Ice hockey in Australia

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Ice hockey in Australia
First ever ice hockey game in Australia.png
The two teams who participated in the first ice hockey match in Australia, 17 July 1906
CountryAustralia
Governing body Ice Hockey Australia
National team(s) Men's national team;
Women's national team
National competitions
International competitions

Ice hockey in Australia is a sport which had a relatively poor popularity, having low participation and spectator attendance figures when compared with many other sports played in the country. [1]

Contents

However, the establishment of the semi-professional Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) in 2000 (in place of the collapsed former state-based national competition) [2] has seen an increase in popularity for the sport, [3] a trend which continued in 2012 with the successful expansion of the league into Western Australia with the inclusion of Perth-based side Perth Thunder and the introduction of a two-conference competition. [4]

The AIHL is the top-level ice hockey league in Australia, and the largest league in the Southern Hemisphere. [5] The Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) is the top-level women's competition and was formed in 2005. [6]

Ice hockey in Australia is governed nationally by the Australian Ice Hockey Federation (currently trading as Ice Hockey Australia), [7] formed in 1923 as the Australian Ice Hockey Association. [8] Australia is an active full-member of the International Ice Hockey Federation having been admitted to the federation in 1938. [9]

As of 2012 there were approximately 3,200 registered ice hockey players in Australia. [9]

History

Ice Polo: Before Ice Hockey

The beginnings of ice sports in Australia are traced back to the evening of 12 October 1904, [10] during a carnival held at the Adelaide Glaciarium, the first ice rink built in Australia.

This important location for Australian ice sports began as a Cyclorama, which opened on 28 November 1890, at 89 Hindley Street, Adelaide. On the evening of 6 September 1904, the building was reopened after being remodeled by a new group called the Ice Palace Skating Company, owned by H. Newman Reid and referred to as the Glaciarium or Ice Palace Skating Rink. [11]

On the evening of 12 October 1904, a match for what was called "hockey on the ice" was held during the carnival at the Adelaide Glaciarium. This game was not ice hockey, it was an adaption of roller polo to the ice using ice skates instead of roller skates. [12]

At the time this version of roller polo adapted to the ice was being played in Adelaide, ice hockey was already a well established sport and had been codified for almost 30 years. Though it was being called "hockey on the ice", it was not ice hockey.

The first ice hockey match

The beginnings of ice sports in Australia can be linked to the Glaciarium in Adelaide but the birthplace of ice hockey in Australia was in Melbourne, Victoria, and was the first time ice hockey had been played. Organised games of ice hockey in Australia began with the opening of the Melbourne Glaciarium on the afternoon of 9 June 1906, [13] at 16 City Road, South Melbourne Victoria. [14]

The first recorded organised game of ice hockey in Australia was on 17 July 1906, and was between a Victorian representative team and the American sailors from the visiting American Warship the USS Baltimore. This game was held in the Melbourne Glaciarium, the Australian team were dressed in all white and the team from USS Baltimore wore white shirts with a large upper case black B on the front and center of the chest and grey trousers. The skill level of the Australians was not seen to be up to the level of the Americans but the game was hard fought and result of the game was a 1–1 tie. [15]

TeamPlayer Name
AustraliaHerbert John Blatchly (captain)
Dunbar Poole
C. Kelly
James Service Thonemann
Gordon David Langridge
Ramsay Salmon
America (USS Baltimore)F. G. Randell (captain)
R. Stirling
Percival Howard Miller
J. Benditti
D. F. Kelly
J. T. Connolly

In 1909 state teams from Victoria and New South Wales first contested the Goodall Cup, which has since served continuously as the trophy awarded to the winners of the annual national competition (with hiatuses for the two World Wars, the closure of the Sydney Glaciarium in the late 1950s and for a single year in 1993), [8] thus making the Goodall Cup the third-oldest still awarded ice hockey trophy in the world, [16] and the oldest outside of Canada. [17]

Organisation

Ice Hockey Australia has seven state and territory-based affiliate associations across Australia which are in turn responsible for the organisation of the sport at the state and territory level. [7]

International competition

Australia's performance in international competition has been ordinary, qualifying for the Winter Olympic Games only once in 1960. As of 2012 the men's national team is ranked 32nd in the International Ice Hockey Federation's rankings; the women's national team is ranked 24th. [9] 2012 saw the inaugural Trans-Tasman Champions League games between the previous season's two top-ranked sides from both the Australian Ice Hockey League and the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. [18]

Australian Ice Hockey League

The Australian Ice Hockey League was formed in 2000. From 2000-2001 the Sydney Bears, Adelaide Avalanche and Canberra Knights played round robins. Avalanche won the 2000 and 2001 AIHL Cup.

In 2002 the addition of Melbourne Ice, West Sydney Ice Dogs and the Newcastle North Stars made the league more purposeful.

The Bears won in 2002, the North Stars in 2003 and the Ice Dogs in 2004 with the introduction of a new finals method. The top four would play in sudden death semi-finals and then the two winners would play for the AIHL Championship. This has remained unchanged.

2005 saw the introduction of two new teams: The Central Coast Rhinos and the Brisbane Bluetongues. The North Stars took the cup in 2005.

In 2008 Adelaide Avalanche changed to the Adelaide Adrenaline because of managing purposes. Newcastle won 2006, the Bears in 2007 and the Stars again in 2008.

2009 saw the Bluetingues changing to the Gold Coast Blue Tongues and the Rhinos withdrawing the competition because of AIHL's licensing changes. 2009's cup was taken by the Adrenaline and 2010 was taken by the Ice in Melbourne's new Olympic Training Facility in Melbourne's Docklands.

In 2011 the Mustangs Ice Hockey Club joined the league making it an eight teamed competition. Their home rink is also at the Docklands.

The Perth Thunder joined the AIHL at the start of 2012 as the ninth team.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Ice Hockey League</span> Australias top-level ice hockey league

The Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) is Australia's top-level ice hockey league. Established in 2000, the AIHL is sanctioned by Ice Hockey Australia. The Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) was founded in 2000, with the inaugural season beginning in 2002. The league was created with the goal of bringing a higher level of ice hockey to Australia and giving local players the opportunity to compete at a high level. The league started with just four teams, but has since expanded to ten teams across Australia. The current teams are the Adelaide Adrenaline, Melbourne Mustangs, Melbourne Ice, Newcastle Northstars, Perth Thunder, Sydney Bears, Sydney Ice Dogs, Canberra Brave, and now Central Coast Rhinos and Brisbane Lightning. The AIHL has also been successful in promoting the sport of ice hockey in Australia, with increased interest and participation in the sport over the years. The league has continued to grow and evolve, with improvements in facilities, equipment, and player development.The league is run by its own board of directors led by the AIHL commissioner. The AIHL is considered a semi-professional league with players receiving a variety of benefits such as a weekly stipend, travel expenses, motor vehicles and accommodation. The AIHL champion is awarded the Goodall Cup, the world's third oldest ice hockey trophy, having been first awarded in 1909. The AIHL is currently contested by 10 franchised teams from five Australian states and territories. The Newcastle Northstars have claimed the championship six times, with the Melbourne Ice having claimed four, The current champions, from 2022, are the CBR Brave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne Ice</span> Ice hockey team in Melbourne, Victoria

The Melbourne Ice are an ice hockey team based in Melbourne, Victoria. The team has won the AIHL championship four times, in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2017. The Melbourne Ice has a strong fan base and plays its home games at the O'Brien Icehouse, which is located in the Docklands precinct of central Melbourne. The "Icehouse" is the only Olympic- sized ice rink in Australia. The club has also been involved in promoting ice hockey in Australia, with programs aimed at introducing the sport to new players and developing young talent. The Melbourne Ice Women's team was established in 2013 and has competed in the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) since then. The club also has a junior club and program of about 100 kids aged from 6-18 y.o. Page 2 of 2 Overall, the Melbourne Ice Hockey Club has played a significant role in the development and growth of ice hockey in Australia and has become one of the most successful and popular teams in the AIHL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winter sport in Australia</span> Overview of winter sports practiced in Australia

Winter Sports in Australia encompasses a great variety of activities across the continent of Australia, including winter sports played in snow and ice such as ice hockey. Climate varies considerably from the tropical North to temperate South in Australia, and sporting practices vary accordingly. Ice and snow sports like Skiing in Australia are conducted in the high country of the Australian Alps and Tasmanian Wilderness. Australia has relatively low mountain ranges, but a long history of participation in recreational skiing and the Winter Olympic Games. Australians have won olympic gold in ice skating, skiing and snow-boarding events. Australia's generally flat geography and usually mild winter climate otherwise provide ideal conditions for international non-snow/ice winter sports and team games like Rugby Union Football, Rugby league Football and Association Football (Soccer), which are all popular sports during the Australian winter and in which Australia has enjoyed considerable international success. Australian rules football is a home-grown winter football code with a wide following throughout Australia. Many other sports are also played or watched in Australia through the winter season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newcastle Northstars</span> Ice hockey team in Newcastle, NSW

The Newcastle Northstars is an Australian semi-professional ice hockey team from Newcastle, New South Wales. The Northstars are a member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL), joining as an expansion team in 2002. The team is based at the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Warners Bay, a suburb of Lake Macquarie, 15 kilometres south-west of Newcastle. The Northstars are affiliated with the ice hockey club of the same name and have won six Goodall Cups.

The Goodall Cup is a perpetual trophy that is, currently, annually awarded to the playoff champions of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The trophy is named after Australian born player John Edwin Goodall who originally donated the cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Bears</span> Ice hockey team in Macquarie Park, NSW

The Sydney Bears is an Australian semi-professional ice hockey team from Sydney, New South Wales. Established in 1982, the Bears are the only remaining founding member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) still operating. The Bears are based at Macquarie Ice Rink, within the Macquarie Centre, in the northern suburbs of Sydney. The Sydney Bears have claimed three Goodall Cups in 2002, 2003 and 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice Hockey Australia</span>

The Australian Ice Hockey Federation, currently trading as Ice Hockey Australia (IHA), is the official national governing body of ice hockey in Australia and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. It was first established in 1908, making it one of the oldest national ice hockey associations in the world.

The 2002 AIHL season was the third season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The Sydney Bears completed the double by winning the league premiership by finishing top of the league standings and claiming the Goodall Cup after defeating Adelaide Avalanche in the AIHL final.

The 2003 AIHL season was the fourth season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 3 May 2003 until 29 August 2003, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 6 and 7 September 2003. The Adelaide Avalanche won the Premiership after finishing the regular season first in the league standings. The Newcastle North Stars won the Goodall Cup for the first time by defeating the Western Sydney Ice Dogs in the final.

The 2011 AIHL season is the 12th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 14 April 2011 until 28 August 2011, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 3 and 4 September. The Melbourne Ice won the H Newman Ried trophy after finishing first in the regular season standings with 65 points. The Ice also won the Goodall Cup final series after defeating the Newcastle North Stars in the final.

In 1940, a study of 314 women in New Zealand and Australia was done. Most of the women in the study were middle class, conservative, Protestant and white. The study found that 183 participated in sport. The twenty-fourth most popular sport that these women participated in was ice hockey, with one woman having played the sport. The sport was tied with baseball and bowls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Women's Ice Hockey League</span> Premier womens ice hockey league in Australia

The Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) is Australia's top-tier women's ice hockey league. Established in 2005 as Australia's first women's national league, the AWIHL has amateur status and is sanctioned by Ice Hockey Australia. The AWIHL is currently contested by five teams from five Australian states, including South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria. The league champion is awarded the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy and the premier is awarded the Stephanie Boxall Trophy. The most successful team in AWIHL history is Melbourne Ice, who have claimed seven championship titles. The current champion, from 2019–20, is the Sydney Sirens, who claimed their second title.

The 2014 AIHL season was the 15th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 12 April 2014 until 24 August 2014, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 30 and 31 August. The Melbourne Mustangs won both the H Newman Reid Trophy for finishing first in the regular season, and the Goodall Cup after defeating the Melbourne Ice in the final.

The 2015 AIHL season was the 16th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 25 April 2015, until 23 August 2015, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 29 and 30 August. The Newcastle North Stars won both the H Newman Reid Trophy for finishing first in the regular season, and the Goodall Cup after defeating the Melbourne Ice in the final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide Glaciarium</span> Historic ice skating rink in Adelaide, South Australia

The Adelaide Glaciarium, located at 89–91 Hindley Street in the city of Adelaide, South Australia, was the first indoor ice-skating facility built in Australia. It is also the location of the first "hockey on the ice" match in the country, which was an adaptation of roller polo for the ice using ice skates. Contemporary ice hockey was never played at this venue but this ice skating rink, the country's first, provided the "test bed" facility for its successor, the Melbourne Glaciarium, the birthplace of ice hockey in Australia.

The Jim Brown Shield is currently an annually awarded interstate ice hockey championship trophy in Australia for senior men aged 17 years and older with the condition that players of the Australian Ice Hockey League that are 24 years and older must have played less than 6 games to remain eligible. The current trophy is in the form of a shield and is the third trophy to bear the Brown family name. The trophy is named after Scottish born James Archibald Brown. The Jim Brown Shield is competed for in a series of games between state representative teams in what is called the Australian Men's National Ice Hockey Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne Ice (women)</span> Ice hockey team in Melbourne, Victoria

The Melbourne Ice is an Australian amateur ice hockey team from Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 2005, the Ice have been a member of the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) since inception in 2007. The Ice are based at the O'Brien Icehouse, located in the Docklands precinct of Melbourne. The team has won seven Joan McKowen trophies and are five time league premiers.

The Sydney Glaciarium was the third indoor ice skating facility built in Australia and the first indoor ice skating rink built in New South Wales, located in Ultimo, New South Wales.

The 2017 AIHL season was the 18th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 22 April 2017 until 27 August 2017, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 2 and 3 September. The Melbourne Ice won both the H Newman Reid Trophy for finishing first in the regular season, and the Goodall Cup after defeating the CBR Brave in the final.

The 2020 AIHL season was going to be the 21st season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It was originally scheduled to run from 18 April 2020 until 23 August 2020, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 29 August and 30 August 2020. However, on 12 March 2020 the league announced the postponement of the 2020 season to a to be determined date due to COVID-19. Then on 29 July 2020, the AIHL commission's return to play committee announced the official cancellation of the 2020 AIHL season due to July COVID outbreaks on the east coast as well as continued border closures for WA and SA. This marked the first time the Goodall Cup was not awarded since 1993, when the competition was cancelled as a result of financial problems.

References

  1. ↑ "Participants" (PDF). 4177.0 - Participation in Sport and Physical Recreation, Australia, 2009-10. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2010. p. 13. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "History of the Australian Ice Hockey League". Australian Ice Hockey League. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  3. ↑ Brodie, Will (4 September 2011). "Ice hockey shoots, and scores". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "Nine Teams, Two Conferences, One Cup". Australian Ice Hockey League. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  5. ↑ "About the AIHL". Australian Ice Hockey League. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  6. ↑ "About the AWIHL". Australian Women's Ice Hockey League. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  7. 1 2 "About Ice Hockey Australia". Ice Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  8. 1 2 "History of Australian Ice Hockey" (PDF). Ice Hockey Australia. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 "About Australian Hockey". Australia. International Ice Hockey Federation. 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "The History of Australian Ice Hockey" (PDF). Australian Ice Hockey Federation - the official website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "The Cyclorama". State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "Glacerarium Articles - 12 October 1904 page 9". State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "The 'Glaciarium'". The Argus (Melbourne) . Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "The Glaciarium, 16 City Road, South Melbourne". Harold Paynting Collection. State Library of Victoria. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "International Hockey Match at the Glaciarium - America vs. Australia". Punch . 19 June 1906. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "About Australian Ice Hockey Federation (Ice Hockey Australia - IHA)". Pointstreak Completes Agreement with the Australian Ice Hockey Federation. Pointstreak. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  17. ↑ Allen, Trevor (13 April 2011). "Australians head for Cce Hockey Championships". Reportage Online. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "Melbourne Ice win innaugural[sic] Trans-Tasman Champions League". Australian Ice Hockey League. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
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