The Mighty Roos have taken the Trans-Tasman Challenge Series in New Zealand overnight, with a 3-0 win over the Ice Blacks at Paradice Botany in Auckland.
Matti Luoma's team, which featured 7 debutants, swept the 3-game series and now regular fixture between the two nations, in preparation for their respective IIHF World Championship campaigns.
Australia shutout New Zealand 4-0 in Game 1 on the Friday, thanks to Aleksi Toivonen stopping all 18 shots faced. Goals to newly minted Central Coast Rhino Tyler Kubara, Perth Thunder's Lynden Lodge, Canberra Brave's Kai Miettinen and Adelaide Adrenaline's Zach Boyle would prove too much for NZ.
The Roos would face a more disciplined Ice Blacks team on the Saturday. New Zealand only allowed one goal to Casey Kubara in the first, before Ian Audas answered for the hosts in the second. Tommy Steven and Max Lyashenko pulled Australia away before Justin Daigle made it 3-2 at the final change. The Canberra Brave's Steven would get his second before the Melbourne Ice's Ellesse Carini added a 5th, for a 5-2 Australia victory.
Toivonen would post his second shutout of the weekend in Game 3, stopping all 16 shots in net. The Ice Dogs' Cam Todd's first, Boyle's second of the weekend and Sydney Bear Brian Funes' first goal for the Mighty Roos in 12 years with the senior team, would hand a 3-0 win and a 3-0 series victory to the visitors.
Australia will now head to Serbia for the rescheduled Division 2A World Championships, beginning 27th April in Belgrade. The full line-up will be announced by Ice Hockey Australia at a later date.
The Ice Blacks will host the Division 2B World Championships in Dunedin beginning on the same date.
The location for the 2026 Trans-Tasman Series will be announced later in the year.
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