Latest News

NWT – Momentum gaining for first training camp

14 January 2016

Scores vs Mexico

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM

MEDIA RELEASE

Momentum gaining for first training camp

CANBERRA—Positive feedback from across Australian women’s ice hockey to news of the appointment of new head coach Lindsay McAlpine is tipped to be the momentum needed to energise players ahead of their first training camp in December, in readiness for the 2016 world championships.

Ice Hockey Australia women’s program director Rocky Padjen says he’s boosted by the spirit evident in women’s ice hockey as the team prepares its next campaign.

“The last two world championships have been re-building years for the Australian women,” said Padjen, paying tribute to former coaches Lee Brown and John Botterill. “The effort they put into developing the team has given 14 players international exposure for the first time, and that’s a big positive for us going forward.

“The excitement coming out of appointing a new coach has to be tempered with the reality that as a minor sport in Australia, our players will always face incredible challenges pursuing their dreams – especially financial challenges.

“Just to play in the national league costs players an average $2500 per season, and a world championship campaign doesn’t offer much change from $5000. That’s a lot of money, but with the dedication and support provided by the coaching and management staff in recent years, there have been no complaints: it has been well worth it, according to the players,” he said.

The national women’s ice hockey team has had only three head coaches in its 15 year existence.

“Lee was forced to step down for health and work reasons, and we’re all very appreciative of his sustained input to the program…first as assistant coach in 2012 and 2013, and then head coach in 2014 and 2015,” said Padjen. “He was a winning coach with the Melbourne Ice in the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League, and has been responsible for the women’s program’s growth in many ways.

“Both Lee and John Botterill (who has a long history coaching Australian national teams in youth and junior levels, as well as women’s and men’s teams in Adelaide) have put us in a good position for this next step. So too have Donna Rae-Szalinski and strength and conditioning guru James McConnell. Donna shared with the players, ways to deal with the mental and emotional challenges of international competition based on her coaching of women’s cycling in Australia at the highest level. James achieved the best ever training results from a national women’s ice hockey team.

“Our new coach Lindsay McAlpine will also assist local women coaches to develop and take over the reins in future. With the experience and skills of team manager Emma Poynton, Lindsay can make a great contribution to the National Women’s Team and Aussie hockey in general” Padjen added.

Interviews etc: Rocky Padjen M: 0418 200 761

Lindsay McAlpine M: (+1) 780 719 8233/McAlpineL@MacEwan.ca

 

2016 National Junior Team

17 January 2016

National Junior Team 2015

The 2016 National Junior Team will compete at the IIHF Division II Group B World Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia from 17 – 23 January 2016.

Participants: Romania, Spain, Australia, Belgium, Serbia, China The team roster is:

 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
Charlie Smart – WA
Kieren Webster – WA

Team Officers are:
Martin Jones (VIC) – Chef de Mission
TBC – Team Manager
Markus Frankenberger (WA) – Head Coach
Josef Rezek (SA) – Assistant Coach
Ben Salcinovic (NSW) – Team Physio
John Lavery (NSW) – Equipment Officer

The team will be departing Australia in January (8th – TBC) for their training camp in Litomerice, Czech Republic.

Markus Frankenberger

Overseas coach recruited to lead national team

14 January 2016

Huddle V Slovenia

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY TEAM

MEDIA RELEASE

Overseas coach recruited to lead national team

CANBERRA— 

Ice Hockey Australia has decided to search abroad for its newest National Women’s Team recruit – head coach Lindsay McAlpine from Alberta, Canada.

“We’re very keen to move up in the world rankings,” says  national women’s director and former head coach Rocky Padjen  “and hiring someone like Lindsay McAlpine will give us a much better chance of making this a reality.

“Lindsay is a highly qualified coach, a former Canadian national women’s league player in Edmonton, and an all-star university player. She currently coaches the MacEwan University Griffins women’s hockey team, which she will continue to do.

“She is also the founder of High Tempo Hockey, an all-female hockey school, so she brings so much experience and so many strengths to Australia.”

This will be McAlpine’s first foray into international competition, and she says she’s inspired by the opportunity.

“I am excited about working in an elite team environment where I can bring energy, a strong work ethic, and tactics from my lengthy playing and coaching background,” Ms McAlpine said. “My experience with elite women’s ice hockey programs will serve Australia well around planning, implementation, and competitiveness.”

Currently Australia is in Division IIB after finishing 5th in the 2015 world championships. The women’s ice hockey program was formally launched in 2000 when Australia entered its first world championship qualifier. In 2007, an Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League was established to help grow the sport.

Australia’s new coach will join the team for its first training camp preparing for the 2016 world championships in December, before final preparations in the Czech Republic in early February. Dates for the 2016 world championships in Ankara are February 29 – March 6, with Australia competing against New Zealand, Mexico, Spain, Iceland and Turkey. 

Lindsay McAlpine – biography

Lindsay brings a wealth of hockey experience to the Australian national women’s ice hockey team program.

  • She is the founder of High Tempo Hockey, an all-female ice hockey school and conditioning camp, as well as a former elite level player playing for the Edmonton Chimos.
  • The former University of Alberta Panda’s standout is also a five-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) national champion and was named the CIS National Player of the Year.
  • Following her academic career, she worked as a teacher at Vimy Ridge Academy in the Edmonton School Board where she was also a part of the school’s hockey development academy, The Hockey Program. 
  • Combining academics and athletics, Lindsay was an Academic All-Canadian while completing her Bachelor of Physical Education and Education degrees at the University of Alberta.
  • The Edmonton native has also completed her Masters of Arts in Sport Sociology with a concentration on varsity women’s ice hockey. 
  • She has been head coach of the MacEwan University Griffins women’s ice hockey team since 2012.