2023 AIHL season

The 2023 AIHL season was the 22nd season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The season consisted of 130 regular season games from 15 April to 13 August 2023, with the Goodall Cup finals consisting of two play-in matches, two semi-finals, and a grand final, following the regular season on 26–27 August 2023.

2023 AIHL season
LeagueAustralian Ice Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration15 April 2023 – 13 August 2023
Regular season
H Newman Reid TrophyCBR Brave
(4th title)
Top scorerScott Timmins (82 points)
(Melbourne Mustangs)
Goodall Cup
ChampionsMelbourne Mustangs
(2nd title)
  Runners-upCBR Brave
Finals MVPLiam Hughes (Mustangs)

Teams

In 2023 the AIHL had 10 teams split into two conferences competing in the league.[1]

2023 AIHL teams
Hellyer Conference
TeamCityArenaHead CoachCaptain
Melbourne IceVictoria (state) MelbourneO'Brien IcehouseCanada Kerry GouletAustralia Mackenzie Caruana
Melbourne MustangsVictoria (state) MelbourneO'Brien IcehouseUnited States Pat McMahonAustralia Brendan McDowell
Perth ThunderWestern Australia PerthPerth Ice ArenaCanada Benjamin BreaultAustralia James Woodman
Sydney BearsNew South Wales SydneyMacquarie Ice RinkAustralia Ron KuprowskyCanada Ryan Annesley
Sydney Ice DogsNew South Wales SydneyMacquarie Ice RinkAustralia Jason KvisleAustralia Daniel Pataky
Rurak Conference
TeamCityArenaHead CoachCaptain
Adelaide AdrenalineSouth Australia AdelaideIceArenAAustralia Stu HenlyCanada Joey MacDougall
Brisbane LightningQueensland BrisbaneBoondall IceworldAustralia Terry KiliwnikAustralia Damian Bright
CBR BraveAustralian Capital Territory CanberraPhillip Ice Skating CentreAustralia Stuart PhilpsAustralia Kai Miettinen
Central Coast RhinosNew South Wales Central CoastErina Ice ArenaSouth Africa Ashley MarshAustralia Robert Malloy
Newcastle NorthstarsNew South Wales NewcastleHunter Ice Skating StadiumCanada Kevin NobleAustralia Liam Manwarring

League Business

The 2023 regular season fixture list was released publicly by the AIHL on 2 November 2022.[2] The AIHL Finals would be altered from 2022, moving to a two weekend format for the first time in league history.[1] League trophies would continue to be consistent with previous seasons, with the league champion awarded the historic Goodall Cup and league premier awarded the H Newman Reid Trophy. The League confirmed that the Adelaide Adrenaline and Perth Thunder would be returning to the league for 2023, after both teams pulled out of competing in 2022. The Adrenaline had secured a new venue agreement with the IceArenA, paving the way for their return.[3] While Western Australia no longer had any border restrictions, paving the way for the Thunder's return.[4] A new paid subscription streaming service named AIHL.TV was introduced by the AIHL for season 2023.[5] This marked the first time the league had ever brought in a paid streaming service for the regular season. All 130 regular season games and finals would be available live and on demand with yearly, monthly and weekly payment options.[6]

Expansion

Following a successful 2022 exhibition schedule, the AIHL announced the Brisbane Lightning and Central Coast Rhinos had both been successful in obtaining full AIHL licences and would be officially joining the league and regular season for 2023.[7][8] The two team expansion increased the league membership to ten teams for the first time, previously the highest membership number was nine teams in 2012.[9]

During pre-season, there had been discussions about the possibility for the Brisbane Rampage to join the league following the collapse of the Pacific Hockey League,[10] however the AIHL season schedule had already been organised and released publicly and season preparation had already advanced past the stage to accommodate a late addition. There was no public mention of exhibition games involving the Rampage and/or a pathway to obtaining a licence for the 2024 season.[11]

Exhibition games

In the lead up to Season 2023, eight exhibition games were organised between different AIHL teams. The Mustangs and Ice organised a two game series for February and March 2023. The second of these games doubled as a charity event for The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne.[12] The Mustangs, Ice, O'Brien Icehouse and The District Docklands raised $30,109 for the hospital's Good Friday Appeal. The Brave and Lightning arranged a three game series to replace the missed series in August 2022 when the Brave pulled out due to prepartions for the AIHL Finals. Two games would be played in Brisbane and one in Canberra.[13] The Central Coast Rhinos lined up three pre-season games. One against the Sydney Bears at Erina Ice Arena[14] and two against the Newcastle Northstars, one at Erina and one in Newcastle.[15][16] In additional to the eight games, on 4 March 2023, the Melbourne Mustangs organised a delayed 10 year team anniversary reunion tournament invlolving current and former players, staff and supporters. The event saw 3 teams play in a round-robun tournament at O'Brien Icehouse.[17]

2023 AIHL exhibition games
Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
25 Feb 202317:00Melbourne Ice3–1Melbourne MustangsO'Brien IcehouseRef
4 Mar 202317:30CBR Brave5–4Brisbane LightningBoondall IceworldRef
5 Mar 202316:30CBR Brave6–0Brisbane LightningBoondall IceworldRef
25 Mar 202315:30Sydney Bears12–0Central Coast RhinosErina Ice ArenaRef
31 Mar 202319:30Melbourne Mustangs6–2Melbourne IceO'Brien IcehouseRef
1 Apr 202317:15Brisbane Lightning5–6CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating CentreRef
1 Apr 202315:30Newcastle Northstars6–4Central Coast RhinosErina Ice ArenaRef
2 Apr 202316:00Central Coast Rhinos3–10Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating StadiumRef

Personnel changes

2023 team staff and coaching changes included: Sydney Ice Dogs appointing a new head coach, Jason Kvisle, and associate coach, Jimmy Dufour, after letting Czech coach, Ondrej Cervenka, leave the team.[18][19] Melbourne Ice had a number of ins, outs and role changes at the team. Canadian Kerry Goulet was appointed head coach.[20] Sandy Gardner moved from head coach to assistant coach and is joined by Michael Flaherty and the rejoining Brent Laver.[21] Keira Dunwoody joins the Ice from the Melbourne Ducks and rounds out the coaching department.[21] In other team position changes at the Ice, Marie-Bernadette La Rose left her role as marketing manager after four years with the team,[22] while Erin Tempest and Trevor Dickson were appointed to the roles of Director Secretariate and Director of Hockey Operations respectively.[23][24] Melbourne Mustangs confirmed last season's head coach, Canadian Chris Lawrence would be returning to the team in 2023, but on the playing roster, so the Mustangs replaced Lawrence with American Pat McMahon, who had previous experience with Victorian junior teams and the Melbourne Ducks in the PHL in 2022.[25] Brisbane Lightning's admission into the AIHL brought with it early pre-season changes at the team. Peter Holmes joined the Lightning as general manager and governor, replacing the outgoing Josh Labrie (GM) and Matthew Meyer (governor).[26] Ash Jackson was then brought into the team in December 2022 as the new Director of Marketing, Media and Publicity. Ash has previous marketing campaign experience with the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and overseen projects with the AFL, FIFA and the ICC.[27] Melbourne Mustangs and head coach Patrick McMahon parted ways in July 2023 due to unforeseen circumstances that required him to travel home to America.[28]

Player transfers

All player transfers by the ten AIHL teams for season 2023.[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]


Regular season

Fixtures and results

The 2023 regular season consists of 130 games that are scheduled to run from 15 April 2023 to 13 August 2023. For the first time since 2012, the AIHL regular season sees teams split into two conferences. Teams will play a total of 26 regular season games, playing each team in their conference four times (two at home and two away) and playing teams outside their conference twice.[39] In May 2023, the game between Brisbane Lightning and Newcastle Northstars, scheduled for Hunter Ice Skating Stadium, had to be postponed due to luggage issues with the airline.[40] In June 2023, the Sydney Bears were found to have accidentally breached the AIHL player cap regulations and penalised three competition points.[41] The postponed Northstars vs Lightning game from May was rescheduled for 30 July 2023.[42]

April
April
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
115 Apr 202315:30Brisbane Lightning17–0Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
215 Apr 202316:30Adelaide Adrenaline2–6Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
315 Apr 202317:00Newcastle Northstars0–11Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
415 Apr 202317:00Sydney Bears6–3Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
516 Apr 202314:00Newcastle Northstars4–8Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
616 Apr 202315:30CBR Brave5–3Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
716 Apr 202317:00Brisbane Lightning5–8Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
822 Apr 202316:30Central Coast Rhinos0–15Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
922 Apr 202316:30Sydney Bears6–3Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
1022 Apr 202317:00Perth Thunder4–2Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
1122 Apr 202317:30Sydney Ice Dogs2–3 (OT)CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
1223 Apr 202314:00Perth Thunder4–5Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
1323 Apr 202316:30Central Coast Rhinos0–6Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
1423 Apr 202317:00CBR Brave2–8Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
1528 Apr 202319:30Melbourne Ice1–7Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
1629 Apr 202315:30Adelaide Adrenaline9–3Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
1729 Apr 202316:30Brisbane Lightning2–5Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
1829 Apr 202317:00Newcastle Northstars3–2Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
1929 Apr 202317:00CBR Brave7–1Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
2030 Apr 202314:00CBR Brave2–3 (SO)Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
2130 Apr 202315:30Adelaide Adrenaline7–2Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena

May
May
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
225 May 202319:30Sydney Ice Dogs2–6Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
236 May 202316:30Melbourne Mustangs2–1Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
246 May 202316:30Adelaide Adrenaline3–8Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
256 May 202317:00Melbourne Ice4–7Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
266 May 202317:30Newcastle Northstars3–4CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
277 May 202316:00Central Coast Rhinos3–13Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
287 May 202316:30Melbourne Mustangs4–5Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
297 May 202316:30Adelaide Adrenaline2–5Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
307 May 202317:00Melbourne Ice5–3Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
3113 May 202315:30CBR Brave9–1Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
3213 May 202316:30Newcastle Northstars4–2Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
3313 May 202316:30Sydney Ice Dogs5–4Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
3413 May 202317:00Brisbane Lightning3–8Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
3514 May 202314:00Brisbane Lightning6–2Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
3614 May 202317:00Central Coast Rhinos2–5Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
3720 May 202316:30Perth Thunder6–7 (SO)Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
3820 May 202317:00Sydney Bears7–3Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
3920 May 202317:00CBR Brave4–1Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
4020 May 202317:00Central Coast Rhinos4–8Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
4121 May 202314:00Sydney Bears3–1Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
4226 May 202319:30Melbourne Mustangs9–2Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
4327 May 202316:30Melbourne Ice11–3Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
4427 May 202317:00Perth Thunder4–9Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
4527 May 202317:00Central Coast Rhinos4–6Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
–27 May 202317:00Brisbane LightningPostponedNewcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
4727 May 202317:30Sydney Bears3–2CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
4828 May 202314:00Perth Thunder6–2Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
4928 May 202315:00Brisbane Lightning5–8Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium

June
June
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
503 Jun 202316:30Central Coast Rhinos2–7Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
513 Jun 202317:00Sydney ice Dogs5–9Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
523 Jun 202317:00Adelaide Adrenaline2–6Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
533 Jun 202317:30Brisbane Lightning5–9CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
544 Jun 202314:00Sydney Ice Dogs8–9 (OT)Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
554 Jun 202315:00Adelaide Adrenaline5–6Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
564 Jun 202316:00Brisbane Lightning2–7CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
5710 Jun 202316:30Melbourne Ice11–9Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
5810 Jun 202316:30Central Coast Rhinos6–3Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
5910 Jun 202317:00Perth Thunder3–1Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
6010 Jun 202317:00Melbourne Mustangs2–5Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
6111 Jun 202312:30Central Coast Rhinos6–5 (OT)Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
6211 Jun 202315:00Perth Thunder5–6Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
6311 Jun 202316:00Melbourne Mustangs2–8CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
6411 Jun 202317:00Melbourne Ice4–8Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
6517 Jun 202315:30Melbourne Ice14–8Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
6617 Jun 202316:30Brisbane Lightning0–4Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
6717 Jun 202317:00Perth Thunder6–1Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
6817 Jun 202317:30Newcastle Northstars4–5CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
6918 Jun 202312:30Brisbane Lightning7–4Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
7018 Jun 202315:30Newcastle Northstars6–2Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
7118 Jun 202316:00Melbourne Ice7–9CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
7218 Jun 202317:00Perth Thunder6–5Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
7323 Jun 202319:30Melbourne Ice3–6Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
7424 Jun 202316:30CBR Brave7–4Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
7524 Jun 202316:30Sydney Bears4–2Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
7624 Jun 202317:00Central Coast Rhinos4–11Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
7724 Jun 202317:00Adelaide Adrenaline2–5Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
7825 Jun 202314:00Central Coast Rhinos3–4Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
7925 Jun 202315:00Adelaide Adrenaline2–11Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium

July
July
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
801 Jul 202315:30Melbourne Mustangs9–7Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
811 Jul 202316:30CBR Brave7–3Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
821 Jul 202316:30Perth Thunder6–2Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
831 Jul 202317:00Melbourne Ice2–6Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
841 Jul 202317:00Sydney Ice Dogs2–8Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
852 Jul 202315:00Melbourne Ice3–4Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
862 Jul 202315:30Sydney Ice Dogs9–5Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
872 Jul 202316:30CBR Brave9–2Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
882 Jul 202317:00Melbourne Mustangs3–8Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
898 Jul 202316:30Melbourne Ice4–5Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
908 Jul 202316:30Melbourne Mustangs6–1Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
918 Jul 202317:00Newcastle Northstars5–1Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
928 Jul 202317:30Adelaide Adrenaline3–8CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
939 Jul 202316:00Adelaide Adrenaline1–8CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
949 Jul 202316:30Melbourne Ice7–5Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
959 Jul 202317:00Melbourne Mustangs9–2Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
9614 Jul 202319:30Sydney Bears7–1Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
9715 Jul 202316:30Newcastle Northstars9–5Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
9815 Jul 202317:00Melbourne Mustangs6–4Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
9915 Jul 202317:30Perth Thunder4–3CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
10016 Jul 202312:30Newcastle Northstars5–2Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
10116 Jul 202317:00Melbourne Mustangs5–2Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink
10221 Jul 202319:30Melbourne Mustangs11–4Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
10322 Jul 202316:30Sydney Ice Dogs2–11Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
10422 Jul 202316:30Newcastle Northstars5–8Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
10522 Jul 202317:00Sydney Bears4–2Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
10623 Jul 202314:00Sydney Bears9–7Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
10723 Jul 202316:00Central Coast Rhinos0–10CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
10823 Jul 202316:30Sydney Ice Dogs2–7Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
10923 Jul 202316:30Newcastle Northstars6–5 (SO)Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
11029 Jul 202315:30Perth Thunder13–1Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
11129 Jul 202317:00Adelaide Adrenaline2–5Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
11229 Jul 202317:00Sydney Ice Dogs3–5Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
11329 Jul 202317:00CBR Brave6–2Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
11430 Jul 202314:00Adelaide Adrenaline5–7Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
4630 Jul 202315:00Brisbane Lightning4–7Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
11530 Jul 202315:30Sydney Bears4–2Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
11630 Jul 202317:00Perth Thunder8–4Sydney Ice DogsMacquarie Ice Rink

August
August
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
1175 Aug 202315:30Brisbane Lightning20–1Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
1185 Aug 202316:30CBR Brave13–3Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
1195 Aug 202317:00Sydney Ice Dogs8–10Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
1205 Aug 202317:00Sydney Bears6–5Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
1216 Aug 202312:30CBR Brave6–2Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
1226 Aug 202314:00Sydney Ice Dogs3–7Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
1236 Aug 202315:30Newcastle Northstars18–5Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
1246 Aug 202317:00Brisbane Lightning4–6Sydney BearsMacquarie Ice Rink
12512 Aug 202316:30Sydney Bears3–2Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
12612 Aug 202316:30Sydney Ice Dogs8–5Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
12712 Aug 202316:30Melbourne Mustangs2–5Adelaide AdrenalineIceArenA
12812 Aug 202317:30Central Coast Rhinos1–12CBR BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
12913 Aug 202316:00CBR Brave5–7Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
13013 Aug 202316:30Sydney Bears1–6Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena

Key:

Winner

Overall
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 CBR Brave (P) 26 20 1 1 4 170 77 +93 63 2023 Goodall Cup Finals
2 Sydney Bears 26 21 0 0 5 132 81 +51 60
3 Newcastle Northstars 26 18 1 0 7 162 112 +50 56
4 Melbourne Mustangs 26 17 2 0 7 147 94 +53 55
5 Perth Thunder 26 17 0 1 8 141 90 +51 52
6 Melbourne Ice 26 10 0 0 16 144 165 −21 30
7 Brisbane Lightning 26 9 1 1 15 156 136 +20 30 2023 Goodall Cup Finals
8 Sydney Ice Dogs 26 7 0 2 17 104 159 −55 23
9 Adelaide Adrenaline 26 4 0 1 21 90 162 −72 13
10 Central Coast Rhinos 26 1 1 0 24 75 245 −170 5
Source: AIHL Elite Prospects
Rules for classification:
Tie-break: 1) points; 2) points percentage; 3) head to head; 4) goal difference; 5) goals scored; 6) coin toss
Points: 3 points for regulation win; 2 points for OT or SO win; 1 point for OT or SO loss; 0 points for regulation loss
Note: Sydney Bears deducted 3 points by the league for accidentally breaching player cap regulations in June 2023.[41]
(P) Premiers

Hellyer Conference
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sydney Bears 26 21 0 0 5 132 81 +51 60 2023 Goodall Cup Finals
2 Melbourne Mustangs 26 17 2 0 7 147 94 +53 55
3 Perth Thunder 26 17 0 1 8 141 90 +51 52
4 Melbourne Ice 26 10 0 0 16 144 165 −21 30
5 Sydney Ice Dogs 26 7 0 2 17 104 159 −55 23
Updated to match(es) played on 6 August 2023. Source: AIHL Elite Prospects
Rules for classification:
Tie-break: 1) points; 2) points percentage; 3) head to head; 4) goal difference; 5) goals scored; 6) coin toss
Points: 3 points for regulation win; 2 points for OT or SO win; 1 point for OT or SO loss; 0 points for regulation loss
Note: Sydney Bears deducted 3 points by the league for accidently breaching player cap regulations in June 2023.[41]

Rurak Conference
Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 CBR Brave 26 20 1 1 4 170 77 +93 63 2023 Goodall Cup Finals
2 Newcastle Northstars 26 18 1 0 7 162 112 +50 56
3 Brisbane Lightning 26 9 1 1 15 156 136 +20 30
4 Adelaide Adrenaline 26 4 0 1 21 90 162 −72 13
5 Central Coast Rhinos 26 1 1 0 24 75 245 −170 5
Updated to match(es) played on 6 August 2023. Source: AIHL Elite Prospects
Rules for classification:
Tie-break: 1) points; 2) points percentage; 3) head to head; 4) goal difference; 5) goals scored; 6) coin toss
Points: 3 points for regulation win; 2 points for OT or SO win; 1 point for OT or SO loss; 0 points for regulation loss


Skaters Network player of the week

Each week the AIHL, through sponsorship, names a player of the week.[43]
The award is based on the following criteria:

  • individual performance, including significant game statistics;
  • contribution to the team's success through individual leadership abilities; and
  • performance off the ice, including community engagement.
RoundAwarded toPosRef
1Canada Jordan McTaggartFRef
2Australia Michael SchlampFRef
3Australia Charlie SmartGRef
4Australia Alexandre TetreaultGRef
5Australia Strat AllenFRef
6Australia Thomas StevenFRef
7Australia Vadim VirjassovFRef
8Australia Casey KubaraFRef
9Australia Robert MalloyDRef
10Australia Chris SchutzFRef
11Australia Sebastian WoodlandsGRef
12Australia Wehebe DargeFRef
13Australia Thomas FlackFRef
14Australia Riley KlugermanFRef
15Australia Jordan KyrosFRef
16Canada Benjamin BreaultFRef

Season awards

Below lists the 2023 AIHL regular season award winners.[44]

Award Name Team
MVPCanada Scott TimminsMelbourne Mustangs
GoaltenderCanada Andrew MastersCentral Coast Rhinos
DefencemanCanada Ty WishartMelbourne Mustangs
LocalNot awarded
RookieAustralia Riley KlugermanNewcastle Northstars
CoachAustralia Benjamin BreaultPerth Thunder

Goodall Cup playoffs

For season 2023, the AIHL adopted a new two weekend Finals format.[39] The new format involved two play-in finals games during the first weekend and then two semi-finals and grand final in the second weekend. The new format involved single elimination games, with the losing team eliminated and winning team advancing to the next round. Participating teams in the AIHL Finals increased from four to six for the first time in league history. Qualification for Finals involved the highest three ranking teams from each AIHL regular season conference (Hellyer and Rurak). The top ranked teams from each conference would automatically qualify for the semi-finals, with the second and third ranked teams entering Finals at the play-in stage with a conference cross-over. The winner of Finals would continue to be named AIHL Champions and lift the historic Goodall Cup, just as it has been in previous seasons.[45]

Melbourne's O'Brien Icehouse and Newcastle's Hunter Ice Skating Stadium were selected as host venues for the 2023 AIHL Finals. Newcastle hosting one of the play-in games and Melbourne hosting the other play-in as well as the second weekend. Following the conclusion of the 2023 AIHL regular season, the CBR Brave and Sydney Bears finished top of their respective conferences to directly qualify for the semi-finals in Melbourne in week two. The Melbourne Mustangs, Newcastle Northstars, Perth Thunder and Brisbane Lightning qualified for the play-ins in week one. The Northstars would play the Thunder in Newcastle and the Mustangs would play the Lightning in Melbourne.[45] In week one, the Mustangs and Thunder won their respective play-in finals to advance to the semi-finals in week two. In week two, on Saturday, the Mustangs shutout the Bears in semi-final one to cause an upset, the Brave then eventually defeated the Thunder in semi-final two, after a lengthy player injury delay in the second period. On Sunday, the Brave faced-off with the hometown team the Mustangs in the grand final for the Goodall Cup. In a tightly contested game, the Mustangs prevailed and won 1–0, their second Finals shutout in a row. It was the Mustangs second ever Championship title and their first in nine years, since 2014 when they last won.[46] The Brave missed out on going back-to-back. Following the grand final, Melbourne Mustangs' Canadian gaoltender, Liam Hughes, was named Finals MVP for his heroic two shutouts.[47]

Play-insSemi-finalsGrand final
26 August – Melbourne
20 August – Melbourne1Sydney Bears0
3Melbourne Mustangs8Melbourne Mustangs427 August – Melbourne
6Brisbane Lightning3Melbourne Mustangs1
26 August – MelbourneCBR Brave0
19 August – Newcastle2CBR Brave4
4Newcastle Northstars1Perth Thunder1
5Perth Thunder4

All times are UTC+10:00

Play-in finals
19 August 2023
17:00		Newcastle Northstars1–4
(0–1, 1–0, 0–3)		Perth ThunderHunter Ice Skating Stadium
Game reference
Australia Charles SmartGoaliesCanada Kristian SteadReferees:
Kent Unwin
Mark Peruzzo
Linesmen:
Hayden Rogers
Luke Power
0 – 1Breault (Jean, Langille)
(Klugerman, Darge) Adkins1 – 1
1 – 2Kudla (Kyros)
1 – 3Jean (Unassisted)
1 – 4Webster (Unassisted)
8 minPenalties4 min
47Shots39
20 August 2023
14:00		Melbourne Mustangs8–3
(3–1, 2–2, 3–0)		Brisbane LightningO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Canada Liam HughesGoaliesAustralia Steve HarrisReferees:
Rob Love
David Gal
Linesmen:
Russell Dow
David Rehak
0 – 1Fodor (McTaggart, Fuschini)
(Lawrence) Wishart1 – 1
(Cutter) Humphries2 – 1
(Humphries, Hughes) Turner3 – 1
3 – 2Anderson (Roth)
(Wishart) Virjassov4 – 2
4 – 3Kulczycki (Roth, Harris)
(Lawrence) Wishart5 – 3
(Virjassov, Wishart) Apps6 – 3
(McDowell) Timmins7 – 3
(Khroustalev, Jones) Humphries8 – 3
10 minPenalties20 min
33Shots27

Semi-finals
26 August 2023
14:00		Sydney Bears0–4
(0–0, 0–1, 0–3)		Melbourne MustangsO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Anthony KimlinGoaliesCanada Liam HughesReferees:
David Gal
Kent Unwin
Linesmen:
David Rehak
Luke Power
0 – 1Timmins (Wishart, McDowell)
0 – 2Virjassov (Wishart)
0 – 3Virjassov (Unassisted)
0 – 4Lawrence (Timmins)
4 minPenalties10 min
41Shots39
26 August 2023
18:30		CBR Brave4–1
(2–1, 0–0, 2–0)		Perth ThunderO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Aleksi ToivonenGoaliesCanada Kristian SteadReferees:
Rob Love
Mark Peruzzo
Linesmen:
Russell Dow
Hayden Rogers
(Plouffe) Albrecht1 – 0
(Camenzind) T Kubara2 – 0
2 – 1Breault (Jean)
(Hughes, Harvey) B Kubara3 – 1
(Albrecht, Vance) Plouffe4 – 1
6 minPenalties4 min
50Shots39

Final
27 August 2023
14:00		Melbourne Mustangs1–0
(0–0, 1–0, 0–0)		CBR BraveO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Canada Liam HughesGoaliesAustralia Aleksi ToivonenReferees:
Kent Unwin
David Gal
Linesmen:
Russell Dow
Hayden Rogers
(Lawrence, Timmins) McDowell1 – 0
2 minPenalties2 min
22Shots33

References
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