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The National Junior Team gear up for Serbia

26 December 2015

Kubara and Marino Junior team - better size

After a Bronze Medal effort at the last world championship in Spain, the National Junior Team are gearing up for another strong campaign.

The Div. II Group B World Championships take place January 17th-23rd in Novi Sad as the NJT faces off with Romania, Spain, Belgium, Serbia and China.

The team has managed to retain half of their line up including two top point scorers Casey Kubara (3G,2A) and Sam Hodic (3G,4A).

Even with 50% of players returning it is still a young squad heading overseas. “This year’s squad is very young, so they will (ideally) stay together for a few years to come, that will allow us to introduce a team philosophy and standard which won’t change too much each year” explains head coach Markus Frankenberger.

Frankenberger is quite confident in the group and its preparation so far “preparation is going well, players are well aware that playing for Australia is a privilege and we won’t have room or time for “passengers”.

One thing that hasn’t changed in preparation is the Team staff who re-unite for their fourth tournament “without this amazing group of people, the tour would not be the same”.

Whilst the on-ice team has the capability to stick together for years to come, the coach does stress that each player is accountable and it is up to them to be ready to play as they try to build something special.

Additions:
Liam Manwarring, Alex Tetreault, Ellesse Carini, Lachlan Fahmy, Josh Hansen, Jake Knott, Bayley Kubara, Mitch Henning, Harri Jaunozols, Lynden Lodge, Stephen McCann

Roster:
Alex Tetreault – ACT
Ellesse Carini – NSW
Lachlan Fahmy – NSW
Josh Hansen – NSW
Jake Knott – NSW
Bayley Kubara – NSW
Casey Kubara – NSW
Liam Manwarring – NSW
James Marino – NSW
Daniel Pataky – NSW
Mitch Henning – QLD
Zach Boyle – SA
Remy McGuiness – SA
Sam Hodic – VIC
Harri Jaunozols – VIC
Lynden Lodge – WA
David Mahood – WA
Alastair Punler – WA
Kieren Webster – WA
Stephen McCann – WA

Departures:
Saxon Air, Anthony Barnes, Jamie Campbell, Kayne Fedor, Nicholas Novysedlak, Yucca Reinecke, Tomas Sak, Luke Shafren, Jordan Williams, Charlie Smart.

National Women’s U/18 Team to debut in World Championship

17 January 2016

National Under 18 womens team
After three years of investment into participating in numerous training camps and exhibition games, hosted both domestically and internationally; Japan, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, the Australian Women’s Under 18 Team (NWU18T) will finally get their opportunity to compete officially on the world stage, in Austria starting 7 January 2016.

NWU18T has been scheduled to compete against Poland, Italy and Great Britain in Group B of the Qualification tournament. Also competing at the tournament in Group A is Kazakhstan, Romania, China and Austria. After the round robin, based on ranking, there will a cross-over round between the respective groups to determine who is promoted to Division 1 and confirm rankings for rest of competing teams.

“Austria pose to be biggest threat as they were relegated in 2015. We also anticipate Poland and Italy to be strong contenders as they have many players returning again this year as does China” informs head coach Tamra Jones who has been a part of the program from day one.

Women’s Ice Hockey continues to grow around the world and Australia is no exception. “The U18 Program has evolved into having over 80 plus girls registered now, who have attended previous camps/tours. With 10 players who have since graduated into the senior aged program” adds Jones.

The Women’s U18 tournament was introduced back in 2008, of which saw 8 teams compete and now has expanded to see 22 countries participating in 2016, with Australia amongst them.

The future of the AWIHL also looks bright with over 50% of the Under 18 players honing their skills during the summer. But the program isn’t just a big coup for the AWIHL, it also gives the National Women’s Team Program an edge, explains IHA Women’s Director Rocky Padjen “The successful national teams in women’s hockey have strong U18 programs. Hungary is a good example of this and their National Women’s Team has risen steadily in the world ranking as a result”.

Whilst no official plans have been announced to expand to a division 2, the addition of 8 teams and counting in qualification suggests it isn’t far away.

We wish the inaugural NWU18T listed below the best of luck. You can follow the team at the IIHF website here: IIHF Website Championship Link as well as the IHA and NWU18T Facebook pages.

Lara Azzopardi NSW
Tianna Wiesler-Elaya NSW
Cleo Mayer NSW
Isobel Cantrill VIC
Emily Davis-Tope VIC
Ebony Rama VIC
Natalie Ayris SA
Kate Tihema SA
Keesha Atkins WA
Courtney Poole WA
Sara Sammons WA
Taylor Cookson WA
Celestine Adams WA
Isla Malcolm WA
Emily Sweeney WA
Charlotte Kelly QLD
Abi Brown QLD
Eiland Kenyon ACT
Christiarn Hall NSW
Sophie Gillen WA
Olivia Fruzynski WA

Head Coach – Tamra Jones (SA)
Assistant Coach – Johanna Frankenberger (WA)
Manager – Teresa Moriarty (QLD)
Chef de Mission – Mark Stephenson (NSW)
Physiotherapist – Kelly Costa (QLD)
Equipment Manager – Jim Jones (Canada)

AJIHL RD 7 WRAP UP: On the Road Again

5 January 2016

Sharks v Whalers

This Article proudly brought to you by: Skaters Network.

After being on the road the week before the Perth Sharks and Pelicans got their chance to take on the Glaciers and Whalers on home turf. The Glaciers were without league leading points scorer Caleb Butler and showed off the depth of their team with a 3-2 win over the Pelicans and a 4-1 win over the Sharks. The Glaciers built an early lead up 2-0 at the halfway mark of the game courtesy of Corey Stringer and Darcy Flanagan. David Mahood broke the goose egg with thirty seconds left in the 2nd period to give his team a boost going into the third. Jonathon Spalding tied the game two minutes in and it appeared the Glaciers streak may be in jeopardy. But that would last only 23 seconds when Glaciers Tim Vanderwolf responded.

The Sharks and Whalers traded back to back goals for three periods in a 4-2 win for the Sharks. Oscar Zhu netting the first goal and his first AJIHL goal for the season. Veterans Tomek Sak and Alistair Punler teamed for the Sharks second five minutes later. Byron Tschuma and Sam Stewart tied the game up in the second period for the Whalers until the Sharks piled on 15 shots in third period with Sean McLean netting the winner and the reliable Ben Stolze putting home the fourth to cement the win.

On Sunday the Perth Pelicans defeated the Melbourne Whalers 5-1 off the back a David Mahood hat-trick. The Pelicans led 2-0 after the first period thanks to Spalding and Mahood. Mahood registered another two goals until finally Byron Tschuma got the Whalers on the board. The Whalers out shot the Pelicans 13 to 12 in the final period but McCann was solid in net and shut the door.

The Melbourne Glaciers and Perth Sharks were up next. The Glaciers held a 1-0 lead for the most of a chippy game. The Sharks couldn’t capitalise on four power play opportunities in the second of which the Glaciers converted into a third period surge scoring another three unanswered goals. Oscar Zhu potted a late goal with less than two minutes remaining, marking his second in two games and spoiling a shutout for Jack Hayes. The 4-1 result capping off a successful road trip for the Glaciers.

Over in the east the Sydney Wolf Pack stay hot on the Glaciers tails with a 4-3 win over the Sabres. Patrick Nadin walked away with three points (1G,2A) establishing a 1-0 lead for his team in the first. Kleipas tied it up momentarily in the second before Dylan Lavery and Nick Air extended the lead 3-1. Ellesse Carini halved the lead with a great individual effort and backed it up with a nice play to Liam Manwarring leveling the scores 3-3 with less than five minutes to go. A late penalty to Sabres Mohak Issar tilted the game back in the Wolf Packs favour and veteran Luke Zvonicek played hero with the game winning goal on the power play.

The Whalers and Glaciers play one more game next Saturday December 19th 1:15pm at O’Brien Group Arena before the Xmas Break.

AJIHL RD 6 WRAP UP: Perth hits the road with mixed results

13 December 2015

cam smith sabres solo
This Article proudly brought to you by: Skaters Network

This weekend Perth were on the road. The Sharks going south to Melbourne whilst the Pelicans took on Sydney.

The Pelicans had the Sabres first up on the Saturday found themselves down 2-0 at the halfway point. Pelicans Stuart Raine and David Mahood got their team back in the game with two quick goals in less than a minute. Josh Kleipas buried unassisted to close out the second period 3-2. The Sabres capitalised on a powerplay at the start of the third period thanks to the efforts of Yole, Manwarring and Hanson with what turned out to be the game winning goal. Saxon Air and Daniel Pataky adding further damage to a 6-3 scoreline. The win brings the Sabres back up to the 500 mark for the season.

Over in Melbourne the Sharks managed a 5-1 win over the Whalers. Bruno Stolze picking up where he left off the previous weekend notching the first goal. Whalers Byron Tschuma responding later on in the second period. Stolze broke the deadlock with 23 seconds going into the second intermission. Kevin Mateiu led the charge in the third period netting two goals whilst Alistair Punler picking up a goal as well. The Sharks penalty kill had another busy yet successful night turning away 6 power play attempts.

Sunday the Pelicans were hungry for redemption in the 2014/15 Grand final rematch racing out to a 2-1 lead in the first period until the Wolfpack scored three unanswered goals thanks to Bayley Kubara(1G)and Carter Lawrence(2G). David Mahood and Jonathon Spalding tied both scored to tie up the game in the third. The Pelicans had the momentum and were looking dangerous until Sydney forward Carter Lawrence capped off a hat-trick with the game winner.

The Sharks were looking to make it two wins against a hot Melbourne Glaciers but Caleb Butler had other plans scoring the first of the game. The Glaciers pulled ahead 2-0 in the second despite being outshot by the Perth Sharks. The Sharks were finally rewarded halfway through the third as Tomek Sak pulled his team within one, but that is as close as they would get as Butler buried the insurance goal ending the game 3-1.

AWIHL RD 5 Wrap Up: Adrenaline crack Ice. Sirens streaking

16 October 2017

Sirens vs Goannas
This Article proudly brought to you by: Skaters Network

The Adelaide Adrenaline broke their losing streak Saturday night against the Melbourne Ice with a 5-1 effort at home. Melbourne managed to split the road trip replying 5-3 on the Sunday.

It was a goal tenders game until late in the second period when the Adrenaline struck twice. Beth Kavanagh extended the lead 3-0 until finally Melbourne Ice blue liner Cien Pereira scored her first of the year. That would be as close as the Ice would come as Adelaide capitalised on the powerplay and adding another tally before the final buzzer.

Melbourne got their groove back Sunday with Emily Davis opening the account 1-0 in the first period. Adelaide tied it up at the start of the second before Melbourne Ice Carly Rolph pushed her team ahead by one again. After missing in action the weekend before Alivia Del Basso was back to her best scoring top shelf. Del Basso backed it up yet again with what would be the game winning goal. Rolph making it 5-2 before Adelaide scored short handed to finish the game with a respectable 5-3.

Over in Sydney the Goannas hit the board first thanks to Emma Gray. Sirens Kath McOnie scored a pair to first tie it up before the intermission and then set a 2-1 lead at the beginning of the second. Sydney forged ahead again until Goannas Kelly Costa narrowed the lead 3-2.

A scoring frenzy ensued in the remaining five minutes of the second period starting with Amelia Matheson for the Sirens. Goanna’s Samain-Venning tightened the scores back up until Sharna Godfrey hammered home the game winner. Brisbane staged a late comeback with five minutes to go in the third led by Georgia Giblin but Sydney managed to escape with the points and a 5-4 win.

On Sunday the Sirens were back at it in a 5-2 victory showing off their depth with five different scorers (Sterenko, Godfrey, Korhonen, Bow and Rulli). Despite scoring twice in the second period the Goanna’s couldn’t seem to recover from an early 3-0 deficit in the first. Captain Veronica Watson and Georgia Giblin scoring for the Goanna’s.