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AJIHL RD 10 WRAP UP: SABRES CLIMB AS BLITZ EARN WILD CARD

14 February 2016

Carini and Nadin

This Article proudly brought to you by: Skaters Network.

Round 10 was full of AJIHL action all across the country. In Canberra the first ever AJIHL Tier 2 tournament was held featuring the Brisbane Blitz, Adelaide Generals, and Canberra Junior Brave. Brisbane managed to go undefeated through the tournament defeating the Brave 5-1, Generals 4-2 before beating the Generals in the final 3-2 to book their wild card spot at the AJIHL Finals Weekend February 27/28 at the Penrith Ice Palace. The Blitz were led by Anthony Santilli and Henri Mousset who both picked up two points each in the final.

Gavin Birchler led the Glaciers over the Whalers 6-0 contributing a hat-trick. His third goal coming off an impressive shorthanded effort.

Whilst the Glaciers and Whalers followed the same storyline, the Sabres have continued to build up their season. Their timing couldn’t be any better as they get closer to the playoffs. Liam Manwarring was instrumental on Saturday night (Jan 30th) as he notched two goals and an assist in the 4-2 win over the Wolf Pack. Cian O’Reilly and Cameron Smith got their team rolling as the Sabres raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Manwarring added an unassisted tally early in the first which would turn out to be the game winning goal. Charlie Frazer and Harrison Good tried to get their team back in the hunt closing the gap by one until Manwarring buried the insurance marker early in the third.

Over in Perth the Pelicans managed to hold on for a 4-3 shootout win over the Sharks. The Pelicans blew a 2-0 lead set up by Jonathon Spalding and Joshua Santana. Tomek Sak and the Stolze brothers teamed up to halve the lead before Spalding added his second of the game replenishing the Pelicans two goal lead. Knapman and Sak managed to score the only goals of the third period to tie the game and force a shootout. Unfortunately they couldn’t finish the job as Pelicans Lachlan Dwyer put home the third shoot out attempt to win the game.

On Sunday back in Sydney the Sabres and Wolf Pack battled out another tough game. Aiden Sillato grabbing two points in a 2-1 win for the Sabres. Ellesse Carini got the first goal of the game assisted by Sillato. Bayley Kubara and Patrick Nadin combined to tie the game but Sillato was on fire putting home the game winner in the second period.

AWIHL Finals Wrap Up: Melbourne Ice claim 2016 Finals

16 October 2017

AWIHL Finals 2016

This Article proudly brought to you by: Skaters Network.

The Melbourne Ice have won their fourth straight AWIHL Championship after claiming the 2016 title on the back of a 7-6 shootout win against the Sydney Sirens at the O’Brien Group Arena on Sunday night. However, great crowds and fascinating games made it a weekend to remember, capped off by the epic Grand Final.

With the Ice and Sirens the strongest two teams all season, the pair played off in Semi-Final 1 with the Sydneysiders stunning the minor premiers 8-2 to book their place in the season decider. It was an impressive performance from the Sirens with Stephanie Cochrane and the competition’s leading scorer Sharna Godfrey claiming hat-tricks, while the consolation goals for the Ice were scored late in the game.

The second Semi-Final was another intriguing result with the Brisbane Goannas, who had previously only won two games all season including only one in regular time, shutting out and eliminating the third-placed Adelaide Adrenaline from Gold medal contention with a 3-0 win. The win propelled the Goannas into Semi-Final 3 early on Sunday morning where they took on the Ice.

While the 8am start may have been early, it set the stage for a high scoring day with the Ice claiming the game 7-4 over a spirited Goannas. Leading 5-1 at the end of the second period and 7-2, the Goannas push hard until the end and fought back but the minor premiers were just too strong.

For the Goannas, it was a tough loss to take, as they then had to back up against the Adelaide Adrenaline in the Bronze medal match. The two games on one day proven too much for the tenacious Queenslanders with the Adrenaline reversing the result from the second Semi-Final, winning 5-2 to take out third place.

With the minor placings determined, the Sirens and Ice turned on an absolute classic in front a 600+ strong crowd. The sides turned it on early, going to the first break at 4-2 to the Ice. By the end of the second, it had narrowed again to 5-4. The Sirens started well in the third, with Kath McOnie scoring the equaliser, before the leagues’ leading scorer Sharna Godfrey added a powerplay goal to complete her second hat-trick in as many finals games and give the Sirens the lead for the first time in the final. But with 10 minutes to go, the Ice weren’t going to die wondering, evening the score at 6-all with just under five minutes remaining through Rylie Padjen. Unable to break the deadlock in regular time and through five minutes of overtime, the 2016 Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy would come down to a shootout. Although Sharna Godfrey scored for the Sirens, goals to Kristelle Vanderwolf and Georgia Carson allowed the Ice to claim their fourth straight AWIHL Championship.

Despite the loss, it was a big night for the Sirens with the team winning four of the five season awards including:
Highest Pointscorer: Sharna Godfrey (Sydney Sirens)
Best Forward: Sharna Godfrey (Sydney Sirens)
Best Defence: Amelia Matheson (Sydney Sirens)
Best Goalie: Michelle Coonan (Sydney Sirens)
Best Rookie: Emily Davis-Tope (Melbourne Ice)

The AIHL All Star Weekend Enters it’s Second Year

13 February 2016

AllStar Weekend

Back for a second year, the 2016 Australian Ice Hockey League All-Star Weekend presented by APA Group will showcase the talent and personalities of the best AIHL players in a series of skills competitions and an All-Star hockey game.

Date and Times
Saturday, June 11th from 5-8pm: AIHL All-Star Skills Competition
Sunday, June 12th from 2-4pm: AIHL All-Star Game

Location
Penrith Ice Palace
7 Pattys Place
Jamisontown, NSW 2750
[Map & Directions]

Tickets
Tickets are available now at Trybooking.com

Early Bird Special
Save 10% on all tickets purchased before March 1, 2016. Get in quick.

Earlybird Special (before March 1, 2016)
Adult Weekend Pass $40.50
Child Weekend Pass $30.37
Adult Single Day $22.50
Child Single Day $16.87

After March 1, 2016
Adult Weekend Pass $45.00
Child Weekend Pass $33.75
Adult Single Day $25.00
Child Single Day $18.75

All-Star Skills Competition
Prolific scorer, Matt Armstrong, and Sydney Bears legend, Mike Schlamp will captain the teams in 2016. Each of the 34 All-Stars will compete in at least one of the six contests:
– APA Group Breakaway Challenge
– Air Canada Fastest Skater
– Elimination Shootout
– Skaters Network Hardest Shot
– Shooting Accuracy
– Rifle Media Stickhandling Competition
– A comprehensive overview of each contest is available here.

We will broadcast a 90-minute episode on Fox Sports comprised of highlights from the skills competitions and All-Star Game.

All-Star Game
2016 AIHL-All Star Game presented by APA Group featuring the best hockey players in Australia. Players are competing for $25 000 in prizes. Expect fast, fierce, full on action!

Players and Teams
Players will be confirmed and teams will be selected by the captains after the 2016 AIHL season starts. Check back soon for complete rosters.

Corporate Entertainment and Advertising Opportunities
Corporate packages are available; premium seating, catering (canapés, drinks, alcohol), souvenirs, and dasher board advertisements. For more information, please send an e-mail to contact@theaihl.com.

We have advertising and promotional opportunities to entertain clients, generate awareness, extend marketing reach, refer web traffic, and convert sales. For more information, please send an e-mail to contact@theaihl.com.

Travel Planning
Visit Penrith is your complete resource for planning a trip trip to the 2016 AIHL All-Star Weekend presented by APA Group and comprehensive guide to Penrith: What’s On, What To Do, Where To Stay, Media, and more!

National Womens Team Announced

3 February 2016

NWT at ceremony cover photo

The National Womens Team will be competing at the Division 2 Group B World Championships in Spain, starting February 29th.

After finishing in fifth place in a tight group last year (two points behind third place Spain) the Australian’s will be looking to challenge for a medal. The team will get a boost up front with the addition of Sharna Godfrey and Alivia Del Basso, two of the top five AWIHL point scorers this season. They will assist veterans and fellow top five point scorers Kath McOnie and Shona Powell in leading the attack.

The team also sees the return of many veterans and solid goaltending in Michelle Coonan (90.52% SVS on 116 shots). They will be led by overseas coach Lindsay McAlpine who is keen to get to camp and prepare for the tournament ”

Alivia Del Basso
Christine Cockerell
Michelle Coonan
Kelly Costa
Sharnita Crompton
Sharna Godfrey
Remi Harvey
Sari Lehmann
Georgia Moore
Rylie Padjen
Lucy Parrington
Courtney Poole
Madison Poole
Shona Powell
Kate Tihema
Claudia Tom
Tess Reynolds
Kristelle Vanderwolf
Steph Newmark
Kath McOnie

AWIHL RD 7 WRAP UP: WAS IT A SEMI FINAL PREVIEW…

16 October 2017

Powell

This Article proudly brought to you by: Skaters Network.

The final round took place last weekend (Jan 23rd/Jan 24th). The Sirens split the weekend with the Ice in Sydney, whilst Adelaide cemented third place with two wins at home against the Goannas. It is now onto finals next weekend February 6th/7th at the O’Brien Group Arena

After 7 rounds Melbourne (1st) will take on Sydney Sirens (2nd) in Semi Final #1. These two met last weekend and the results have left everyone guessing as to who is the favourite come Saturday. The Sirens started the weekend with a 7-1 win over the defending champions. With the scores locked 1-1 after the first period, Sirens veterans Sharna Godfrey and Kath McOnie took fire contributing on the next three goals in the second period. Their play was followed by Stephanie Cochrane who managed a hat-trick on the teams 4th, 5th and final goal. Captain Mel Matheson chipped in two assists on the night.

Melbourne Ice however proved why they are defending champions, responding with a 3-2 lead at the end of the first period on the Sunday. Alivia Del Basso scored first, before the two teams began exchanging goals. Carly Rolph buried an insurance marker at the beginning of the second giving her team a 4-2 buffer. Sirens Amelia Matheson led her side by example less than a minute later. The Sirens went onto score two more unanswered goals and lead the second period 5-4. Del Basso was active again assisting Nicola Jones to tie the scores at the start of the third period. Sharna Godfrey showed why she is the league leader in goals (20) and points (36) this season as she collected yet another hat-trick (her third of the season) to put the Sirens back in front. Melbourne put on the pressure and the Sirens couldn’t hold the lead with Shona Powell tying it up with five remaining. Rylie Padjen sealed the deal for the Ice with two minutes winning back some momentum heading into the finals weekend.

Semi Final #2 will feature Adelaide Adrenaline (3rd) vs Brisbane Goannas (4th). Adelaide may have won both games last weekend in convincing fashion but don’t rule out the determined Goannas. The Goannas led the Adrenaline 2-1 in Saturdays game with Rosanna Routledge and Georgia Giblin combining on both Goannas goals. But Adelaide responded with a duo of their own in Kirsty Venus and Beth Kavanagh tieing things up in the second before scoring another three unanswered goals to put the game out of reach at 5-2. Dianna Glass popped home the final goal to make it 6-2.

On Sunday Beth Kavanagh with the help of her team mates notched a hat-trick in a solid 3-0 performance. The hat-trick wasn’t enough to catch Sharna Godfrey in the points race coming a close second with 29 points. Adelaide will be keen to take this momentum into next Saturday against the Goannas. The Goannas will be looking for an upset which they are capable in providing. Both teams featuring dangerous players meaning no team is safe this weekend and we should be in for a great finals series!

Check the AWIHL, IHA or teams facebook pages for livestream information and score updates!