AWIHL Game Day Program (4-5 February 2023)

GAME DAY PROGRAM

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In This Edition..

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Acknowledgement Of Country

In the spirit of reconciliation the AWIHL acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community

Sovereignty was never ceded and we pay our respect to Elders past and present and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today

Welcome Hockey Fans!

After a brief break for the IIHF U18 Division II-A Women’s World Championships, the AWIHL returns to action The AWIHL would like to congratulate the Junior Flyers on winning Gold and promotion to Division IB!

With only three weekends remaining in the AWIHL Regular Season and every team still in contention for the Playoffs, there is everything to play for.

We have just one series this weekend - between the Adelaide Rush and the Perth Inferno at Cockburn Ice Arena

The Adelaide Rush will be looking to secure a series win and leapfrog the Brisbane Lightning for the fourth and final Playoff position, while the Perth Inferno will aim to press their home-ice advantage and tighten their hold on third place.

Finally, some things are greater than Hockey; find out how you can support cancer research and pick up some sweet swag at the same time inside our program.

Enjoy your Hockey!

Photographs: Phil Taylor Photographic

The AWIHL would like to thank everyone who is giving their time, hard work and support to make this Season a success: our hard-working Players and Staff, our very dedicated Volunteers, our generous Sponsors and our wonderful Supporters

Thank you all!

Last Weekend

14-15 January - O'Brien Icehouse, Melbourne

Melbourne Ice 3 def Sydney Sirens 2

Sydney Sirens 4 def Melbourne Ice 3 (O/T)

The last time the AWIHL was in action, the reigning champion Sydney Sirens took on the first-placed Melbourne Ice at O’Brien Icehouse.

Saturday’s game saw Sera Dogramaci become the first Goaltender to play 100 AWIHL games. Sarah Edney’s two goals and Dogramaci’s 45 saves on 48 shots weren’t enough as the Sirens fell short in a 3-2 loss Melbourne Ice forward Paige Cameron scored her first-ever AWIHL goal, which stood as the game-winner.

Sunday’s game was a back-and-forth contest, as neither team held a multiple-goal lead. It seemed the game was over when Linda Bjorling scored for the Sirens with under two and a half minutes remaining in regulation However, Marnie Pullin equalised a minute later to tie it up and send the game to overtime

In overtime, Sarah Edney scored her second goal of the game and fourth of the weekend, to secure the 4-3 victory for the Sirens. It was the first time the Ice have lost this season - they are still yet to lose in regulation.

Both teams have qualified for the Playoffs and will look to continue to improve to battle for the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy on March 18/19 at O’Brien Icehouse.

Photographs: Phil Taylor Photographic

Last Weekend

Photographs

Last Weekend

This Weekend

Inferno

Rush vs

Cockburn Ice Arena, Perth

Saturday 4:30pm; Sunday 10:00am

Times AWST - ADST +3hrs, ACDT +25hrs

Saturday tickets: www.trybooking.com/CEDLY Sunday tickets: www.trybooking.com/CEDMA

The last time these two teams met in Adelaide they combined for a 25goal fiesta: Adelaide won the first game 5-3 and Perth the second 10-7

While the series was enjoyable for fans and neutrals, both sets of coaches will no doubt look to tighten things up defensively.

The series will feature an intriguing Goaltending battle between Adelaide’s Madison Smith, the U18 Junior Flyers’ gold-medal-winning netminder, and Perth’s Sasha King, who will represent the Senior Women’s Team at the IIHF Division II-B Women’s World Championships in Cape Town, South Africa.

An intriguing contest within the contest will be between top-line centres - Kate Tihema (Adelaide) and Michelle Clark-Crumpton (Perth). During an interview with the 'Net, Sticks, and Chill' podcast, Clark-Crumpton recently revealed that the player she enjoys facing the least is Tihema because she is a masterful face-off winner and shutdown centre

If Adelaide wins both games in regulation, they will leapfrog the Brisbane Lightning for the fourth and final Playoff spot.

Meanwhile, Perth will be eager to put some distance between itself and playoff hopefuls Brisbane and Adelaide, while gaining ground on Sydney and Melbourne.

Saturday’s game on February 4th will be World Cancer Day, and the Perth Inferno will be wearing a newly-designed jersey to commemorate the occasion. The jerseys will be signed and auctioned off in support of Cancer Council WA.

Adelaide Rush Team List

Around The League Adelaide Rush

Three Adelaide Rush players and a member of our Development squad recently went away with the Australian team to play in the IIHF Women's U18 Division II-A World Championships in Dumfries, Scotland - and the team won Gold.

We would like to pass on our congratulations to the following players:

Maddy Smith (Goaltender)

Elana Holub

Amber Bedell

Amelia Knott (Goaltender - Development Player)

During the Tournament, both Maddy and Elana won 'Player of the Game' honours - which is a huge achievement.

The Adelaide Rush is proud of our Under 18 players - never have we had so much excellent young talent!

Around The League Perth Inferno

This Saturday evening - February 4 - the Perth Inferno will host the Adelaide Rush at the Cockburn Ice Arena in the first game of a weekend doubleheader.

February 4 is also World Cancer Day, and we will be taking the Ice in specially-designed black and purple game

Online Auctions for our Jerseys are currently underway

The Jersey Auction will continue through the weekend - and close on Tuesday February 7 at 8pm AWST (8 February 2am AEDT).

By placing a winning bid on a Jersey you will be supporting the important work of the Cancer Council WA.

In addition, for every ticket sold to Saturday evening's game $2 will be donated to Cancer Council WA.

If you are in Perth Saturday, come on down to Cockburn Ice Arena, show your support and watch some great Hockey!

Jersey Auction

You can find the Jersey Auction at: https://www.32auctions.com/perthinferno23

Next Games

11-12 February - Macquarie Ice Rink, Sydney

Sydney Sirens versus Perth Inferno

Saturday 4:30pm; Sunday 8:15am (Times AEDT)

11-12 February - Ice World, Boondall

Brisbane Lightning versus Melbourne Ice

Saturday 5:00pm; Sunday 8:15am (Times AEST)

4-5 March - Ice Arena, Adelaide

Adelaide Rush versus Brisbane Lightning

Saturday 4:00pm; Sunday 10:00am (Times ACST)

4-5 February - Cockburn Ice Arena, Perth

Perth Inferno versus Melbourne Ice

Saturday 4:30pm; Sunday 10:00am (Times AWST)

"Net, Sticks and Chill"

Looking for your AWIHL fix in a Podcast form?

Listen to the Inner Sanctum's "Net, Sticks and Chill" Podcast and you'll hear review, commentary and interviews from around the League - and the Australian Ice Hockey community.

Subscribe now on your favourite Podcast platform.

Have feedback about the Game Day Program?

If you have something you would like to suggest (or a correction), we'd love to hear from you! Send an email to: gordongoodenough@ihaorgau

Game Day Program Credits

Layout and Design: Scott Stevenson

IHA Content Strategist and Communications Manager: Gordon Goodenough Consultation Group:

Michaela Fellowes, Mikahlia Holmes, Andrew Macdougall, Steven Poletti, Kylie Taylor

Photographs: Phil Taylor