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. The CBR Brave and Sydney Bears claimed the Rurak and Hellyer conference trophies for finishing top of their respective conference standings. The CBR Brave also won the Premiership and claimed the H Newman Reid Trophy for a record fourth consecutive time by finishing top of the regular season standings. The Melbourne Mustangs won the Championship and claimed the Goodall Cup for the second time in their history, defeating the Brave in the grand final. The returning Central Coast Rhinos claimed the wooden spoon.
Teams In 2023 the AIHL had 10 teams split into two conferences competing in the league.
2023 AIHL teamsHellyer ConferenceTeam City Arena Head Coach Captain Melbourne Ice Melbourne O'Brien Icehouse Kerry Goulet Mackenzie Caruana Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne O'Brien Icehouse Pat McMahon Brendan McDowell Perth Thunder Perth Perth Ice Arena Benjamin Breault James Woodman Sydney Bears Sydney Macquarie Ice Rink Ron Kuprowsky Ryan Annesley Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Macquarie Ice Rink Jason Kvisle Daniel PatakyRurak ConferenceTeam City Arena Head Coach Captain Adelaide Adrenaline Adelaide IceArenA Stu Henly Joey MacDougall Brisbane Lightning Brisbane Boondall Iceworld Terry Kiliwnik Damian Bright CBR Brave Canberra Phillip Ice Skating Centre Stuart Philps Kai Miettinen Central Coast Rhinos Central Coast Erina Ice Arena Ashley Marsh Robert Malloy Newcastle Northstars Newcastle Hunter Ice Skating Stadium Kevin Noble Liam Manwarring
League Business
The 2023 regular season fixture list was released publicly by the AIHL on 2 November 2022. The AIHL Finals would be altered from 2022, moving to a two weekend format for the first time in league history. 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. While Western Australia no longer had any border restrictions, paving the way for the Thunder's return. A new paid subscription streaming service named AIHL.TV was introduced by the AIHL for season 2023. 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.
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. 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.
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, 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.
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. 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 preparations for the AIHL Finals. Two games would be played in Brisbane and one in Canberra. The Central Coast Rhinos lined up three pre-season games. One against the Sydney Bears at Erina Ice Arena and two against the Newcastle Northstars, one at Erina and one in Newcastle. In addition to the eight games, on 4 March 2023, the Melbourne Mustangs organised a delayed 10 year team anniversary reunion tournament involving current and former players, staff and supporters. The event saw 3 teams play in a round-robin tournament at O'Brien Icehouse.
2023 AIHL exhibition gamesDateTimeAwayScoreHomeLocationRecap 25 Feb 2023 17:00 Melbourne Ice 3–1 Melbourne Mustangs O'Brien Icehouse Ref 4 Mar 2023 17:30 CBR Brave 5–4 Brisbane Lightning Boondall Iceworld Ref 5 Mar 2023 16:30 CBR Brave 6–0 Brisbane Lightning Boondall Iceworld Ref 25 Mar 2023 15:30 Sydney Bears 12–0 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena Ref 31 Mar 2023 19:30 Melbourne Mustangs 6–2 Melbourne Ice O'Brien Icehouse Ref 1 Apr 2023 17:15 Brisbane Lightning 5–6 CBR Brave Phillip Ice Skating Centre Ref 1 Apr 2023 15:30 Newcastle Northstars 6–4 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena Ref 2 Apr 2023 16:00 Central Coast Rhinos 3–10 Newcastle Northstars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium Ref
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. Melbourne Ice had a number of ins, outs and role changes at the team. Canadian Kerry Goulet was appointed head coach. Sandy Gardner moved from head coach to assistant coach and is joined by Michael Flaherty and the rejoining Brent Laver. Keira Dunwoody joins the Ice from the Melbourne Ducks and rounds out the coaching department. In other team position changes at the Ice, Marie-Bernadette La Rose left her role as marketing manager after four years with the team, while Erin Tempest and Trevor Dickson were appointed to the roles of Director Secretariate and Director of Hockey Operations respectively. 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. 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). 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. Melbourne Mustangs and head coach Patrick McMahon parted ways in July 2023 due to unforeseen circumstances that required him to travel home to America.
Player transfers All player transfers by the ten AIHL teams for season 2023.
Interclub transfers Player Previous team New team Sydney Bears Central Coast Rhinos Melbourne Ice Adelaide Adrenaline * Melbourne Ice Melbourne Mustangs CBR Brave Newcastle Northstars Melbourne Ice Perth Thunder Sydney Ice Dogs Central Coast Rhinos * Sydney Ice Dogs Central Coast Rhinos CBR Brave Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Dogs Brisbane Lightning * Brisbane Lightning Sydney Ice Dogs Melbourne Ice Adelaide Adrenaline Sydney Bears Brisbane Lightning Sydney Bears Perth Thunder Newcastle Northstars Central Coast Rhinos * Sydney Bears Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Ice Dogs Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bears Sydney Ice Dogs CBR Brave Perth Thunder Melbourne Ice Melbourne Mustangs Newcastle Northstars Central Coast Rhinos Melbourne Ice Melbourne Mustangs CBR Brave Newcastle Northstars CBR Brave Perth Thunder * Melbourne Ice CBR Brave Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Bears Sydney Bears Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bears Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bears Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bears Central Coast Rhinos CBR Brave Perth Thunder * Mid-season transfer.
Retirements Player Team New role
New signings