Champions League Quarter Finals recap
Sparta Prague's improbable rally over Växjö Lakers stole the spotlight, but other giants like Färjestad, ZSC Lions Zurich, and Genève-Servette also earned their place in the Semi-Finals. ... Read more»
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AIHL
- League status: Active
- English name: Australian Ice Hockey League
- Administered by: Australian Ice Hockey League
- Year of start: 2000
- WWW: http://www.theaihl.com/, https://www.facebook.com/theAIHL/, www.twitter.com/aihl
Did you find any incorrect or incomplete information? Please, let us know.
Recent transfersShow all transfers»
| 19 Oct 2024 | |  Tatsunoshin Ishida
(G)
|  Melbourne Ice |  |  Mississippi Sea Wolves (FPHL) |
| 17 Oct 2024 | | Shai Rabinowitz
(F)
| Central Coast Rhinos | | Hudson Valley Venom |
| 09 Oct 2024 | |  Nátán Vértes
(F)
| Perth Thunder | | Budapest Jégkorong Akadémia |
| 08 Oct 2024 | | Scott Dewar
(D)
| Central Coast Rhinos | | Metro Jets |
No promotion/relegation
- 2023-2024: Canberra Brave
- 2022-2023: Melbourne Mustangs
- 2021-2022: CBR Brave
- 2018-2019: Sydney Bears
- 2017-2018: CBR Brave
- 2016-2017: Melbourne Ice
- 2015-2016: Newcastle North Stars
- 2014-2015: Newcastle North Stars
- 2013-2014: Melbourne Mustangs
- 2012-2013: Sydney Ice Dogs
- 2011-2012: Melbourne Ice
- 2010-2011: Melbourne Ice
- 2009-2010: Melbourne Ice
- 2008-2009: Adelaide Adrenaline
- 2007-2008: Newcastle North Stars
- 2006-2007: AIHL Bears
- 2005-2006: Newcastle North Stars
- 2004-2005: Newcastle North Stars
- 2003-2004: Western Sydney Ice Dogs
- 2002-2003: Newcastle North Stars
- 2001-2002: Sydney Bears
- 2000-2001: Adelaide Avalanche (1997-2008)
- 1999-2000: Adelaide Avalanche (1997-2008)
The Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) was formed for the 2000 season by the Sydney Bears, Canberra Knights and Adelaide Avalanche after the failure of the former national league.
From 2000-2001 the thee teams played round-robin weekends spaced out over the season, with the top two teams playing a single final. In 2001 the revered Goodall Cup ceased to be contested at a separate tournament, and with the expansion of the AIHL to six teams in 2002, became the prize for the AIHL's Finals.
The Adelaide Avalanche won the AIHL championship in 2000 and 2001, while the Bears won the Goodall Cup in the 2001 Goodall tournament.
In 2002 the addition of the Melbourne Ice, the West Sydney Ice Dogs and the Newcastle North Stars made the AIHL a much more purposeful league. The Sydney Bears were 2002 AIHL & Goodall Cup champions, the first time the two were combined.
In 2003 a new finals tournament weekend was introduced, where the top four, not just the top two, teams would play sudden death semi finals on the Saturday and the winners would play for the Goodall Cup and AIHL Championship on the Sunday. This format is unchanged up to now.
The Newcastle North Stars were the 2003 winners, with the West Sydney Ice Dogs winning it in 2004.
In 2005 the AIHL expanded to eight teams, the two newcomers the Central Coast Rhinos and the Brisbane Blue Tongues. 2005 Champions were the Newcastle North Stars.
The same league structure continued through to 2008 season. In 2008 the Adelaide Avalanche folded and a new team, the Adrenaline was founded in its place. 2006 Champions were the Newcastle North Stars, in 2007 it was the Sydney Bears, and in 2008 it was Newcastle North Stars again.
In 2009 the Brisbane Blue Tongues moved to become the Gold Coast Blue Tongues, and had their first ever finals appearance. The Central Coast Rhinos declined to accept the AIHL's new licencing model and the AIHL became a seven team league until 2011.
2009 Champions were the Adelaide Adrenaline, and in 2010 the Melbourne Ice became champions in the new Australian Olympic ice facility in Melbourne's Docklands.
The Goodall Cup was withdrawn from the AIHL in 2009 by its caretakers, Ice Hockey Australia, so it could return to being contested by the states. A new trophy was awarded to the Adelaide Adrenaline, now known as the H Newman Reid Trophy. In 2010 the Goodall Cup was returned as the AIHL's prize, and the new trophy consigned to be the prize for the regular season's top team (minor premiers).
In 2011 the league has returned to a team strength of eight with the inclusion of the Mustangs Ice Hockey Club, who will also play from the Docklands rink in Melbourne.
The Perth Thunder played exhibition games as a provisional team in 2011, securing a spot to become the ninth AIHL team in 2012.
The Brisbane Blue Tongues exited the AIHL in 2014.
In 2022, the AIHL proudly announced two new provisional teams, Brisbane Lightning and Erina Rhinos, both aiming to secure full licenses for 2023.
Recent articlesShow all articles»
- Title is back to Sydney (01 Sep 2019)
- CBR Brave win first Goodall Cup (10 Sep 2018)
- The boredom of summer is over! (14 Jul 2018)
- 2017 AIHL Award Winners (18 Sep 2017)
- North Stars go back-to-back in AIHL Grand Final (31 Aug 2016)
Recent newsShow all news»
AIHL Awards
The Australian Ice Hockey League have announced the award winners for the 2023 AIHL season:
Playoffs MVP: Liam Hughes (Melbourne Mustangs)
Most Valuable Player: Scott Timmins (Melbourne Mustangs)
Defenceman of the Year: Ty Wishart (Melbourne Mustangs)
Goaltender of the Year: Andrew Masters (Central Coast Rhinos)
Rookie of the Year: Riley Klugerman (Newcastle Northstars)
Coach of the Year: Benjamin Breault (Perth Thunder)
Long time Northstars coach Don Champagne passed away
Former Newcastle Northstars coach Don Champagne passed away at 71. He leads the Northstars from 2002 to 2011, winning four AIHL titles.
Also served as head coach of the Australian national team at the 2006 World Championship Division II Group B tournament
AIHL postponed the begin of season, New Zealand confirms the start until now
The AIHL (Australian Ice Hockey League)2020 season will be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The season was scheduled to begin on 18 April. No future date was scheduled.
In New Zealand, where the league start is scheduled for mid-May, the Federation released a short statement confirming for now the competition: "As yet, there has been no delay to the NZIHL 2020 season, but we are monitoring the situation closely"
Macquarie Ice Rink demolition paused
The demolition of Macquarie Ice Rink in Sydney, scheduled for 2020, has been paused after the community reaction. There will be talks with stakeholders and the two clubs using the rink as home, the Sydney Bears and Sydney Ice Dogs, before coming to a final decision. Neither club has announced what a new rink would be.
(21 Jan 2019)AIHL announces awards
After the end of the regular season, dominated by Canberra Brave, before the semi-finals that will be played Saturday, September 1st, AIHL announced the awards of the season. Surprisingly the Brave won just one award with forward Wehebe Darge named Local Player of the Year. Perth Thunder and Sydney Bears, finished 3rd and 2nd respectively, take all the other prizes:
AIHL Awards:
- Goaltender of the Year: Anthony Kimlin (Sydney Bears)
- Defenceman of the Year: Landon Oslanski (Perth Thunder)
- Most Valuable Player: Pier-Olivier Grandmaison (Perth Thunder)
- Rookie of the Year: Jason McMahon (Perth Thunder)
- Coach of the Year: Ron Kuprowsky (Sydney Bears)
- Skaters Network Local Player of the Year: Wehebe Darge (CBR Brave)
In the semifinals, played in Melbourne, Canberra Braves will face Melbourne Mustangs and Sydney Bears will battle against Perth Thunder for the spots in the grand final, Sunday 2nd of September
(29 Aug 2018)AIHL game suspended due to fire in the arena
AIHL game between the Sydney Bears and the Melbourne Ice at Macquarie Ice Rink was stopped during the first intermission due to a small fire in the overhead speaker system that caused the venue to be evacuated.
The AIHL is looking in to rescheduling the fixture
Sydney Ice Dogs announces new coach
Sydney Ice Dogs announced former Australian national team Christopher Blagg as new head coach for upcoming season. Canadian Christopher Foster and former goalie Andrew Waite will serve as assistant coaches. Blagg replaces Vladimir Rubes, who not extended contract due to family commitments.
"Chris brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our hockey club" says General Manager Jason Juba. "He is a good communicator which we believe will work well with the players and also get the best out of them".
(22 Mar 2017)Perth Thunder named new coach
Perth Thunder announced the appointment of former player David Ruck as new coach after the resignation of Dave Kenway who stepped down from the position due to family commitments and will remain in the club as Director of Hockey. Ruck, 47, retired from active hockey after 2014-15 season, coached junior team Perth Sharks
(16 Nov 2016)AIHL Finals in Melbourne
The 2016 AIHL season will see its final act at O'Brien Group Arena in Melbourne on 27-28 August weekend when the top four regular season AIHL teams will compete for the Goodall Cup.
(17 Jul 2016)Eric Lien new coach at Adrenaline - Milestone for Dunwoodie
Adelaide Adrenaline announced the club named former assistant coach Eric Lien new headcoach of the team. Liam, 37, lastly worked as assitant coach of national team. He replaced fired Trevor Walsh.
Sydney Ice Dogs defender Dave Dunwoodie celebrated his 300th AIHL game in the 5-2 loss against Newcastle North Stars on June 25. After 16 years in the League, Dunwoodie is just the second player to reach the milestone in the AIHL. In mid-June Sydney Bears captain Michael Schlamp played his 200th AIHL game
(02 Jul 2016)Leagues statistic
Past league results:
League standings:
Historic statistic:
Individuals records:
Fast factsseason 2024-2025
- Youngest player: Ellesse Carini (26 years)
- Oldest player: Nathan Cachia (29 years)
- Shortest player: Ellesse Carini (181 cm)
- Tallest player: Ellesse Carini (181 cm)
- Nationalities: Australia (2)
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