East Coast Super League

Last updated

East Coast Super League
East Coast Super League Logo.png
Sport Ice hockey
Founded2002
Inaugural season2002
No. of teams6
Country Australia
Most recent
champion(s)		Polyflor Raptors
Most titlesNewcastle North Stars (3)
Reach Rebels (3)
Sydney Sting (3)
Related
competitions		 Australian Ice Hockey League
Official website ECSLhockey.com

The East Coast Super League (ECSL), is an ice hockey league in New South Wales, Australia. The league was formed in 2002 by New South Wales Ice Hockey's amalgamation of the former Junior and Senior A leagues. It is Australia's second highest level of ice hockey, and acts as a bridge between junior leagues and the AIHL. Five of the teams are based in Sydney and one is based in Newcastle.

Contents

History

The East Coast Super League (ECSL) was formed in 2002 by New South Wales Ice Hockey following the amalgamation of the former Junior and Senior A leagues. [1] The league started with four clubs, with the Raptors winning the inaugural title. [2] The 2003 ECSL finals were won by the Sydney Heat and in 2004 the Raptors won their second title. [2] In 2005 the ECSL expanded to six clubs and also marked the first expansion outside of Sydney, with the Australian Ice Hockey League's (AIHL) Newcastle North Stars entering a farm team into the competition. [1] The North Stars went on to win in their debut season and won again in 2007, with the Ice Breakers winning the 2006 ECSL final in between the North Stars two years of titles. [2] After expanding in 2006 the league dropped back down to four teams with two teams leaving the league including the previous ECSL champions the Raptors. [3] The Ice Breakers won their second title in 2008 and in 2009 the Sting won the first ECSL final. [2] The 2009 season also saw the Penrith Raptors enter the league, taking on the name of the previous Raptors club. [4] In 2010 the Central Coast Rhinos entered the league after leaving the AIHL before the start of the 2009 season. [5] They finished the regular season in first place however were knocked out of the playoffs in the semifinal round, with the Penrith Raptors going on to win the 2010 playoffs. [2] [5] The Rhinos and Ice Breakers both left the league at the end of the season and were replaced by the Vipers and Reach Rebels respectively for the 2011 season. [1] [5] [6] The Rebels won the finals in their debut season and in 2012 the North Stars won their third title. [2] In 2013 the Sting won the playoffs, their first since 2009. [2] The Vipers folded at the end of the 2013 season and were replaced by the Blueline Bombers for the start of the 2014 season. [7] The 2014 regular season was won by the Reach Rebels who also went on to win the playoffs, defeating the Sting two games to one. [8] [9] The Rebels claimed back to back regular season titles, finishing the 2015 season in first place with 31 points. [10] The Rebels advanced to the grand final series after defeating the Penrith Raptors in the semifinals and faced off against the Sting who had beat the Newcastle North Stars in their semifinal. [11] The Sting went on to defeat the Rebels in two games, claiming their third Championship title. [12]

In February 2016 it was announced that the Sydney Heat had folded following an instruction from Ice Hockey NSW to the ECSL to reduce the league to five teams for the 2016 season. [13] [14] Some of the Heat's former players were signed by the other clubs in the league including the Blueline Bombers who picked up eight players. [13] The Heat also announced their intention to return to the league in the future. [13] The Sting changed their name to the Sydney Sting for the start of the 2016 season and introduced a new logo and jersey. [15] The 2016 regular season was won by the Rebels who claimed their third title overall. [16] The Rebels advanced to the grand final series after defeating the Blueline Bombers in the semifinals. [17] They faced off against the Sydney Sting who had defeated the North Stars to advance. [17] The Rebels were awarded the cup following the forfeit of the Sting for playing an ineligible player in Game 2 of the series. [18] [19]

Rules & season structure

The ECSL is played under International Ice Hockey Federation rules and incorporates some modifications from Ice Hockey Australia as well as some of its own special rules. [20] Games are played with three twenty minute running time periods with only the last five minutes using a stop clock. [14] Team rosters must have at least 40% of their players aged 25-and-under. Players aged 23 or older are limited to playing five Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) games. [14] Once they have exceeded this limit they are not permitted to return to the ECSL until the following season. [14] There is no cap on the number of AIHL games a player under the age of 23 can play. [14] The minimum age for players to compete in the ECSL is 17. Midget-aged players playing in both the ECSL and in Midget competition must prioritise Midget competition if there is a schedule clash. [14] Full-time rostered players must have competed in a minimum of seven ECSL regular season games to be eligible for the playoffs. [14] Players competing in either the AIHL or a Midget competition must have played a minimum of five games in the ECSL and seven games in their other league to be eligible for the playoffs. [14]

The league runs a 20-game season followed by a playoff series. [20] The semifinals are a two-game series which uses a cumulative aggregate format to determine the winner. The grand final series uses a best of three game format. [20] If after Game 2 in the semifinals or after Game 3 in the grand finals the series is a draw the games will go into continuous overtime. [20]

Teams

TeamCityJoinedNotes
Oxfordcolours.png Stealth Bombers Sydney, New South Wales 2014
Canadacolours.png Sydney Heat Penrith, New South Wales 2002Returned in 2021 after hiatus from 2015-2020
Adelaide colours.svg Newcastle North Stars Newcastle, New South Wales 2005
Townsville Blackhawks colours.png Polyflor RaptorsPenrith, New South Wales2009
Northern Pride colours.png Reach RebelsSydney, New South Wales2011
Wellington colours.svg Sydney StingSydney, New South Wales2002Formally known as the Sting from 2002–2015

Former teams

Season results

The ECSL championship has been won 15 times by seven different clubs. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

Australian 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 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.

Sydney Bears

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.

Canberra Knights

The Canberra Knights were a semi-professional ice hockey team in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The team played its home games at the Phillip Swimming & Ice Skating Centre in Phillip, a suburb of Australia's capital city, Canberra. In February 2014 the team owner announced that operations would fold due to financial costs, lack of local players and poor performance. They were replaced in the league by the CBR Brave. The Knights were only ever premiers once, in 1998, in the now defunct East Coast Super League, and never made the finals since the formation of the AIHL.

Sydney Ice Dogs

The Sydney Ice Dogs is an Australian semi-professional ice hockey team from Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 2002, the Ice Dogs are a member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The Ice Dogs are two time Goodall Cup champions.

The 2007 AIHL season was the eighth season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 14 April 2007 until 26 August 2007, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 1 and 2 September 2007. The Adelaide Avalanche won the V.I.P. Cup after finishing the regular season first in the league standings. The Bears won the Goodall Cup for the second time by defeating the Newcastle North Stars in the final.

The 2008 AIHL season was the ninth season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 19 April 2008 until 24 August 2008, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 30 and 31 August 2008. The Bears won the H Newman Reid Trophy (backdated) after finishing the regular season first in the league standings. The Newcastle North Stars won the Goodall Cup for the fourth time by defeating the Western Sydney Ice Dogs in the final.

The 2009 AIHL season was the tenth season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 25 April 2009 until 23 August 2009, with the AIHL finals following on 29 and 30 August 2009. The Newcastle North Stars won the H Newman Reid Trophy (backdated) after finishing the regular season first in the league standings. Adelaide Adrenaline won the Goodall Cup (backdated) for the first time by defeating the Newcastle North Stars in the final.

Wilson Cup (ice hockey)

The Wilson Cup is an Australian ice hockey trophy first introduced in 2007 and named after John and Carol Wilson. The Cup was awarded to the winner of the New South Wales (NSW) pre-season tournament involving all NSW teams in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) between 2007 and 2016. Since 2017 the Wilson Cup has been awarded to the winner of the regular season four game series between the two Sydney based AIHL teams, the Sydney Bears and Sydney Ice Dogs.

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.

Perth Thunder

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 2012 AIHL season is the 13th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 28 April 2012 until 26 August 2012, with the Goodall Cup finals following on the 1 and 2 September. The Newcastle North Stars won the H Newman Ried Trophy after finishing the regular season with the most points. The Melbourne Ice won the Goodall Cup for the third year in a row after defeating the North Stars in the final.

Hunter Ice Skating Stadium

The Hunter Ice Skating Stadium is an ice sports and public skate centre, opened in 2000 and located in Warners Bay, a suburb of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. The stadium serves as the home ice rink of the Newcastle Northstars who compete in the Australian Ice Hockey League and East Coast Super League.

The 2013 AIHL season was the 14th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 20 April 2013 until 1 September 2013, with the Goodall Cup finals following on the 7 and 8 September. The Sydney Ice Dogs won both the H Newman Ried Trophy for finishing first in the regular season, and the Goodall Cup after defeating the Newcastle North Stars in the final.

CBR Brave

The CBR Brave is a semi-professional ice hockey team based in Canberra, ACT. The team is a member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The team was founded in 2014 to replace the defunct Canberra Knights in the AIHL. Their home venue is the Phillip Ice Skating Centre known as The Brave Cave. The Brave have claimed one Goodall Cup championship and two H Newman Reid Trophy premierships.

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 2016 AIHL season was the 17th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 23 April 2016 until 21 August 2016, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 27 and 28 August. The Melbourne Ice won the H Newman Reid Trophy after finishing the regular season with the most points. The Newcastle North Stars won the Goodall Cup for the second year in a row after defeating the CBR Brave in the final.

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 2019 AIHL season is the 20th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 20 April 2019 until 25 August 2019, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 31 August and 1 September 2019. The CBR Brave won the H Newman Reid Trophy after finishing the regular season with the most points in league history for the second time. The Sydney Bears won the Goodall Cup for the third time by defeating the Perth Thunder in the final.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About the ECSL". East Coast Super League. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "History". East Coast Super League. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "ECSL". New South Wales Ice Hockey. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "About". Penrith Raptors. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Bears v Rhinos - Game 2 Announced". Ice Hockey News Australia. 10 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "ECSL Ice Breakers". Elite Prospects. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "2014 ECSL Season to Start". Ice Hockey News Australia. 15 March 2014. Archived from the original on 15 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "2014 Regular Season Standings". East Coast Super League. Archived from the original on 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Rebels win the 2014 ECSL Finals". Ice Hockey News Australia. 28 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "2015 ECSL season: Round 24". Ice Hockey News Australia. 19 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "2015 ECSL Playoffs: Semifinals". Ice Hockey News Australia. 26 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  12. ↑ "2015 ECSL Playoffs: Grand Final Series". Ice Hockey News Australia. 3 October 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  13. 1 2 3 "ECSL news: 24 February 2016". Ice Hockey News Australia. 24 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Season 2016 Members Handbook and Rulebook" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  15. ↑ "2016 ECSL season: Round 1". Ice Hockey News Australia. 13 March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "2016 ECSL season: Round 26". Ice Hockey News Australia. 11 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  17. 1 2 "2016 ECSL Playoffs: Semifinals". Ice Hockey News Australia. 18 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "2016 ECSL Playoffs: Grand Final Series". Ice Hockey News Australia. 25 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  19. ↑ "Reach Rebels win the 2016 ECSL playoffs". Ice Hockey News Australia. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 4 "By-Laws & Policies". East Coast Super League. Archived from the original on 28 September 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.