Mustangs defeat New Zealand in opener of exhibition series

The Melbourne Mustangs have defeated the New Zealand national team 5-4 following a shootout at the O’Brien Group Arena. Tonight’s game was the first of four exhibition games that New Zealand will compete in as part of their training camp for the 2017 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division II Group B tournament which is set to begin in Auckland on 4 April. The three remaining games will see New Zealand face-off against the Melbourne Ice on 25 March and 30 March and against the Mustangs again on the 28th.

Schedule

• Melbourne Mustangs 5-4 SO New Zealand (19:00, 24 March 2017, O’Brien Group Arena)
• Melbourne Ice – New Zealand (19:00, 25 March 2017, O’Brien Group Arena)
• Melbourne Mustangs – New Zealand (20:00, 28 March 2017, O’Brien Group Arena)
• Melbourne Ice – New Zealand (19:00, 30 March 2017, O’Brien Group Arena)