The 2016 AIHL season will kick off on Saturday April 23 with all eight teams set to take part in opening weekend action. The 17
th edition of Australia’s premier ice hockey league is set to deliver fans more Fast. Fierce. Full On. hockey action, which has seen the league go from strength to strength in recent seasons.
The 112-game regular season schedule will see each team play each against all other teams four times (two home, two away) and is set to culminate with the winner-takes-all AIHL Finals weekend on August 27-28 with the venue to be announced at a later date.
Reigning champions, the Newcastle North Stars, will open their title defence with a tricky road double header, facing the Adelaide Adrenaline in Adelaide on April 23, followed by the Perth Thunder in Perth on April 24.
Novocastrian fans won’t have to wait long see their team in action, with the North Stars set to face the Melbourne Ice in a Grand Final rematch at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium on May 1.
The rest of opening night AIHL action will be an exciting prospect with the Melbourne Ice hosting the Melbourne Mustangs in the season’s first Melbourne Derby at the newly renamed O’Brien Group Arena while the CBR Brave will host the Sydney Ice Dogs in Canberra. The Brave then go on the road on Sunday, wrapping up the opening weekend of AIHL action by travelling to the Penrith Ice Palace to take on the Sydney Bears.
After the success of the inaugural All-Stars weekend at the end of last season, the second instalment of the All-Star weekend is set to take place on a standalone weekend of June 11-12 at Penrith Ice Palace. The weekend will see AIHL All-Stars battle it out in a Saturday skills competition, while Sunday will see the All-Star game between Team Armstrong and Team Schlamp. However, as with all All-Star weekends, there are bound to be plenty of surprises.
Season 2016 will also mark the league’s first return to Queensland since the Gold Coast Blue Tongues left the competition at the end of the 2012 season. The Sydney Bears will play two home games against the Melbourne Ice at IceWorld Boondall on Saturday May 14 and IceWorld Acacia Ridge on Sunday May 15.
See below for the full schedule or your teams’ individual schedule. The full schedule is also now available on the AIHL website under Schedule and Results:
Key DatesOpening Weekend: April 23Newcastle North Stars @ Adelaide Adrenaline at IceArena (Adrenaline Home Opener)
Melbourne Mustangs @ Melbourne Ice at O’Brien Group Arena (Ice Home Opener)
Sydney Ice Dogs @ CBR Brave at Phillip Swimming & Ice Skating Centre (Brave Home Opener)
April 24Newcastle North Stars @ Perth Thunder at Perth Ice Arena (Thunder Home Opener)
CBR Brave @ Sydney Bears at Penrith Ice Palace (Bears Home Opener)
Remaining Home OpenersSaturday April 30 – CBR Brave @ Melbourne Mustangs at O’Brien Group Arena (Mustangs Home Opener)
Saturday April 30 – Melbourne Ice @ Sydney Ice Dogs at Liverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink (Ice Dogs Home Opener)
Sunday May 1 - Melbourne Ice @ Newcastle North Stars at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium (North Stars Home Opener)
All-Star WeekendJune 11-12 – at Penrith Ice Palace –
Buy Tickets Brisbane Double HeaderMay 14 – Melbourne Ice @ Sydney Bears at IceWorld Boondall –
Buy TicketsMay 15 - Melbourne Ice @ Sydney Bears at IceWorld Acacia Ridge –
Buy Tickets Melbourne DerbySaturday April 23 – Melbourne Mustangs @ Melbourne Ice at O’Brien Group Arena
Thursday May 19 – Melbourne Mustangs @ Melbourne Ice at O’Brien Group Arena
Saturday July 23 – Melbourne Ice @ Melbourne Mustangs at O’Brien Group Arena
Thursday August 11 – Melbourne Ice @ Melbourne Mustangs at O’Brien Group Arena
Battle Of SydneySunday May 1 - Sydney Ice Dogs @ Sydney Bears at Penrith Ice Palace
Sunday May 8 - Sydney Bears @ Sydney Ice Dogs at Liverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink
Saturday May 28 - Sydney Bears @ Sydney Ice Dogs at Liverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink
Saturday July 2 - Sydney Ice Dogs @ Sydney Bears at Penrith Ice Palace
Grand Final RematchesMay 1 - Melbourne Ice @ Newcastle North Stars at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium
June 18 - Melbourne Ice @ Newcastle North Stars at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium
July 9 - Newcastle North Stars @ Melbourne Ice at O’Brien Group Arena
July 10 - Newcastle North Stars @ Melbourne Ice at O’Brien Group Arena