2022–23 AWIHL season

The 2022–23 AWIHL season is the 14th season of the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL). It runs from 5 November 2022 until 19 March 2023. Five teams compete in 30 regular season games followed by 4 playoff games, making up the AWIHL Finals weekend. The Sydney Sirens claimed the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy championship title by winning the grand final. The Melbourne Ice claimed the Stephanie Boxall Trophy premiership title for finishing top of the regular season standings. The Sirens finished runner-up in the regular season and the Adelaide Rush claimed the wooden spoon.

2022–23 AWIHL season
LeagueAustralian Women's Ice Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration5 November 2022 – 19 March 2023
Regular season
PremiersMelbourne Ice
Top scorerElizabeth Scala (28 points)
(Perth Inferno)
Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
ChampionsSydney Sirens
(3rd title)
  Runners-upMelbourne Ice

Teams

In 2022–23 the AWIHL had five teams from five Australian state capital cities competing, stretching east to west of the continent.[1]

2022–23 AWIHL teams
TeamCityArenaHead coachCaptain
Adelaide RushSouth Australia AdelaideIceArenACanada Joey MacDougallAustralia Natalie Ayris
Brisbane LightningQueensland BrisbaneBoondall IceworldAustralia Tom HarknessAustralia Kelly Costa
Melbourne IceVictoria (state) MelbourneO'Brien IcehouseAustralia Rod Johns & Andrew MarshallCanada Sarah Dash
Perth InfernoWestern Australia PerthCockburn Ice ArenaAustralia Graham HydeAustralia Marina Nottle
Sydney SirensNew South Wales SydneyMacquarie Ice RinkAustralia Jayden RyanCanada Sarah Edney

League Business

The official AWIHL gameday schedule was released at the beginning of October 2022. The season structure remained unchanged from 2019-20, with each team playing two of the four opponents in a four game series with the other two teams being played twice during the season.[2] Ahead of the new season, after a two year absence due to COVID-19 outbreaks and subsequent lockdown and travel restrictions, AWIHL Commissioner, Melissa Rulli, stepped down from her role. She held the position for almost five years, having secured the position in December 2017.[3] The Brisbane Goannas announced they had signed and agreement with the Brisbane Lightning organisation to merge their organisations. The Goannas would re-brand themselves as the Lightning for the season ahead.[4] At the end of October, the league and Cluch signed a broadcasting deal for every game of the season to be broadcast live and free on Cluch's streaming platform. The streams would be available worldwide, with no region locking.[5] In January, Perth Inferno released a special one-off Cancer Awareness jersey that will be worn in a game on 4 February 2023 and then auctioned off post-game to support Cancer Council Western Australia.[6]

Staffing changes for 2022-23 included Brisbane naming Tom Harkness as their new head coach, with Matt Meyer and Ben Stadtmiller to assist him.[7] Adelaide appointed Joey MacDougall as their new head coach and the vastly experienced Jim Fuyarchuk as assistant coach.[8] Melbourne Ice changed their coaching lineup for 2022-23. Rod Johns, Bryan Mackenzie and Andrew Marshall were appointed team coaches, replacing Marcus Wong, Mark Smith and Laurie Piggot.[9]

Regular season

Fixtures & results

Running between 5 November 2022 and 5 March 2023, the AWIHL regular season consisted of 30 games in total, with teams playing 12 games each.[2]

November
November
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
15 November 202216:30Brisbane Lightning3–8Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
26 November 202208:15Brisbane Lightning4–5Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
312 November 202216:00Melbourne Ice7–2Adelaide RushIceArenA
412 November 202217:00Perth Inferno2–3Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
513 November 202210:00Melbourne Ice7–0Adelaide RushIceArenA
613 November 202216:30Perth Inferno4–2Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
719 November 202216:30Sydney Sirens9–6Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
820 November 202210:00Sydney Sirens6–5 (OT)Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
926 November 202216:30Adelaide Rush0–9Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
1027 November 202208:15Adelaide Rush1–3Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink

December
December
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
113 December 202217:00Adelaide Rush1–4Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
124 December 202213:30Adelaide Rush3–4Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
1317 December 202217:00Brisbane Lightning0–2Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
1418 December 202213:30Brisbane Lightning1–7Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse

January
January
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
157 January 200216:00Perth Inferno3–5Adelaide RushIceArenA
167 January 200217:00Sydney Sirens3–7Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
178 January 200207:00Sydney Sirens4–3 (OT)Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
188 January 200210:00Perth Inferno10–7Adelaide RushIceArenA
1914 January 200217:00Sydney Sirens2–3Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
2015 January 200213:30Sydney Sirens4–3 (OT)Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse

February
February
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
214 February 202216:30Adelaide Rush1–4Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
225 February 202210:00Adelaide Rush5–3Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
2311 February 202216:30Perth Inferno0–6Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
2411 February 202217:00Melbourne Ice1–2Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
2512 February 202207:00Melbourne Ice4–3 (SO)Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
2612 February 202208:15Perth Inferno5–7Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink

March
March
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
274 March 202216:00Brisbane Lightning5–4Adelaide RushIceArenA
284 March 202216:30Melbourne Ice1–3Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
295 March 202210:00Brisbane Lightning6–2Adelaide RushIceArenA
305 March 202210:00Melbourne Ice4–3Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena

Key:

WinnerDraw

Standings
Pos Team Pld W OTW D OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Melbourne Ice 12 8 1 0 1 2 47 24 +23 27 2023 Joan McKowen Finals
2 Sydney Sirens 12 6 3 0 0 3 63 43 +20 24
3 Brisbane Lightning 12 5 0 0 2 5 39 46 −7 17
4 Perth Inferno 12 5 0 0 1 6 51 53 −2 16
5 Adelaide Rush 12 2 0 0 0 10 31 65 −34 6
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

Player stats

The season's league leader statistics for skaters and goaltenders.[10][11]

Goals
No.NamePosG
1United States Elizabeth ScalaForward15
2Canada Danielle ButlerForward15
3Canada Sarah EdneyForward13
4Australia Michelle Clark-CrumptonForward12
5Sweden Linda BjorlingForward10
Assists
No.NamePosA
1United States Elizabeth ScalaForward13
2Australia Michelle Clark-CrumptonForward13
3Australia Sharna GodfreyForward12
4Sweden Linda BjorlingForward11
5Australia Chrystina AckerForward9
Points
No.NamePosP
1United States Elizabeth ScalaForward28
2Australia Michelle Clark-CrumptonForward25
3Canada Danielle ButlerForward23
4Australia Sharna GodfreyForward21
5Sweden Linda BjorlingForward21
Penalty minutes
No.NamePosPIM
1Australia Sharna GodfreyForward39
2Australia Chrystina AckerForward34
3Australia Kristelle Van Der WolfForward33
4Australia Katrina RapchukForward31
5Australia Sharnita CromptonForward26
Save percentage
No.NamePosSV%
1Australia Makayla PeersGoaltender.936
2Australia Jenelle CarsonGoaltender.930
3Turkey Sera DogramaciGoaltender.915
4Australia Imogen PerryGoaltender.907
5Australia Sasha KingGoaltender.882
Goals against average
No.NamePosGAA
1Australia Makayla PeersGoaltender1.56
2Australia Jenelle CarsonGoaltender2.13
3Australia Imogen PerryGoaltender2.81
4Turkey Sera DogramaciGoaltender2.87
5Australia Tina GirdlerGoaltender3.50

Season awards

Below lists the 2022–23 AWIHL regular season award winners.[12]

Award Name Team
Best ForwardCanada Danielle ButlerMelbourne Ice
Best DefenceCanada Sarah EdneySydney Sirens
Best GoaltenderAustralia Makayla PeersMelbourne Ice
Nellie Gee Rookie of the YearAustralia Katrina RapchukBrisbane Lightning

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.[13] The prize for being crowned AWIHL Champions for winning the grand final is the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy.[14]

In 2022–23, the Ice, Sirens, Lightning and Inferno qualified for the finals weekend.[15] The event was held on 18-19 in host city Melbourne at O’Brien Icehouse.[15]

 
Semi-finalsJoan McKowen Final
 
      
 
18 March - Melbourne
 
 
Perth Inferno2
 
19 March - Melbourne
 
Melbourne Ice5
 
Melbourne Ice2
 
18 March - Melbourne
 
Sydney Sirens5
 
Brisbane Lightning1
 
 
Sydney Sirens4
 
Third place
 
 

19 March - Melbourne
 
 
Perth Inferno3
 
 
Brisbane Lightning2

Semi-finals
18 March 2023
14:30		Perth Inferno2–5
(1–1, 1–2, 0–2)		Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Sasha KingGoaliesAustralia Makayla PeersReferee:
Davida Paul
Linesmen:
Ainsley Gardner
Sarah Kinninment
0–1Butler (P.Cameron)
(Clark-Crumpton) Scala1–1
1–2van der Wolf (Unassisted)
1–3Butler (Newman, G.Carson)
(Unassisted) Malcolm2–3
2–4Butler (van der Wolf)
2–5Butler (van der Wolf)
22 minPenalties6 min
24Shots46
18 March 2023
17:00		Brisbane Lightning1–4
(0–0, 0–1, 1–3)		Sydney SirensO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Imogen PerryGoaliesTurkey Sera DogramaciReferee:
Cien Pereira
Linesmen:
Gabby Aston
Beth Bowshall
0–1Clarke (Brunt)
0–2Edney (McOnie, Tarasenko)
(Unassisted) Brown1–2
1–3Godfrey (Bjorling, Edney)
1–4Edney (McOnie)
10 minPenalties2 min
25Shots24

Third place playoff
19 March 2023
14:00		Perth Inferno3–2
(2–0, 0–0, 1–2)		Brisbane LightningO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Sasha KingGoaliesAustralia Imogen PerryReferee:
Davida Paul
Linesmen:
Gabby Aston
Sarah Kinninment
(Clark-Crumpton) Scala1–0
(Kilgallon, Scala) Acker2–0
2–1Crompton (Roberts)
2–2Crompton (Roberts)
(Unassisted) Scala3–2
12 minPenalties8 min
24Shots30

Final
19 March 2023
17:00		Melbourne Ice2–5
(1–4, 0–1, 1–0)		Sydney SirensO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Jenelle CARSONGoaliesTurkey Sera DogramaciReferee:
Cien Pereira
Linesmen:
Ainsley Gardner
Beth Bowshall
0–1Godfrey (Bjorling, Payne)
0–2Edney (Roberts)
0–3Bjorling (Newmark, Payne)
(Butler, P.Cameron) Ellis1–3
1–4Wilder (Unassisted)
1–5Bjorling (Brunt)
(Cochrane, Conlon) Aparicio2–5
10 minPenalties8 min
37Shots17


Gold Silver Bronze
New South Wales Sydney SirensVictoria (state) Melbourne IceWestern Australia Perth Inferno

References
  1. "AWIHL (W) - 2022-2023". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  2. Collins, Lee (4 October 2022). "2022–23 AWIHL schedule released". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  3. "Melissa Rulli steps down as AWIHL Commissioner". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. "Brisbane Goannas become the Brisbane Lightning". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. 3 October 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  5. Collins, Lee (28 October 2022). "AWIHL signs streaming deal with Cluch". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  6. Collins, Lee (20 January 2023). "Perth Inferno reveal Cancer Awareness jersey". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  7. Collins, Lee (21 March 2022). "Brisbane Goannas announce 2022-23 coaching staff". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  8. Collins, Lee (18 February 2022). "Adelaide Rush 2022 coaches". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  9. Collins, Lee (25 October 2022). "Melbourne Ice Women 2022–23 roster". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  10. "Skater Leaders". Ice Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  11. "Goalie Leaders". Ice Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  12. Collins, Lee (19 March 2023). "2022–23 AWIHL player awards". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  13. "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.
  14. "Joan Mckowen Memorial Cup". Ice Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  15. Collins, Lee (5 March 2023). "2022–23 AWIHL season: 5 March 2023 results and standings". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
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