Wakatipu Wild

Last updated

Wakatipu Wild
Wakatipu Wild logo (2020).png
City Queenstown, Otago
League New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League
FoundedSeptember 2020(3 years ago) (September 2020)
Operated2020–present
Home arena Queenstown Ice Arena
ColoursYellow, blue, white
   
General manager Flag of New Zealand.svg Rebecca Dobson
Head coachColin McIntosh
CaptainKellye Nelson
Website Wakatipu-wild.com
Franchise history
2020–presentWakatipu Wild
Championships
Premierships1 (2022)
Championships1 (2022)
Hockey current event.svg Current season

The Wakatipu Wild is a New Zealand amateur ice hockey team from Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 2020, the Wild are a member of the New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League (NZWIHL). The Wild are based at Queenstown Ice Arena, located at Queenstown Gardens. Wakatipu are one time NZWIHL champions and premiers.

Contents

History

The Wakatipu Wild was founded in 2020 and applied and joined the New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League (NZWIHL). The Wild was established to bring women of all ages and nationalities together to further the development of woman's ice hockey locally in central Otago and nationally in New Zealand. [1] Wakatipu appointed Rebecca Dobson as their maiden general manager and former Skycity Stampede player Colin McIntosh as head coach. [1] [2] The Wild's first ever game was played on 16 October 2020 against Otago rivals Dunedin Thunder on the road at Dunedin Ice Stadium. Young kiwi forward, Tallulah Bryant, scored the first ever goals for the Wild in the first period against Dunedin. Wakatipu doubled their lead in the second period before the Thunder pulled one goal back in the third. That third period goal proved a simple consolation as the wild won the game 2–1, for their first ever victory. [3] Queenstown finished their first season in the NZWIHL in third place, qualifying for the bronze medal game in the NZWIHL Finals. The Wild won bronze in Finals on 1 November 2020 by defeating the Thunder 4–2. Wakatipu came from behind to claim their first Finals win, with American import and team captain, Kellye Nelson, scoring a hat-trick of goals over the course of the second and third periods. [4]

Half way through the 2021 NZWIHL season, the Wild's second season, the league was cancelled due to the lock-downs implemented by the New Zealand Government during the COVID-19 pandemic. [5] [6] The team had started the season well with two wins from their first three games before the season cancellation. [7]

In 2022, the Wild had a breakout season in their second full NZWIHL season. Rather than tournament style weekends, the league moved to a proper round-robin format that the Wild players enjoyed. [8] Wakatipu almost went the entire season undefeated to finish top of the league standings a secure their first NZWIHL Premiership title. [9] Queenstown followed up this success in the NZWIHL Finals with a big 7–2 victory over the Thunder in the semi-finals before being crowned Champions of New Zealand and winning goal medals with a 2–0 win over Canterbury Inferno in the grand final. [10] [11] [12]

All-time record

Wakatipu Wild all-time record
SeasonRegular seasonFinalsTop points scorer
PWTLOWOLGFGAGDPtsFinishPWLGFGAResultSFBFGFNamePoints
202062–4––818−1063rd11–42Bronze–Won– Flag of the United States.svg Kellye Nelson9
20212021 NZWIHL season was not completed and cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic 1
2022 65–––1337+26161st22–92ChampionWon–Won Flag of the United States.svg Kellye Nelson19
2023––––––––––––––––––––––
Totals127–4014125+16330134
1At the point of the 2021 season cancellation, the Wild had played three games, won twice, lost once, scored 15 goals and conceded eight goals. [7]
ChampionsRunners-upThird place

Championships

Gold medal icon.svgChampions (1): 2022
Silver medal icon.svg Runners-up (0):
Gold medal icon.svgPremiers (1): 2022
Silver medal icon.svg Runner-up (0):

Players

Current roster

Team roster for the 2022 NZWIHL season. [13]

Wakatipu Wild roster - 2022 NZWIHL season
Active RosterCoaching staff
Goaltenders
  • 37 Flag of New Zealand.svg Lilly Forbes
  •  1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Sara Leadbetter
  • 78 Flag of New Zealand.svg Danielle Strayer
  • 25 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jordan Wichman

Defencemen

  • 27 Flag of New Zealand.svg Lucy Boniface
  • 92 Flag of New Zealand.svg Gracie Hellmrich
  • 33 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kimberley Helmersson
  • 32 Flag of New Zealand.svg Caitlin Hollyer
  • 11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alexandra Laframboise (I)
  • 79 Flag of New Zealand.svg Aoife Orr
  • 12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Zanzee Pielak-Jones
  • 74 Flag of New Zealand.svg Phaeora Sims
Forwards
  • 19 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Emma Ahvennie (I)
  • 15 Flag of the United States.svg Amanda Albertson (I)
  • 36 Flag of New Zealand.svg Polly Bennetts
  • 23 Flag of New Zealand.svg Tallulah Bryant
  • 18 Flag of New Zealand.svg Gina Davis
  • 14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Rebecca Dobson
  • 81 Flag of Sweden.svg Lova Holmqvist (I)
  •  8 Flag of New Zealand.svg Inge Kemp
  • 17 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Coco Lund (I)
  • 16 Flag of New Zealand.svg Harriet Miller-Brown
  •  5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ella Mills
  •  2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Gabrielle Mills
  • 22 Flag of the United States.svg Kellye Nelson (I)(C)
  • 10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Kristyn Ouimet (I)
  • 48 Flag of New Zealand.svg Manuella Pedrosa
  • 13 Flag of Finland.svg Minna Ruski-Jones (I)
  • 11 Flag of New Zealand.svg Neve Spooner
  • 24 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jessie Strain
  •  7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Nicole Watts
  •  6 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bobbie Weeks (I)
Head Coach
  • Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Colin McIntosh

Coaches

  • Flag of New Zealand.svg Dave Dubnick
  • Flag of the United States.svg Kellye Nelson


Legend
(C) Captain
(A) Alternate Captain
(I) Import player

Statistics
Average age: 21.3 years
Average height: 167.4 cm
Average weight: 64.1 kg

Last updated on: 25 February 2023
Elite Prospects

Player records

These are the top-five all-time/career player records in franchise history. Current as of 2022 NZWIHL season. [14]

All-time Appearances
#NamePosGP
1 Flag of the United States.svg Kellye NelsonF13
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Gabrielle MillsF13
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Zanzee Pielak-JonesD13
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Caitlin HollyerD13
5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Emma AhvennieF13
All-time Points
#NamePosPts
1 Flag of the United States.svg Kellye NelsonF28
2 Flag of Sweden.svg Lova HolmqvistF16
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Gabrielle MillsF10
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Gina DavisF9
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Zanzee Pielak-JonesD9
All-time Penalties
#NamePosPIM
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Gabrielle MillsF26
2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Emma AhvennieF16
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Tallulah BryantF12
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Gracie HellmrichD8
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Caitlin HollyerD6

Team staff

Current as of 2023 NZWIHL season. [1]

Wild staff
RoleName
Head coach Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Colin McIntosh
Assistant coach Flag of New Zealand.svg Dave Dubnick
Assistant coach Flag of the United States.svg Kellye Nelson
General manager Flag of New Zealand.svg Rebecca Dobson

Leaders

Team captains

The Wild have had one captain in the team's history. [15]

No.NameTerm
1 Flag of the United States.svg Kellye Nelson2020–present

References:

head coaches

The Wild have had one head coach in the team's history. [2] [1]

No.NameTerm
1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Colin McIntosh2020–present

References:

General managers

The Wild have had one general manager (GM) in the team's history. [1]

No.NameTerm
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Rebecca Dobson2020–present

References:

Broadcasting

Current:


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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Wakatipu Wild". New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Wakatipu Wild – Team Staff History". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Game Summary" (PDF). New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation. 16 October 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Game Summary NZWIHL Play-offs Game 13" (PDF). New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation. 1 November 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "NZIHF COVID-19 Announcement". New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation. 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "NZWIHL Round 2 Cancellation". New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation. 10 November 2021. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  7. 1 2 "NZWIHL 2021 season". New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Wakatipu Wild Reflect on 2022 NZWIHL Season". New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League. 24 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "NZWIHL Schedule and Results: Season 2022". New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  10. ↑ Wormald, Lucy (29 September 2022). "Wild makes history". Mountain Scene. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  11. ↑ Meikle, Hayden (26 September 2022). "Wild wins league trophy for first time". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 12 October 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  12. ↑ "2022 Season Recap". New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League. 14 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  13. ↑ "Queenstown 2021–2022 Roster". eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  14. ↑ "Wakatipu Wild – All Time Regular Season Player Stats". eliteprospects.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "Wakatipu Wild – Team Captaincy History". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  16. ↑ "Live Stream". New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  17. ↑ "New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League Live". New Zealand Women's Ice Hockey League. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
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