running away 7-2.
But finals are usually closer so Albany is not without a chance.
It is a rematch of last year’s final in the women’s grade with top qualifier Momona looking to avenge last season’s loss to City Highlanders.
The two teams have shared the spoils in their two games this season with one win apiece.
The only other loss either side has had this year was City’s surprise defeat to Southern under-18 earlier in the season which it avenged in last week’s semifinal.
Momona had to battle past a determined University side in its semifinal.
Boasting a plethora of talented players led by Maddie and Neve McLean as well as Millie Cowan and Lydia Shirley, Momona will be tough to beat.
Its strengths are not isolated to one part of the field, but it probably has the edge in the strike line.
City, on the other hand, started the season strongly but in the last few weeks has not been as dominant.
Southern led City last week until the last part of the match.
The City side has a good culture and will fight to the end. Midfielders Deborah Young and Sarah Allan and defenders Lucy Harris and Jemma Morland will matching it with Momona.
Milla de Bruin and Alex Irwin will look to create play up front.
Momona should be able to shake off the rust from last week and be a little too clinical but that it should be be close, something along the lines of 2-1 to the side in red.
- Matthew West
