2017–18 AWIHL season

The 2017–18 AWIHL season is the 11th season of the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL). It ran from 28 October 2017 until 18 March 2018. Four teams competed in 24 regular season games followed by 4 playoff games, making up the AWIHL Finals weekend. The Sydney Sirens claimed the premiership title for finishing top of the regular season standings, while the Melbourne Ice claimed the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy championship title by winning the grand final. Melbourne finished runner-up in the season standings while Sydney lost the grand final. Adelaide Rush came last in the regular season and claimed the wooden spoon.

2017–18 AWIHL season
LeagueAustralian Women's Ice Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration28 October 2017 – 18 March 2018
Regular season
PremiersSydney Sirens
Season MVPStephanie Cochrane
(Sydney Sirens)
Top scorerJessica Pinkerton (26 points)
(Melbourne Ice)
Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
ChampionsMelbourne Ice
(6th title)
  Runners-upSydney Sirens

Teams

In 2017–18 the AWIHL had four teams from four Australian state capital cities competing, stretching across the east coast and southern Australian mainland.[1] Perth Inferno was added as an exhibition team only for the 2017–18 season, as they looked to meet criteria set down by the AWIHL Commission to be granted a full licence for 2018–19.[2]

2017–18 AWIHL teams
TeamCityArenaHead CoachCaptain
Adelaide RushSouth Australia AdelaideIceArenAAustralia Josef RezekUnited States Ashley Pelkey
Brisbane GoannasQueensland BrisbaneBoondall IceworldAustralia Terry KiliwnikAustralia Veronica Watson
Melbourne IceVictoria (state) MelbourneO'Brien IcehouseAustralia Marcus WongAustralia Shona Powell
Sydney SirensNew South Wales SydneyMacquarie Ice RinkAustralia Troy MorganAustralia Amelia Matheson
Exhibition teams
Perth InfernoWestern Australia PerthCockburn Ice ArenaAustralia Paul Graham

League Business

The official AWIHL gameday schedule was released at the start of September 2017. The season structure remained unchanged from 2016-17, each team competing in a four game series against each other team, playing two games at home and two games away.[3] Looking to become the first AWIHL expansion team, Perth Inferno, was admitted to the league on a provisional licence to play two exhibition games against the Sydney Sirens.[4] The first of these two exhibition games, at Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink, was to be live streamed by Thought Fox Media Group with commentary by Eric Brookes.[5] Ahead of the season, the AWIHL announced the continuation of their sponsorship agreement with Skaters Network in November 2017. The agreement would continue the company’s status as preferred equipment supplier to the AWIHL and the naming rights holder for the player of the month award.[6] Ice Hockey Australia also announced the establishment and go-live of the league's new website, hosted on the Ice Hockey Australia's website, it contains separate pages for each team, news, history and is linked to the eSportsdesk website that contains all information on games, players, scores and stats.[7] Every AWIHL game of the 2017-18 season would be live streamed on the new website.[8] In December 2017, AWIHL commissioner, Melissa Rulli, announced the league had secured a event assistance grant under the Victorian Government's Significant Sporting Events Program, to host the AWIHL Finals weekend in Melbourne at O'Brien Group Arena.[9]

Regular season

Fixtures and results

Running between 28 October 2017 and 4 March 2018, the AWIHL regular season consisted of 24 games in total, with teams playing 12 games each, 4 games (2 home and 2 away) against each opponent.[3] There additionally was two exhibition games scheduled for Sydney in February 2018 between the Sydney Sirens and prospective expansion side Perth Inferno.[4] The Sirens won both games comfortably against the exhibition Perth team, scoring sixteen goals and conceding five.[10]

October
October
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
128 October 201717:00Adelaide Rush2–6Sydney SirensCanterbury Olympic Ice Rink
228 October 201717:00Brisbane Goannas0–2Melbourne IceO'Brien Group Arena
329 October 201710:00Adelaide Rush4–9Sydney SirensLiverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink
429 October 201713:15Brisbane Goannas1–6Melbourne IceO'Brien Group Arena

November
November
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
511 November 201716:30Brisbane Goannas3–2 (SO)Adelaide RushIceArenA
612 November 201710:00Brisbane Goannas2–4Adelaide RushIceArenA
718 November 201717:00Sydney Sirens3–0Melbourne IceO'Brien Group Arena
819 November 201711:15Sydney Sirens4–2Melbourne IceO'Brien Group Arena

December
December
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
92 December 201716:30Melbourne Ice3–2Adelaide RushIceArenA
103 December 201710:00Melbourne Ice7–4Adelaide RushIceArenA
119 December 201717:00Brisbane Goannas1–2Sydney SirensCanterbury Olympic Ice Rink
1210 December 201710:00Brisbane Goannas0–4Sydney SirensLiverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink

January
January
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
1313 January 201816:00Sydney Sirens10–4Brisbane GoannasBoondall Iceworld
1413 January 201817:00Adelaide Rush1–9Melbourne IceO'Brien Group Arena
1514 January 201807:30Sydney Sirens4–0Brisbane GoannasBoondall Iceworld
1614 January 201815:15Adelaide Rush1–8Melbourne IceO'Brien Group Arena

February
February
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
173 February 201816:00Adelaide Rush2–1 (SO)Brisbane GoannasBoondall Iceworld
184 February 201807:30Adelaide Rush3–7Brisbane GoannasBoondall Iceworld
1910 February 201817:00Melbourne Ice4–0Sydney SirensCanterbury Olympic Ice Rink
2011 February 201810:00Melbourne Ice0–6Sydney SirensLiverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink
EX17 February 201817:00Perth Inferno4–8Sydney SirensCanterbury Olympic Ice Rink
EX18 February 201810:00Perth Inferno1–8Sydney SirensLiverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink
2124 February 201816:30Sydney Sirens2–4Adelaide RushIceArenA
2225 February 201810:00Sydney Sirens7–0Adelaide RushIceArenA

March
March
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
233 March 201816:00Melbourne Ice0–1Brisbane GoannasBoondall Iceworld
244 March 201807:30Melbourne Ice6–2Brisbane GoannasBoondall Iceworld
Key:
WinnerExhibition game

Standings
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sydney Sirens 12 10 0 0 2 57 21 +36 30 2018 Joan McKowen Finals
2 Melbourne Ice (C) 12 8 0 0 4 47 25 +22 24
3 Brisbane Goannas 12 2 1 1 8 22 45 −23 9
4 Adelaide Rush 12 2 1 1 8 29 64 −35 9
Source: AWIHL Elite Prospects
Rules for classification:
Tie-break: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Points: 3 points for regulation win; 2 points for OT or SO win; 1 point for OT or SO loss or tie/draw; 0 points for regulation loss
(C) Champion

Player stats

The season's league leader statistics for skaters and goaltenders.[11][12]

Goals
No.NamePosG
1Australia Stephenie CochraneForward15
2Canada Jessica PinkertonForward14
3Australia Sharna GodfreyForward11
4Canada Christina JulienForward11
5Australia Natalie AyrisForward11
Assists
No.NamePosA
1Australia Kristelle van der WolfForward14
2Canada Jessica PinkertonForward12
3Australia Amelia MathesonDefender11
4Australia Sharna GodfreyForward10
5Canada Erin BeaverDefender10
Points
No.NamePosP
1Canada Jessica PinkertonForward26
2Australia Sharna GodfreyForward21
3Australia Stephenie CochraneForward19
4Australia Kristelle van der WolfForward19
5Australia Natalie AyrisForward18
Penalty minutes
No.NamePosPIM
1Australia Rylie EllisDefender33
2Australia Nicole JonesForward24
3Australia Tracy HocuttForward24
4United Kingdom Kirsty VenusDefender22
5Australia Sharnita CromptonForward18
Save percentage
No.NamePosSV%
1Australia Imogen PerryGoaltender0.943
2Australia Ella LicariGoaltender0.936
3Australia Jenelle CarsonGoaltender0.936
4Australia Ruth BrophyGoaltender0.895
5Australia Ashleigh BrownGoaltender0.886
Goals against average
No.NamePosGAA
1Australia Ella LicariGoaltender1.13
2Australia Imogen PerryGoaltender1.46
3Australia Jenelle CarsonGoaltender1.53
4Australia Ruth BrophyGoaltender1.67
5Australia Paula MorrisGoaltender2.75

Season awards

Below lists the 2017–18 AWIHL regular season award winners.[13]

Award Name Team
Skaters Network Most Valuable PlayerAustralia Stephanie CochraneSydney Sirens
Best ForwardUnited States Ashley PelkeyAdelaide Rush
Best DefenceCanada Erin BeaverSydney Sirens
Best GoaltenderAustralia Keesha AitkinsAdelaide Rush
Nellie Gee Rookie of the YearAustralia Marnie PullinMelbourne Ice

Joan McKowen playoffs

The top four teams in the AWIHL regular season qualify for the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy playoffs. The playoffs is held on a single weekend and uses Australian conventions of being called Finals. The playoff system used by the AWIHL is a four team single game semi-finals and grand final system where the semi-final winners progress to the grand final and the losers playoff for third place. Semi-finals are played on the Saturday and the third place playoff and grand final is played on the Sunday.[14] The prize for being crowned AWIHL Champions for winning the grand final is the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy.[15]

In 2017–18, the Adelaide Rush, Sydney Sirens, Brisbane Goannas and Melbourne Ice qualified for the finals weekend.[16] The event was held on 17 and 18 March 2018 in host city Melbourne at O’Brien Group Arena.[17] On Saturday, Sydney won the first semi final in a high scoring affair against Adelaide. In the second semi-final, the Melbourne Ice made light work of Brisbane to advance to the grand final. On Sunday, first up, the Goannas won a close contest against the Rush to secure bronze medals for the Queenslanders.[13] In the grand final, Melbourne Ice secured their record equaling sixth championship title and lifted the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy, after defeating the Sydney Sirens 4–2, with Jessica Pinkerton scoring all four goals for the winners.[18]

 
Semi-finalsJoan McKowen Final
 
      
 
17 March - Melbourne
 
 
Adelaide Rush4
 
18 March - Melbourne
 
Sydney Sirens7
 
Melbourne Ice4
 
17 March - Melbourne
 
Sydney Sirens2
 
Brisbane Goannas1
 
 
Melbourne Ice5
 
Third place
 
 

18 March - Melbourne
 
 
Brisbane Goannas2
 
 
Adelaide Rush1

Semi-finals
17 March 2018
15:00		Adelaide Rush4–7
(0–0, 3–4, 1–3)		Sydney SirensO’Brien Group Arena
Game reference
Keesha AtkinsGoaliesElla LicariReferee:
Gabby Aston
Linesmen:
Beth Bowshall
Kj Kim
(Unassisted) Wright1–0
(Pelkey) Ayris2–0
2–1Edmonds (Embrey)
2–2Murphy (Unassisted)
2–3Cochrane (Godfrey, Harvey)
(Unassisted) Reynolds3–3
3–4Harvey (Unassisted)
(Unassisted) Reynolds4–4
4–5Edmonds (Crompton)
4–6Matheson (Cochrane, McOnie)
4–7McOnie (Harvey)
4 minPenalties8 min
22Shots37
17 March 2018
17:30		Brisbane Goannas1–5
(0–0, 1–5, 0–0)		Melbourne IceO’Brien Group Arena
Game reference
Ashleigh BrownGoaliesJenelle CarsonReferee:
Ainslie Gardner
Linesmen:
Peta Goulden
Cien Pereira
0–1Julien (Green, Pinkerton)
0–2Pinkerton (Julien, van der Wolf)
(Robitaille) Kiliwnik1–2
1–3Ellis (Julien)
1–4Julien (van der Wolf)
1–5Pinkerton (G.Carson)
16 minPenalties16 min
11Shots26

Third place playoff
18 March 2018
14:30		Adelaide Rush1–2
(0–1, 0–1, 1–0)		Brisbane GoannasO’Brien Group Arena
Game reference
Keesha AtkinsGoaliesImogen PerryReferee:
Gabby Aston
Linesmen:
Kj Kim
Peta Goulden
0–1Watson (Kiliwnik)
0–2Costa (Kiliwnik)
(Venus) Ayris1–2
6 minPenalties8 min
20Shots25

Final
18 March 2018
17:00		Melbourne Ice4–2
(1–0, 2–2, 1–0)		Sydney SirensO’Brien Group Arena
Game reference
Jenelle CarsonGoaliesElla LicariReferee:
Ainslie Gardner
Linesmen:
Beth Bowshall
Cien Pereira
(Ellis) Pinkerton1–0
1–1Matheson
(Julien, Green) Pinkerton2–1
2–2Godfrey
(Julien) Pinkerton3–2
(van der Wolf) Pinkerton4–2
12 minPenalties0 min
30Shots25


Gold Silver Bronze
Victoria (state) Melbourne IceNew South Wales Sydney SirensQueensland Brisbane Goannas

References
  1. Longmuir, Alyssa (25 October 2017). "AWIHL : 2017-18 Season Preview". theicegarden.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. Montroy, Liz (9 August 2018). "Perth Inferno Becomes the AWIHL's First Expansion Team". womenshockeylife.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  3. Collins, Lee (6 September 2017). "2017-18 AWIHL schedule released". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  4. Collins, Lee (26 October 2017). "Perth Inferno established". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  5. Collins, Lee (10 February 2018). "AWIHL news: 10 February 2018". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  6. "Ongoing commitment to AW". Ice Hockey Australia. 3 November 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. "Our new AWIHL site is live!". Ice Hockey Australia. 17 November 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  8. "Get your game face on, the AWIHL is back!!". Ice Hockey Australia. 27 October 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  9. "Victorian Government supports women in sport – AW Finals in Melbourne". Ice Hockey Australia. 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  10. Collins, Lee (17 February 2018). "2017-18 AWIHL season: Sydney v Perth". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  11. "Scoring Leaders". Australian Women's Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  12. "Goalie Leaders". Australian Women's Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  13. Collins, Lee (17 March 2018). "2018 AWIHL playoffs". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  14. "Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) Regulations" (PDF). Ice Hockey Australia. 1 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  15. "Joan Mckowen Memorial Cup". Ice Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  16. Collins, Lee (3 March 2018). "2017-18 AWIHL season: Round 10". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  17. Longmuir, Alyssa (13 March 2018). "2018 AWIHL Finals Preview". theicegarden.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  18. Longmuir, Alyssa (18 March 2018). "Melbourne Ice Cement a Dynasty". theicegarden.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
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