The Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy is the annually awarded championship trophy, of the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL), to the winner of the AWIHL finals. Originally donated in 1995, the trophy is named after Joan McKowen who died September 15, 1992 [1] and her husband Maxwell McKowen died in 2010.[2]
This trophy originated from a women’s ice hockey championship tournament that started in 1994, which was a competition that was hosted in Queensland between a New South Wales team and a Queensland team competing. This invitational Women’s tournament was just the beginning and saw the New South Wales team winning the championship. From this competition, the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy began, first being awarded in February 1995. This event was held annually and served as the Australian senior women’s national ice hockey championship.
2009 was the last year the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy was held as an interstate round robin tournament, named Nationals Joan McKowen Tournament JMK 2009. The 4 teams that were involved in the 3 game tournament represented New South Wales, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland. New South Wales won all 3 games in the national tournament.
After the death of Max McKowen in 2010, the decision was made to continue awarding the trophy to honor their memory by giving the trophy to the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) to be awarded to the champions of the finals competition. The first AWIHL team to win the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy was the Melbourne Ice. The trophy continues to be the trophy awarded to the AWIHL finals champions.
AWIHL Championship Teams
2017-18 Melbourne Ice – Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy (Minor Premier West Lakes Trophy – Sirens)
2016-17 Sydney Sirens – Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy (Minor Premier West Lakes Trophy)
2015-16 Melbourne Ice – Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy (Minor Premier West Lakes Trophy)
2014-15 Melbourne Ice – Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
2013-14 Melbourne Ice – Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
2012-13 Melbourne Ice – Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
2011-12 Adelaide Adrenaline – Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
2010-11 Melbourne Ice – Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
2009-10 Adelaide Assassins – West Lakes Trophy
2008-9 Adelaide Assassins – West Lakes Trophy
2007-8 Adelaide Assassins – West Lakes Trophy
2006-7 Adelaide Assassins – Showcase Series
2005-6 Adelaide Assassins – Showcase Series
Past Winners of the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
2010 New South Wales
2009 New South Wales
2008 New South Wales
2007 New South Wales
2006 South Australia
2005 South Australia
2004 Australian Capital Territory
2003 South Australia
2002 New South Wales
2001 Victoria
2000 New South Wales
1999 Victoria
1998 New South Wales
1997 New South Wales
1996 New South Wales
1995 New South Wales
1994 New South Wales