Sydney Bears hunt fans as well as wins Veteran national and Sydney Bears stalwart Vlad Rubes is scoring as freely as ever at 42. Photo: Rev William A Stewart Sydney doesn't know what it's missing. Sydney Bears general manager Wayne Hellyer says the main issue facing his foundation AIHL club remains gathering crowds worthy of a fine team playing in an excellent facility. We're hoping to build our home spectator base to something where there will be a bit more atmosphere. We think we've got the talent there, and we do put on an entertaining game for people when they come. It's just trying to get people to experience it and then they go "wow, we want to come here and see a lot more."" Gifted Ice forward Matt Armstrong lets fly. He is one of three Ice players leading the league scoring. Photo: Martin Keep It's a familiar refrain for ice hockey in Australia - once the uninitiated see the game live, they are often hooked, but getting them there in the first place is the battle, especially in a crowded market like Sydney. A great weapon in that battle are the weekly telecasts of the game of the week on Fox Sports. Hellyer says he is already getting positive feedback from the new Pay TV deal that he hopes will "open the door" for more sponsors and fans. In 2013, there are three other factors that the Sydney Bears and Sydney Ice Dogs can utilize in their quest for a stronger fanbase. The standard of the league has 10% improved on last year, Hellyer says - "every team has picked up its game" - and is progressing each year. Star Bears import Tomas Landa has returned for another AIHL stint. Photo: Rev. William A Stewart More mainstream outlets and social media are covering the game by the week. And there is a sellout international exhibition series in June which has sold out in Sydney and Melbourne. The Ice Dogs and Bears will have an approved presence at the Sydney event at Allphones Arena, where they will aim to leverage the excitement generated by a clash of Canadian and American professionals into bums on seats at AIHL games. When more of those fans start turning up, they will see a Bears outfit that has once again started slowly, then picked up momentum. Last year, the Bears became hard to beat too late, just missing the finals. This year, hampered by the absence of internationals on representative duties, they dropped a home game to Adelaide 2-9 to open the season. Two heartbreaking one-goal losses followed, before they crushed Canberra at home 6-1. However, the result which proved the Bears were a force to be reckoned with was its 2-1 win over league power Newcastle at home at the weekend. Hellyer says such results will come because the Bears are secure at the back due to the quality of Latvian import goalie Renars Kazanovs. I think we're a more attacking side because of our goaltender... the guys have 100% confidence in his skills and his ability whereas before sometimes the goaltenders have not been not totally up to scratch, so we've had to try and play a more defensive than offensive game. But this year we have full confidence with Renars in net and this is where the focus is more on attack. In years gone by we've had issues with not having the shots on net... If you're not shooting on net, you're not going to get goals. The Bears upset of the North Stars - which may not seem like an upset soon, if their good form continues - was not the only sensation of a fascinating fourth weekend of the AIHL season. The Melbourne Mustangs continued their fine form with a 5-1 triumph in Canberra, before being held out by the Ice Dogs on Sunday. The third-year franchise is now fourth in the standings and will have renewed confidence ahead of a defining clash at home against the North Stars on Saturday. The Knights overcame their disappointing home ice showing against the Mustangs by travelling to Newcastle to inflict a 4-3 loss on the North Stars, holding its one goal advantage for the duration of the final period despite endless attacks from their hosts. Not too many tipsters would have put the previously unbeaten North Stars down for two losses in a month let alone a weekend, and the high quality North Stars will be desperate to end their losing streak on the road trip to Melbourne this weekend. In Melbourne, Adelaide also defied expectations, leading throughout most of its convincing 6-4 triumph over the Melbourne Ice on Saturday. But the following day, normal Icehouse service was resumed, when the Ice blitzed Adrenaline from the first whistle, hassling the Adrenaline defence and disallowing any of the crisp two-line passing which had set up rushing attacks the previous day. Ice led 4-0 at the first break en route to a 9-3 thrashing, star forwards Matt Armstrong, Jason Baclig and Joey Hughes running amok. When it works with this much forechecking purpose and teamwork, Ice shows the quality which made it champion for three years running. But this season, any drop in intent or discipline is punished. Any team at less than their best can expect to lose. It's such even contests and unpredictability which making the 2012 season a thrilling competition. Something well worth selling to the Sydney citizenry. Saturday 11th May Melbourne Ice 4 v Adelaide Adrenaline 6 Canberra Knights 1 v Melbourne Mustangs 5 Sydney Bears 2 v Newcastle North Stars 1 Sunday 12th May Melbourne Ice 9 v Adelaide Adrenaline 3 Sydney Ice Dogs 4 v Melbourne Mustangs 2 Newcastle North Stars 3 v Canberra Knights 4 Saturday May 18 Sydney Ice Dogs v Perth Thunder, Liverpool Sydney 5pm Melbourne Mustangs v Newcastle North Stars, Docklands Icehouse, Melbourne, 5pm Canberra Knights v Sydney Bears, Canberra, 5.30pm Sunday May 19 Melbourne Ice v Newcastle North Stars, Docklands Icehouse, Melbourne 3.30pm Sydney Bears v Perth Thunder, Sydney Ice Centre, Baulkham Hills Sydney, 3.30pm