Opening night in Newcastle April 26th 09. Newcastle North Stars came back from 3-0 down to beat the Sydney Ice Dogs 5-3. Photo by Mark Bradford
For many Australians, it would seem that ice hockey has just crawled out from under a rock. But after 101 years of being played in Australia, the sport would beg to differ.
The technical marvels of indoor ice rinks in Australia attracted many thrill-seekers in the few years prior to the Great War, and their legacy lives on today in Australia’s elite level of the sport, the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL).
By 1911, Australian ice hockey players were using modern Canadian rules and equipment, and the sport was on its way to the nadir of the 1960 Winter Olympics in California, USA and the 1962 World Championships in Denver Colorado, where Australia shocked the padded hockey pants off Denmark for their first ever International victory.
Now, just like in 1960, 1962 and pretty much every year, those new to the concept of ice hockey in Australia argue that an Aussie’s natural environment is in the surf, the pool, the cricket pitch and footy field. But for seven teams and their fans, the ice rink is heaven on earth.
The AIHL runs from late April until the end of August or the first weekend of September, making it an ‘off season’ league for 99 percent of the ice hockey world.
The off-season timing for players in Europe or North America is a boon for the AIHL, which attracts players of much higher calibre than it would if it ran in competition to leagues in the latter, or for that matter, in the growing hockey market of Asia.
Players up to and including NHL level have played in the AIHL, including Steve McKenna, Tyrone Garner, Rob Zamuner and ‘Mad’ Mel Anglestad. A number of players have gone on to second-tier hockey in elite leagues such as the American Hockey League (AHL) and Sweden’s Allsvenskan.
Mostly, however, the AIHL is made up of surprising accomplished local guys with a handful of overseas ring-ins, the ‘imports’.
With the growing profile of the AIHL overseas, the level of import players being accepted into AIHL teams has increased to the point where most imports have played high-level college or Junior A hockey, if not professional stints beyond the Juniors.
The teams are as varied as the rinks and the players in them.
Victoria’s critical shortage of ice has caused a loss of opportunity and success for the state’s players, while NSW how has eight rinks to develop players.
Melbourne makes the most of its elderly rink in Oakleigh, while those involved wait anxiously for the world-class Ice House of the Docklands to open in 2010.
The glut of rinks in NSW sees three teams in the AIHL, with Canberra Knights representing the ACT.
Two teams in Sydney (Bears and Ice Dogs) are flanked by the North Stars further North in Newcastle.
Adelaide has had back-office problems, but with new ownership since last season and a new identity, Adelaide Adrenaline hope to recover their lost glory of the early days in the AIHL when they were a dominant force.
Finally the Gold Coast Blue Tongues is a team that relocated from Brisbane in 2007, where the golden beaches and Hollywood lifestyle attract winter-weary hockey players wanting to keep their skills sharp.
Crowds are thrilled to see the game being played only a few metres away, especially when a game gets intensely physical or the rare fight does break out.
magnet
Guest
I love Ice Hockey,even though I was brought up playing Rugby League, the best thing is that when a big hit is put on the 'HITTER' dosn't come back to say sorry and help the the player up . I'd much prefer to watch Hockey than League these days 'cause of the 'toughness of the players.
Sean D
Guest
Great article, keep up the writing and spreading the good word of hockey!
Steve
Guest
Myself and a mate of mine went to our first AIHL game over the weekend. Best money weve spent. We were very surprised with the skill level, speed and toughness of the Australian competition. I recommend it to everyone.
Keith
Guest
"Just don’t let it get a strangle hold. It’s swamped all sports in Canada" Phaeton, that won't happen. Australia has nowhere near the same history and tradition in ice hockey that Canada does. That's an interesting theory about Canada's lack of performance at the summer Olympics. This sounds like a dumb question, but is ice hockey #1 all over Canada? I've got Canadian mates (from Ontario) that reckon Canadian football beats ice hockey out west... Anyway, good luck with those winter Olympics next year - who do you reckon should be in goal for Canada?
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Phaeton Australia's sporting marketplace is highly competitive and ice hockey is a very long way down the food chain. Although a great sport. We are in no danger of being overrun by Hockey. Field Hockey has a better shot of domination.
Phaeton
Guest
Just don't let it get a strangle hold. It's swamped all sports in Canada, and it's the main reason why Canadian athletes don't constantly mount the podium at the summer Olympics. It's not because Canada's a cold climate - many countries in northern Europe are pretty cold, but they turn out fine athletes in all kinds of summer sports - it's because there's so little interest in other sports. And without interest, everything else is marginalized. No interest, no money. Australia, hockey's a great game, but keep it in its corner.
Chop
Roar Guru
I go to a lot of the Canberra Knights games, it's a really good, cheap night out. The atmosphere (apart from being cold) is sensational and when they have a fight, boy do they do it properly, unlike most modern sports, the benches clear and the punches are a plenty....The game is quick and skillful as well....
Rowan
Guest
Simmo - kids hockey is great - there are many teams. we just need to figure out how to retain players once they turn 17/18 and discover booze, women and cars!
Simmo
Guest
I read somewhere that Ice Hockey has a small but rapidly growing junior participation base in the NW of Sydney.
Papa Romeo
Guest
GO CANUCKS GO!!!!
Nathan T
Guest
It is great to see a great article written about the Aussie version of the greatest sport in the world. It was upsetting to see a great team be lost to the AIHL this year, but it will only up the qulity and determination of the others. If you haven't gotten to a local game, I highly reccomend that you do....
Roman
Guest
Hockey in this country will always be playing second fiddle to football codes unfortunately, however it is for this very reason that the achievements of our national mens ice hockey team should be praised. Imagine what could be done with a little funding?
Kurt
Guest
I used to think that Ice Hockey couldn't work in Aust because of the weather but here I am in North Carolina where it's stupidly hot and humid for 9 months a year and the big sports story at the moment is the local NHL team (Carolina Hurricanes) who are through to the second round of the playoffs. Am thinking of going along to one of the games if I can get a ticket.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
I rather enjoy Ice Hockey. Great physical game. The stigma of Aus. not being a Winter(ice nad snow) country will be very hard to overcome.
Keith
Guest
I went along to a couple of Melbourne Ice matches last season. II'd reccomend it to anyone who likes their sport fast and physical. You get up close to the action and it's really cheap. I reckon they'll get a real lift when they move out of their current rink in Oakleigh. It's too far out to attract many casual spectators, and it's alot colder than any arena I've ever been in. If you live in Melbourne and want to see the best in the world, NHL games can be found on the big screen every other week at a pub in the city called Charles Dickens Tavern. They call it Hockey Night in Melbourne and it attracts alot of mostly Canadian expats and tourists.