Opening Weekend recap: Puck drops on AIHL season 2024

The 2024 AIHL season started with a few ups and downs both on the ice and online, however the puck has dropped and the pursuit of the Goodall Cup has begun in earnest.

With many imports yet to arrive and Australia’s best players on their way to Serbia for the IIHF World Championships, teams at this time of year are rarely at full strength and results are often skewed until May. However, these early games can often determine the make-up of the ladder at the end of the season.

Nonetheless, some great games of hockey were played on the weekend to get us going for the new season.

Thunder and Lightning split points in Brisbane

Perhaps a synonymous reflection of the meteorological situation on the East Coast, Perth and Brisbane grabbed a win each in a double header in Brisbane.

Game one on the Saturday night ended in an 8-6 goalfest in favour of the Lightning, with Julian Fodor having a 4-goal night before he departs for Serbia to represent Australia at the IIHF World Championships later in the week. Curtis Meger made 34 saves in his first game between the pipes for Brisbane. Zane Jones scored on debut for Perth after moving from Newcastle in the off-season, while new import Jeremiah Addison notched two goals of his own.

The tables turned in the second game with the Thunder registering a 5-1 victory on the Sunday. A hat-trick to Addison being the difference in the end, to add to his two goals the previous evening. Rhys Pelliccione stopped 19 of 20 shots in the win for Perth.

The two teams won’t meet again until the final game of the season in Perth on August 10. Perth host Canberra this weekend in a double header, while the Lightning head south to take on the Ice and Mustangs in Melbourne.

Bears win Battle of Sydney

The Sydney Bears took out a 6-2-win in the first instalment of the Battle of Sydney for 2024, in front of a sold-out Macquarie Ice Arena on Saturday night.

The Bears had six different goal scorers, with a 3-goal second period breaking the game open in favour of the red and black, after a close first period that finished 2-1. The Dogs tallied through Dmitri Kuleshov and Max Miller and Jake Doornbos made 30 saves on 36 shots in his first start for the year. Dane Brumm stopped 14 of 16 shots in his first start for the Bears in the absence of Anthony Kimlin, as he prepares for the IIHF Worlds.

The Bears travel to Adelaide next Saturday, while the Ice Dogs head up to Newcastle on Sunday afternoon. Battle of Sydney #2 for the year is slated for April 19th at Macquarie.

Ice demolish Rhinos at Icehouse

A dominant display by the Melbourne Ice saw them take all six points in a double header against the Central Coast Rhinos, at the O’Brien Icehouse.

The Ice took the first game on Saturday night 11-1, following up with 9-1 victory on the Sunday which was much closer than the score suggested until midway through the second period. Joey Hughes led the way with 2G and 7A on the weekend, with former Rhino Joakim Erdugan helping with 4G and 4A for the Ice. Lliam Webster officially passed the career 450-point mark, a feat which has only been accomplished by two other AIHL players in former Ice teammate Tommy Powell and Greg Oddy.

The Rhinos take on Newcastle at home next Saturday, while the Ice will host the Brisbane Lightning at the Icehouse.

Northstars win against Brave

Newcastle began their 2024 season with a 7-3 win over the Canberra Brave at the Hunter ice Skating Stadium on Saturday night.

The Northstars, who have had a few on ice personnel changes in the offseason, got a hat-trick from Francis Drolet and two more goals from new import Aiden Wagner to complete the victory over last season’s runners-up. Casey Kubara, Jake Carey and Tommy Steven answered for the Brave.

Newcastle head to Erina for a match-up with the Central Coast Rhinos on Saturday before heading back home to host the Ice Dogs on Sunday afternoon.

Brave down Dogs

The Canberra Brave avenged their Saturday night loss to Newcastle with a 6-1 victory over the Ice Dogs at Macquarie Ice Arena on the Sunday night.

The Brave jumped out to a 3-1 lead early in the first thanks to goals from Jordan Brunt, Kai Miettinen and Casey Kubara. Dmitri Kuleshov had the lone goal of the game for the Ice Dogs, with Alex Tetreault finishing with 15 saves from 16 shots in net for Canberra.

The Brave head over to the west for a two-game series against the Perth Thunder, while the Ice Dogs have a Sunday afternoon clash with the Northstars in Newcastle.

Photo: Jamison O'Malley
 
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