The 2016 AIHL season was the 17th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 23 April 2016 until 21 August 2016, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 27 and 28 August. The Melbourne Ice won the H Newman Reid Trophy after finishing the regular season with the most points. The Newcastle North Stars won the Goodall Cup for the second year in a row after defeating the CBR Brave in the final.
Teams In 2016 the AIHL had 8 teams competing in the league.
2016 AIHL teamsTeam City Arena Head coach Captain Adelaide Adrenaline Adelaide IceArenA Trevor Walsh Greg Oddy CBR Brave Canberra Phillip Ice Skating Centre Josh Unice Jordan Gavin Melbourne Ice Melbourne O'Brien Group Arena Brent Laver Lliam Webster Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne O'Brien Group Arena Michael Flaherty Patrick O'Kane Newcastle North Stars Newcastle Hunter Ice Skating Stadium Andrew Petrie Robert Malloy Perth Thunder Perth Perth Ice Arena Dave Kenway Samuel Wilson Sydney Bears Penrith Penrith Ice Palace Ron Kuprowsky Michael Schlamp Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Liverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink Vladimir Rubes Scott Stephenson
League business In September 2015 it was announced that the Medibank Icehouse had been renamed the O'Brien Group Arena following a lease takeover by the O'Brien Catering Group. The league announced that the Sydney Bears will host two games against the Melbourne Ice in Queensland during the 2016 season. The games, promoted under the title of the Brisbane Battle, will be held at Iceworld Boondall and Iceworld Acacia Ridge on 14 and 15 May respectively. The AIHL have not held a game in Queensland since the suspension of the Gold Coast Blue Tongues in 2012. In February 2016 the Sydney Ice Dogs announced that Reach Crane Trucks had renewed their sponsorship for 2016, extending the original three-year deal that was signed in 2013. The Ice Dogs later signed TAFE SWSi Aboriginal Learning Circle as a new sponsor for the season. Also in February Hards Transport renewed their naming rights sponsorship of the Adelaide Adrenaline. The Adrenaline also signed new sponsors Reading Cinemas, Paxton Wines and Mortgage Choice Malvern and extended their deal with the Hilton Hotel's MyBar as their official post-game venue. In March 2016 the CBR Brave signed Casino Canberra and McDonald's ACT as major sponsors and Canberra Toyota as their vehicle sponsor. The CBR Brave also extended their deal with Anytime Fitness as the club's official gym partner and the Hellenic Club of Canberra as their post-game partner and renewed their sponsorship deal with Jordo's Chop Shop. On 21 March 2016 the Bears announced that they had formed a partnership with the Australian Defence Force Ice Hockey Association's Army Knights for 2016. This was followed by the CBR Brave forming a partnership with the Navy Tigersharks. Both partnerships aim to help promote ice hockey within the Defence Force and develop emerging talent. The Bears partnership deal also includes discounted tickets for Defence Force members during the season. The Sydney Bears have reached a deal with Hawkesbury Radio to broadcast at least two of their home games for the 2016 season while also continuing to broadcast via their normal Mixlr stream. The Perth Thunder will also start live broadcasting their home games via Mixlr for the 2016 season. In April the Brave announced a partnership with the Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League to help increase promotion between the two teams. On 22 April the Perth Thunder announced that they had signed Smooth Financial Services as a platinum sponsor for the 2016 season. In May 2016 Hi-Tec Oils renewed their major sponsorship with the Sydney Bears for the season. Also in May The James Hotel signed a deal with the Melbourne Mustangs to become a major sponsor and host the club's pre and post-game functions.
Exhibition games On 31 March 2016 the Melbourne Ice and Melbourne Mustangs competed in an exhibition game at the O’Brien Group Arena with the Ice winning 5–1. The 2016 edition of the Wilson Cup was held in March and April 2016. The tournament featured the three New South Wales based clubs competing in a double round-robin before a final between the two top ranked teams. The Sydney Bears finished first in the round robin stage, winning three of their four games, and were drawn against the Sydney Ice Dogs in the final. The Bears won the final 3–1, claiming their third Wilson Cup title.
Personnel changes In October 2015 it was announced that Vladimir Rubes had stepped down as head coach of the Sydney Bears due to family commitments. Rubes was replaced by assistant Ron Kuprowsky to the position of head coach. Kuprowsky was previously coach of the Sydney Ice Dogs before joining the Bears in 2015. Also in October the Sydney Ice Dogs announced their 2016 committee with Tim Flynn moving from the head coach position to the role of general manager, taking over the position from Anthony Wilson. Flynn's role as general manager for the Sydney Ice Dogs lasted until March 2016 with the club replacing him with former player Jason Juba. In November 2015 the Melbourne Mustangs announced that Brad Vigon had resigned from the position of head coach due to family commitments. Vigon was replaced by assistant coach Michael Flaherty with the Mustangs also adding former Australian national team players Damian Holland and Jon Moses as Flaherty's new assistant coaches. The Mustangs also announced that Andrew McDowell had stepped down from the position of Vice President in order to focus on his role of Director of Hockey Operations. He was replaced by Myles Harris.
In December 2015 the Adelaide Adrenaline announced that head coach Ryan O'Handley had stepped down from the position of head coach due to family commitments. O'Handley however moved into the positions of Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations at the club. A couple of weeks later the Adrenaline signed former AIHL and Australian national team player Trevor Walsh as O'Handley's replacement. Following the appointment of Walsh as head coach the Adrenaline also announced that Gordon Cochrane and Sami Mantere had been signed as assistant coaches for 2016. In March 2016 the Sydney Ice Dogs announced that they had signed former Sydney Bears head coach Vladimir Rubes to the position of head coach. Rubes stepped down from his position of head coach of the Sydney Bears in October 2015 citing family commitments. Also in March the CBR Brave re-signed head coach Josh Unice along with assistant coaches David Rogina and Stuart Philps for the 2016 season.
In June 2016 the Adrenaline relieved Trevor Walsh of his duties as head coach. He was replaced by former Australian national team assistant coach Eric Lien. On 17 August, three days before the final round of the regular season, the Brave announced that Josh Unice had resigned from his position of head coach due to a number of personal issues outside of hockey. He was replaced by the club's assistant coaches for the remainder of the season.
Player transfers
Interclub transfers Player Previous team New team Adelaide Adrenaline CBR Brave Sydney Bears Sydney Ice Dogs CBR Brave Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Bears Sydney Ice Dogs Perth Thunder Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne Ice CBR Brave Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Bears Newcastle North Stars CBR Brave Adelaide Adrenaline Sydney Ice Dogs Adelaide Adrenaline Sydney Ice Dogs Newcastle North Stars CBR Brave
Retirements Player Team New role Melbourne Mustangs — Sydney Ice Dogs Assistant coach at Sydney Ice Dogs Newcastle North Stars —
New signings Player Previous team New team No team Sydney Bears Banff Academy Bears Sydney Ice Dogs No team Melbourne Mustangs No team Adelaide Adrenaline Concordia University Perth Thunder Kallinge-Ronneby IF CBR Brave SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers CBR Brave LHC Les Lions Perth Thunder Adelaide Tigers Adelaide Adrenaline No team Sydney Bears No team CBR Brave No team Perth Thunder No team Melbourne Ice Fife Flyers Perth Thunder Adelaide Blackhawks Adelaide Adrenaline Banff Academy Bears Sydney Bears Elsipogtog Hawks Adelaide Adrenaline No team Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne Glaciers Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne Glaciers Melbourne Mustangs Adelaide Falcons Adelaide Adrenaline No team CBR Brave Northern Vikings Perth Thunder Peoria Rivermen Newcastle North Stars Trois-Rivières Blizzard CBR Brave Peoria Rivermen Newcastle North Stars Canterbury Red Devils Perth Thunder Bentley Generals Perth Thunder Penrith Raptors Sydney Bears No team CBR Brave No team Melbourne Mustangs No team Adelaide Adrenaline No team Sydney Bears Coventry Blaze Melbourne Mustangs Penrith Raptors Sydney Bears Whitby Dunlops Sydney Bears Sydney Sting Sydney Ice Dogs Reach Rebels Sydney Ice Dogs Atlanta Jr. Knights CBR Brave No team Melbourne Ice No team Melbourne Ice Royal Military College of Canada Melbourne Mustangs No team CBR Brave University of Prince Edward Island Adelaide Adrenaline Perth Pelicans Perth Thunder Sydney Sabres Newcastle North Stars Adelaide Redwings Adelaide Adrenaline University of Alberta Augustana Newcastle North Stars No team Melbourne Mustangs No team Sydney Bears Las Vegas Storm Newcastle North Stars No team Melbourne Mustangs No team CBR Brave Corsaires de Nantes Adelaide Adrenaline No team Adelaide Adrenaline Blueline Bombers Sydney Ice Dogs Adelaide Redwings Adelaide Adrenaline Perth Pelicans Perth Thunder No team CBR Brave No team CBR Brave Adelaide Penguins Adelaide Adrenaline Sydney Sting Sydney Bears No team Melbourne Mustangs No team Newcastle North Stars West Auckland Admirals Sydney Ice Dogs SKHL Crvena Zvezda Melbourne Mustangs Hamilton Steelhawks Melbourne Mustangs Army Knights Sydney Bears Newcastle North Stars ECSL Newcastle North Stars HC Zdar nad Sazavou Sydney Ice Dogs No team Sydney Ice Dogs No team Sydney Ice Dogs Green Bay Jr. Gamblers U18 Melbourne Mustangs Manchester Storm Sydney Ice Dogs Newcastle North Stars ECSL Newcastle North Stars Manchester Storm Sydney Ice Dogs Melbourne Whalers Melbourne Mustangs Dundas Real McCoys Sydney Bears CIHA White Midget AAA Sydney Bears Bridgton Academy 18U Sydney Ice Dogs Indy Fuel Newcastle North Stars No team Melbourne Ice Adelaide Falcons Adelaide Adrenaline
Players lost