AIHL Announce New Director for 2024

ANNOUNCEMENT

Bob Turner – Appointed to the Board of the Australian Ice Hockey League

The Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) continues to make progress with the announcement that Basketball Legend Bob Turner will join its Board. Fresh on the heels of a sold-out finals Series in Melbourne and the historic two-game Global Series by the National Hockey League (NHL) at Rod Laver Arena, the appointment of Bob Turner as Director of Commercials will add another spark to the sport in preparation for the 2024 season.

The Australian Ice Hockey League is a ten-team National competition and will enter its 24th season in 2024. Played from March to August annually, teams are from Sydney (2), Melbourne (2), Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, NSW’s Central Coast, Newcastle, and Brisbane. The 2023 Champions are the Melbourne Mustangs.

The League predominantly comprises of local players and is supported by up to 5-6 import players per team. Played in the Northern Hemisphere summer months, the AIHL is a preferred destination for import players from Canada, North America and Europe.

AIHL Chairman Peter Jon Hartshorne is excited that a proven sports marketer like Bob Turner will join the League’s Board.

"I first met Bob in the 80s’ and have been pursuing him for a number of years now as his track record proves he is far more than a basketball coach", Chairman Hartshorne said. "His success in marketing basketball, baseball, lawn bowls and now as Chairman of the Blacktown City FC is exemplary. It is the perfect fit for the AIHL to take the next step up the ladder and capitalise on the growth of our League", Hartshorne added.

For the newly inducted Basketball NSW Hall of Famer, Bob Turner, the recent AIHL finals in Melbourne at the O’Brien Icehouse convinced him to take on the challenge: "I attended the AIHL Finals as a guest of the Board a month ago in Melbourne, and I was blown away by the skill, speed, physicality and intensity of the game. It was like watching Rugby League on ice but much quicker", said Turner. "The NHL has just played two sell-out games at Rod Laver Arena, and ESPN does a tremendous job promoting the American Professional League. I love to ‘Have a Go’ and take on a challenge, especially when the marketing and promotional ingredients point in the right direction. This League is destined to go places, and I am excited at providing whatever push I can provide", Turner added.

The Australian Ice Hockey League commenced in 2000 and is fully affiliated with Ice Hockey Australia and the International Ice Hockey Federation. The ten-team season includes an entire home and away schedule of 150 games and a finals weekend with the top four teams. All 155 games are streamed live on AIHL.TV in Australia and to over twenty other countries via international rights distributor and media partner Sportradar. Teams play annually for the Goodall Cup, the World's 3rd oldest Ice Hockey Cup.

"The National Hockey League (NHL) in the Northern Hemisphere provides the AIHL with innovative marketing concepts and game experiences being adopted by the AIHL Board. The recent sell-out tour of the LA Kings and Arizona Coyotes at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne reinforces the following of the sport in Australia and its ever-expanding fan base. The main priority of the AIHL Board has been to structure a firm financial operation for the long-term stability of the League", said Chairman Hartshorne. "We have been able to make significant progress in the last two years, and we are now in a much better position to market our unique sports product. We believe Bob can provide a huge lift in this area", added Hartshorne.

"My immediate focus will be to open the eyes and ears of the corporate world as well as the potential fans in each of the eight League cities", added Turner. "While basketball has obviously been my main sport, I grew up in the USA, where I followed all sports. Ice Hockey is one of the ‘Big Four’ in America, and when I saw firsthand the talent and ability on display, the game will sell itself if enough people become aware. The principles of building professional sporting teams and Leagues are similar for most team sports. That includes the stability of the teams, a competition, a culture, cities for support, home venues people want to go to, and a great deal of energy to ‘Sell’ the programme. The AIHL has that and enjoys full houses in many cities, but a major hurdle is larger Ice facilities to cater for the growth of the game. This is the same for ice sports in general, including figure skating, speed skating, synchronised skating, broomball, curling and, of course, public skating. A healthy and well followed Ice Hockey League will be a catalyst to better position ice sports for better venues", said Turner.

Please join us to welcome Bob to our wonderful game and sport.

Peter J Hartshorne - Chair
E: peter@theaihl.com
M: +61 419 591410

AIHL BOARD OF DIRECTORS