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.
NRL Western Australia is responsible for administering the game of rugby league football in the state of Western Australia.
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 Western Australian Ice Hockey Association, currently trading as Ice Hockey Western Australia is the governing body of ice hockey in Western Australia. Ice Hockey WA is a branch of Ice Hockey Australia.
The Perth Thunder is an Australian semi-professional ice hockey team from Perth, Western Australia. Founded in 2010, the Thunder have been a member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) since 2012. The Thunder are based at the Perth Ice Arena, located in the suburb of Malaga. Perth are one time Goodall Cup runners-up and two time H Newman Reid Trophy runners-up.
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 Australian Junior Ice Hockey League (AJIHL) is an elite amateur national ice hockey league in Australia, open to players 20 years of age or younger.
The 2012–13 AJIHL season is the first season of the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. It ran from 20 October 2012 until 17 February 2013, with the finals running from 3 March 2013 until 10 March 2013. The AJIHL is the highest Australian national junior ice hockey competition.
The Melbourne Whalers are an Australian junior ice hockey team based in Melbourne, Victoria playing in the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. They represent one of the two junior ice hockey teams from Victoria currently playing in the AJIHL, which is the most elite level for ice hockey at a national level for ages between 16–20 years old.
The Melbourne Glaciers are an Australian junior ice hockey team based in Melbourne, Victoria playing in the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. They represent one of the two junior ice hockey teams from Victoria currently playing in the AJIHL, which is the most elite level for ice hockey at a national level for ages between 16 and 20 years old.
The Sydney Sabres are an Australian junior ice hockey team based in Sydney playing in the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. They represent one of the two junior ice hockey teams from New South Wales currently playing in the AJIHL, which is the most elite level for ice hockey at a national level for ages between 16–20 years old.
The Sydney Wolf Pack are an Australian junior ice hockey team based in Sydney playing in the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. They represent one of the two junior ice hockey teams from New South Wales currently playing in the AJIHL, which is the most elite level for ice hockey at a national level for ages between 16–20 years old.
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.
The Perth Sharks are an Australian junior ice hockey team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. They represent one of the two junior ice hockey teams from Western Australia currently playing in the AJIHL, which is the most elite level for ice hockey at a national level for ages between 16–20 years old.
The 2013–14 AJIHL season is the second season of the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. It ran from 5 October 2013 until 1 March 2014, with the finals running from 8 March 2014 until 9 March 2014. The AJIHL is the highest Australian national junior ice hockey competition.
The 2014–15 AJIHL season is the third season of the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. It ran from 4 October 2014 until 21 February 2015, with the finals running from 28 February 2015 until 1 March 2015. The AJIHL is the highest Australian national junior ice hockey competition.
The Brisbane Blitz are an Australian junior ice hockey team based in Brisbane, Queensland playing in the second tier of the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League referred to as AJIHL Tier 2. They represent the first junior ice hockey team from Queensland as part of the proposed 2nd expansion of the AJIHL, which is the most elite level for ice hockey at a national level for ages between 16–20 years old.
The Adelaide Generals are an Australian junior ice hockey team based in Adelaide, South Australia playing in the second tier of the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League referred to as AJIHL Tier 2. They represent the first junior ice hockey team from South Australia as part of the proposed 2nd expansion of the AJIHL, which is the most elite level for ice hockey at a national level for ages between 16–20 years old.
The 2016–17 AJIHL season is the fifth season of the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. It will run from 17 December 2016 until a yet to be determined date in 2017, with the formal structure of the league having been changed to incorporate 3 additional teams, each from a different state or territory. The AJIHL is the highest Australian national junior ice hockey competition.
Julia Pulner
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