The 2024 AIHL season was the 23nd season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The season consisted of 155 total games, split between 150 regular season games and a five-game Goodall Cup Finals post-season. The regular season ran from 6 April to 11 August 2024. The Finals ran from 23 to 25 August 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. The Sydney Bears claimed a conference-Premiership double by winning the Hellyer conference trophy and H Newman Reid Trophy. The Newcastle Northstars claimed the Rurak conference trophy, while the Canberra Brave were crowned AIHL Champions and hoisted the Goodall Cup after defeating the Melbourne Ice in the grand final. The much-improved Central Coast Rhinos picked up the wooden spoon for a second year running.
Teams
In 2024 the AIHL had 10 teams split into two conferences, Rurak and Hellyer, competing in the league.
2024 AIHL teamsHellyer ConferenceTeam City Arena Head Coach Captain Melbourne Ice Melbourne O'Brien Icehouse Kerry Goulet Mackenzie Caruana Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne O'Brien Icehouse Scott Timmins Todd Cutter Perth Thunder Perth Perth Ice Arena Benjamin Breault Jamie Woodman Sydney Bears Sydney Macquarie Ice Rink Vlad Rubes Ryan Annesley Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Macquarie Ice Rink Jason Kvisle Daniel PatakyRurak ConferenceTeam City Arena Head Coach Captain Adelaide Adrenaline Adelaide Adelaide IceArenA Kaden Elder Joey MacDougall Brisbane Lightning Brisbane Boondall Iceworld Terry Kiliwnik No Captain Canberra Brave Canberra Phillip Ice Skating Centre Stuart Philps Kai Miettinen Central Coast Rhinos Central Coast Erina Ice Arena Ron Kuprowsky Robert Malloy Newcastle Northstars Newcastle Hunter Ice Skating Stadium Kevin Noble Liam Manwarring
League business The 2024 regular season fixture list was released publicly by the AIHL on 21 October, confirming all 10 teams from 2023 would be returning to compete in 2024. 2024 AIHL Finals information was released by the league in February 2024, confirming dates and location. The Goodall Cup, H Newman Reid Trophy, Rurak and Hellyer conference trophies would continue to the be prizes AIHL teams would compete for in 2024. The league held its official season launch event at Bondi Icebergs Club on 20 March 2024. Mick McCormack was appointed as the first patron of the AIHL at the event.
The AIHL accepted an invitation by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to open up an additional import slot for the 2024 season to Ukrainian players seeking respite from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Each AIHL would be allowed to sign one Ukrainian player from Ukraine at no cost to their player points-cap.
The AIHL confirmed AIHL.TV would return in 2024 on 4 March. The paid service would provide live and on-demand online streaming of all AIHL regular season and finals games, 155 games in total. With the sudden collapse of 2023 service provided Clutch in late 2023, the service provider for AIHL.TV in 2024 moved to Swedish company StayLive AB. Thought fox Media Group, ATC Productions, Spacequake Sports and Front Row Screens (FRS Sport) continue as the four local production companies associated with the service. 2023 season streams would also be made available on the service. On 8 June 2024, the AIHL.TV service was expanded to include the release of an app on Apple iOS and Android Play.
In July 2024, the AIHL announced a new Finals major sponsorship deal with Hungry Jack's. This was the league's first major Finals sponsorship since Air Canada’s deal that ended at the conclusion of 2018. The Hungry Jack's deal will include branding at the Melbourne Icehouse, special activities and promotions during the Finals weekend.
Exhibition games
In 2024, the Newcastle Northstars and Central Coast Rhinos were the only two teams to schedule exhibitions games. The pair faced off over two games in Newcastle and Erina, Central Coast in March 2024. Apart from these two exhibition games, the Sydney Ice Dogs, Brisbane Lightning and Adelaide Adrenaline arranged intraclub pre-season exhibition games. This included an early March men's and women's showcase in Brisbane and an alumni vs current team match-up in Adelaide in early April.
2024 AIHL exhibition gamesDateTimeAwayScoreHomeLocationRecap 16 March 2024 17:00 Central Coast Rhinos 8–3 Newcastle Northstars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium Ref 23 March 2024 15:15 Newcastle Northstars 2–3 (OT) Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena Ref
Personnel changes
Ron Kuprowsky ended his five-year stint with the Sydney Bears as their head coach in October 2023. During this time, Ron guided the Bears to two consecutive grand finals appearances, one Hellyer conference trophy and one championship title. Kuprowsky was later unveiled as the new head coach of the Central Coast Rhinos in December 2023, replacing Ashley Marsh. Marsh moved into a new coaching role with the Rhinos. In February 2024, the Brisbane Lightning announced the hiring of the vastly experienced Canadian Mike Sirant as an associate coach. Sirant joined the Queenslanders after stepping down from his 30-year position as head coach of the University of Manitoba hockey program. In April 2024, Both the Sydney Bears and Melbourne Mustangs appointed new head coaches. American Tyler Huberty took over the vacant head coaching role at the Bears. Huberty moved to Sydney after spending four years as the assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma hockey program. Scott Timmins takes over head coaching responsibilities for the Mustangs but remains on the playing roster too. Timmins links up for the Mustangs for the third season in a row but his first as a player/coach. Timmins replaces Jon Moses, who was acting interim coach for the second half of last season following the departure of Patrick McMahon.
In June 2024, the Adelaide Adrenaline released Stu Henly from his head coaching duties and appointed Canadian forward Kaden Elder has player/coach for the remainder of the 2024 season. In July 2024, the Sydney Bears parted ways with American head coach Tyler Huberty. Huberty's removal shocked the AIHL community with the Bears sitting top of the league standings at the time. Former Sydney Bears player and team icon Vlad Rubes was appointed Huberty's replacement.
Player transfers
All player transfers by the ten AIHL teams for season 2024.
Interclub transfers
Player Previous team New team Newcastle Northstars Adelaide Adrenaline Canberra Brave Melbourne Ice Sydney Ice Dogs Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bears Melbourne Ice Sydney Bears Central Coast Rhinos * Central Coast Rhinos Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne Ice Melbourne Mustangs Central Coast Rhinos Melbourne Ice Brisbane Lightning Central Coast Rhinos Canberra Brave Melbourne Mustangs Sydney Bears Central Coast Rhinos Melbourne Ice Brisbane Lightning Canberra Brave Melbourne Ice Newcastle Northstars Perth Thunder Newcastle Northstars Perth Thunder Melbourne Ice Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne Ice Sydney Bears Newcastle Northstars Adelaide Adrenaline Canberra Brave Sydney Bears Perth Thunder Newcastle Northstars Central Coast Rhinos Newcastle Northstars Newcastle Northstars Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bears Canberra Brave Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bears * Mid-season transfer.
Retirements
Player Team New role Brisbane Lightning No team Sydney Bears No team
New signings
Player Previous team New team Utah Grizzlies Perth Thunder Southern Jokers Brisbane Lightning Dalmeny Sabres Brisbane Lightning Outlaws Melbourne Mustangs Fredonia Blue Devils Melbourne Ice Seattle Jr. Kraken Melbourne Mustangs No team Canberra Brave Gothiques d'Amiens Central Coast Rhinos No team Sydney Ice Dogs Melbourne Sharks Melbourne Ice Diables Rouges de Briançon Perth Thunder Corsaires de Dunkerque Perth Thunder Southern Drop Bears Brisbane Lightning No team Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bombers Central Coast Rhinos Gothiques d'Amiens Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Pigeons Sydney Bears CP Milenio Logroño Central Coast Rhinos Norwest Emperors Sydney Ice Dogs Canberra Blades Canberra Brave Kings County Rivermen Brisbane Lightning New Jersey Rockets Canberra Brave Birmingham Bulls Canberra Brave No team Sydney Ice Dogs West Coast Flyers Blue Perth Thunder Adirondack Thunder Sydney Ice Dogs Solihull Barons Sydney Bears Gyergyói HK Sydney Ice Dogs Adelaide Falcons Adelaide Adrenaline Sydney Sabres Sydney Ice Dogs EV Lindau Islanders Newcastle Northstars No team Sydney Ice Dogs IHC Leuven Chiefs Adelaide Adrenaline York Lions Sydney Ice Dogs Winkler Royals Brisbane Lightning Canterbury Red Devils Sydney Bears Outlook Ice Hawks Adelaide Adrenaline Brisbane Spitfires Brisbane Lightning Manchester Storm Melbourne Mustangs St. Brieux/Lake Lenore Rivals Melbourne Mustangs Darkhan Brisbane Lightning Pacific Coast Academy Melbourne Ice West Coast Flyers Blue Perth Thunder Melbourne Glaciers Melbourne Ice Canterbury Red Devils Melbourne Mustangs Sydney Bombers Sydney Bears Southern Puckers Brisbane Lightning No team Adelaide Adrenaline Southern Jokers Brisbane Lightning Courchevel-Méribel-Pralognan Central Coast Rhinos Braves IHC Melbourne Mustangs Northern Chiefs Perth Thunder Pacific Coast Academy Prep Melbourne Mustangs Newcastle Northstars U17 Central Coast Rhinos Pensacola Ice Flyers Sydney Bears Red Eagles Hokkaido Perth Thunder Southern Puckers Brisbane Lightning Southern Drop Bears Brisbane Lightning Red Eagles Hokkaido Newcastle Northstars Yokohama Grits Melbourne Ice Brisbane Spitfires Brisbane Lightning Polyflor Raptors Sydney Bears No team Sydney Bears Ontario Jr Reign Sydney Ice Dogs Braves IHC Melbourne Ice Airdrie Stars U18 Newcastle Northstars Adelaide Generals Adelaide Adrenaline North Dundas Rockets Sydney Bears Pacific Coast Academy Melbourne Ice Southern Puckers Brisbane Lightning Northern Chiefs Adelaide Adrenaline IHK Comet Halden Sydney Ice Dogs Battle Creek Kernels Perth Thunder Toulouse-Blagnac Hockey Club Sydney Ice Dogs Canberra Blades Canberra Brave East Hokkaido Cranes Sydney Bears Adelaide Generals Canberra Brave Birmingham Bulls Newcastle Northstars Sun Devils Perth Thunder Adelaide Redwings Adelaide Adrenaline Adelaide Redwings Adelaide Adrenaline Regina Cougars Brisbane Lightning UBC Thunderbirds Sydney Bears Southern Puckers Brisbane Lightning Polyflor Raptors Sydney Bears No team Brisbane Lightning Melbourne Demons Melbourne Ice Sydney Sabres Sydney Ice Dogs Arnprior Rivermen Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bombers Sydney Ice Dogs Brisbane Whalers Brisbane Lightning Polyflor Raptors Sydney Bears South Shore Kings Melbourne Mustangs PAdelaide Blackhawks Sydney Bears Sydney Sting Sydney Bears Frontenac Phantoms Central Coast Rhinos Danbury Hat Tricks Canberra Brave Central Coast Stingrays Canberra Brave No team Central Coast Rhinos Maryville Saints Central Coast Rhinos Coqs de Courbevoie Central Coast Rhinos North Shore Warriors U17 Prep Sydney Bears Canberra Bulls Canberra Brave Central Coast Stingrays Central Coast Rhinos Birmingham Bulls Melbourne Ice Sun Devils Perth Thunder Krazy to the Max Sydney Ice Dogs Foam Lake Flyers Adelaide Adrenaline Koovee Sydney Bears Fehérvár AV19 Perth Thunder HC Aosta Gladiators Adelaide Adrenaline Evansville Thunderbolts Newcastle Northstars Melbourne Jets Melbourne Ice Canberra Rebels Canberra Brave Reach Rebels Sydney Ice Dogs No team Adelaide Adrenaline Guildford Flames Newcastle Northstars
Players lost