2013 AIHL season

In 2013 the AIHL had 8 teams competing in the league.[1]

2013 AIHL teams

Team	City	Arena	Head Coach	Captain
Adelaide Adrenaline	Adelaide	IceArenA	Ryan O'Handley	Greg Oddy
Canberra Knights	Canberra	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	Matti Louma	Mark Rummukainen
Melbourne Ice	Melbourne	Medibank Icehouse	Sandy Gardner	Jason Baclig
Melbourne Mustangs	Melbourne	Medibank Icehouse	Brad Vigon	Sean Jones
Newcastle North Stars	Newcastle	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	Garry Doré	Ray Sheffield
Perth Thunder	Perth	Perth Ice Arena	Stan Scott	Samuel Wilson
Sydney Bears	Sydney	Sydney Ice Arena	Vladimir Rubes	Michael Schlamp
Sydney Ice Dogs	Sydney	Liverpool Catholic Club Ice Rink	Ron Kuprowsky	Robert Malloy

In October 2012 it was announced that the 2013 season would be played with eight teams as the Gold Coast Blue Tongues' licence was suspended due to the team being unable to secure a home venue for 2013.[2] The Blue Tongues were forced out of their arena during the 2012 season when the AIHL deemed it to not be up to specifications for the league forcing the team to temporarily relocate to Brisbane for the remainder of the season.[3] It was also announced that the suspension on the Sydney Ice Dogs had been lifted allowing the team to ice four imports again. The Ice Dogs were restricted to three for the 2012 season by the league due to breaches of the league's code of conduct.[3] Following the Annual General Meeting (AGM) it was announced that the third period of play has been increased from 15 minutes to 20 minutes, while the first two remain 15 minutes in length. The change was in response to fans calling for the league to align itself with international hockey which plays three 20 minute periods.[4] The Melbourne Mustangs revealed their new logo and jerseys for the start of the season featuring a redesigned mustang horse, holding an ice hockey stick.[5] The new jerseys include a white home jersey, a black away jersey and an orange third jersey which is being released as off-ice apparel only.[6] The Sydney Ice Dogs also revealed their new jerseys with an aqua green away jersey and a white home jersey. The change in colours was made as part of a deal with corporate naming sponsor Reach Crane Trucks and will be in place for three years, the duration of their deal with Reach Crane Trucks. Their previous colours of maroon, yellow, blue, black and white will remain as the team's corporate colours.[7]

On 17 February the AIHL announced that it had entered into a partnership with Fox Sports in which a game of the week will be aired on the network as part of a 60-minute program which also includes league and state federation news and AIHL highlights.[8] The Canberra Knights held an exhibition game on 23 March 2013 with the team competing against a team of former Knights' players for the Soldier On charity.[9] The Knights won the game 6–5.[10]

Player transfers

Players signed Player Previous team New team Ref Travis Alabaster No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] Jonathan Bale Gold Coast Blue Tongues Sydney Bears [18] Alistair Band Cardiff Devils NL Canberra Knights [19] Simon Barg No team Sydney Ice Dogs [20] Jan Bejcek ECSL Sting Sydney Bears [18] Brian Berger Marian University Perth Thunder [21] Luc-Olivier Blain University of Ottawa Adelaide Adrenaline [22] Paul Bond ECSL Raptors Sydney Bears [18] Jamie Bourke No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] Tyson Boyd Adelaide Blackhawks Adelaide Adrenaline [22][23] Jordan Braid Columbus Cottonmouths Canberra Knights [19] Russel Brewer No team Adelaide Adrenaline [22] Dale Burgess No team Sydney Ice Dogs [20] Dylan Burgess Sydney Maple Leafs Sydney Ice Dogs [20][24] Jack Carpenter Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne Ice [25] Jayson Chalker ECSL Vipers Newcastle North Stars [26] Robert Clark No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] Stuart Cole-Clark ECSL Vipers Newcastle North Stars [26] Dan Clarke Tulsa Oilers Perth Thunder [21] Pier-Olivier Cotnoir Norwich University Newcastle North Stars [26] Fred Coutts West Coast Lightning Perth Thunder [21] Todd Cutter No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] Kevin Darcy Marian University Perth Thunder [21] James David Adelaide Falcons Adelaide Adrenaline [22][27] Michael Fairlamb Adelaide Blackhawks Canberra Knights [19] Kayne Fedor Adelaide Tigers B2 Perth Thunder [22][28] Michael Forney Colorado Eagles Perth Thunder [21] Robin Forsythe No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] Chris Frank Sheffield Steelers Melbourne Ice [25] Ian Fulion No team Canberra Knights [19] Tim Fulton No team Canberra Knights [19] Adam Geric Gold Coast Blue Tongues Newcastle North Stars [26] Kevin Glanzman No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] John Gordon EV Füssen Melbourne Ice [25] Alexander Hall Gold Coast Blue Tongues Melbourne Mustangs [17] Robert Haselhurst No team Perth Thunder [21] Matthew Haywood Braehead Clan Adelaide Adrenaline [22] Stuart Higgins No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] Aaron Hoffman No team Perth Thunder [21] Stephen Huish Northern Vikings Perth Thunder [21] Brad Hunt No team Canberra Knights [19] Lyle Idoine Botany Swarm Sydney Bears [18] Jayson James Adelaide Falcons B Adelaide Adrenaline [22][29] David Jeremy ECSL Vipers Newcastle North Stars [26] Mikko Jortikka HC Keski-Uusimaa Canberra Knights [19] Renars Kazanovs SMScredit.lv Sydney Bears [18] John Kennedy Canberra Knights Newcastle North Stars [26] Anthony Kimlin Gold Coast Blue Tongues Sydney Ice Dogs [20] Martin Kolos ECSL Sting Sydney Bears [18] Jan Koubek HC Kobra Praha Sydney Bears [18] Justin Levac Orlando Solar Bears Canberra Knights [19] David Lewis No team Canberra Knights [19] Ryan Lowe No team Sydney Bears [18] Silvan Maedev No team Sydney Bears [18] Jeff Martens Friesland Flyers Newcastle North Stars [26] Glen Mayer No team Melbourne Ice [25] Michael McDowell No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] Eric McKenna No team Sydney Ice Dogs [20] Dan Mohle Wilfrid Laurier University Perth Thunder [21] Alan Moss No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] Steven Naidovski Sydney Bears Sydney Ice Dogs [30][31] Ben O'Driscoll Gold Coast Blue Tongues Sydney Bears [18] Patrick O'Kane Mälarö HF Melbourne Mustangs [17] Joshua O'Neil ECSL Raptors Sydney Bears [18] Jon Olthuis Idaho Steelheads Melbourne Mustangs [17] Dominic Osman Hull Stingrays Newcastle North Stars [26] Brit Ouellette ECDC Memmingen Adelaide Adrenaline [22] Travis Ouellette Ferris State University Adelaide Adrenaline [22] Rick Parry Jokers de Cergy Adelaide Adrenaline [22] Robert Pasminka No team Sydney Bears [18] Kevin Phillips Braehead Clan Adelaide Adrenaline [22] Jaden Pine-Murphy New Plymouth Melbourne Ice [25][32] Matt Puntureri Danbury Whalers Sydney Ice Dogs [20] Shai Rabinowitz No team Newcastle North Stars [26] Luke Read ECSL Sting Sydney Bears [18] Denis Ristic Adelaide Redwings Adelaide Adrenaline [22][33] Ollie Rozdarz No team Canberra Knights [19] Christopher Sekura No team Sydney Ice Dogs [20] Francisco Sevilla No team Sydney Bears [18] Luke Shafren No team Newcastle North Stars [26] Hayden Sheard ECSL North Stars Newcastle North Stars [26] Chris Slauenwhite Sydney Bears Canberra Knights [19] Michael Smart Sydney Bears Perth Thunder [21] Shane Southwood Orangeville Americans Sydney Ice Dogs [20] Matt Strueby Colorado Eagles Perth Thunder [21] Maxime Suzzarini Brûleurs de Loups Canberra Knights [19] Matt Taylor No team Canberra Knights [19] Joe Tolles Wheeling Nailers Perth Thunder [21] Tom Voller No team Melbourne Mustangs [17] Dillan Wallace Adelaide Redwings Adelaide Adrenaline [22][34] Cameron Walsh No team Perth Thunder [21] Patrick Ward No team Sydney Ice Dogs [20] Jack Wolgemuth No team Melbourne Mustangs [17]

Players lost Player Previous team New team Ref Matthew Anderson Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Sam Austin Newcastle North Stars ECSL North Stars [36] Brian Bales Newcastle North Stars No team [36] Aaron Barton Adelaide Adrenaline Knoxville Ice Bears [37] Sam Bavin Perth Thunder No team [38] Alan Becken Sydney Bears ECSL Heat [30] Dana Bennett Canberra Knights No team [39] Ryan Bennett Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Sam Bennett Adelaide Adrenaline Adelaide Redwings [37][40] Enrico Bergamin Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Robert Bird Perth Thunder No team [38] Jeremy Boyer Newcastle North Stars Quad City Mallards [36] Jayden Braden Sydney Bears No team [30] Mike Brown Canberra Knights Danbury Whalers [39] Jack Carpenter Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne Ice [35] Matt Cernec Canberra Knights No team [39] Aaron Clayworth Canberra Knights No team [39] Scott Clemie Sydney Bears No team [30] Stuart Clemie Sydney Bears ECSL Vipers [30] Scott Connelly Sydney Bears ECSL Sting [30] Kevin Day Newcastle North Stars No team [36] Cassian Delsar Adelaide Adrenaline Adelaide Tigers [37][41] Stuart Denman Melbourne Ice Retired [42] Colin Downie Sydney Ice Dogs No team [43] Dean Dunstan Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Jack Ebner Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Nickolas Eckhardt Canberra Knights No team [39] Craig Gallo Sydney Bears Osby IK [30] Phil Ginand Perth Thunder Bloomington Blaze [38] Kirk Golden Sydney Ice Dogs Cape Cod Bluefins [43] Paul Graham Perth Thunder No team [38] Lucien Hackett Sydney Bears ECSL Sting [30] James Herbert Sydney Ice Dogs No team [43] Christopher James Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Brady Johnston Sydney Bears Hedemora SK [30] Mike Johnston Canberra Knights No team [39] John Kennedy Canberra Knights Newcastle North Stars [39] Matt Korthuis Melbourne Ice No team [42] Robbie Lawrance Newcastle North Stars Louisiana IceGators [36] Scott Levitt Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Brett Liscomb Adelaide Adrenaline Louisiana IceGators [37] Shane Hardy Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Martin Kutek Melbourne Ice No team [42] Sami Mantere Adelaide Adrenaline Adelaide Redwings [37][44] Joel McFadden Sydney Bears No team [30] Christopher McPhail Canberra Knights No team [39] Casey Mignone Sydney Ice Dogs Cape Cod Bluefins [43] Laurie Mock Sydney Bears No team [30] Matt Monaghan Sydney Ice Dogs No team [43] Dean Moore Melbourne Mustangs IF Sundsvall Hockey [35] Mitch Morgan Adelaide Adrenaline HYC Herentals [37] Steven Naidovski Sydney Bears Sydney Ice Dogs [30][31] Dan Nicholls Adelaide Adrenaline No team [37] Gicu Oprea Newcastle North Stars No team [36] Dean Peterson Adelaide Adrenaline No team [37] Nic Polaski Canberra Knights No team [39] Troy Robertson Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Gabriel Robledo Sydney Ice Dogs No team [43] Jayden Ryan Sydney Bears ECSL Raptors [30] Lucas Schott Canberra Knights Dayton Demonz [39] Paul Shumak Sydney Bears No team [30] Chris Slauenwhite Sydney Bears Canberra Knights [30] Michael Smart Sydney Bears Perth Thunder [30] Kiefer Smiley Perth Thunder Mississippi Surge [38] Jaroslav Spurny Sydney Bears No team [30] Andrew Stapleton Adelaide Adrenaline No team [37] John Sullivan Melbourne Mustangs Columbus Cottonmouths [35] Tuomas Takkula Newcastle North Stars No team [36] Michael Thornburn Melbourne Mustangs No team [35] Tallen Voelkel Newcastle North Stars No team [36] Mike Werner Adelaide Adrenaline No team [37] Andrew White Sydney Ice Dogs No team [43] Aaron Wilson Perth Thunder No team [38] Doug Wilson Melbourne Ice No team [42] Oliver Wren Melbourne Mustangs No team [35]

The regular season started on 20 April 2013 and ran through to 1 September 2013 before the top four teams compete in the Goodall Cup playoff series.

The Sydney Ice Dogs won the H Newman Reid Trophy after finishing the regular season with the most points, 61. Newcastle North Stars' Jeff Martens won the Most Valuable Player award, after finishing as the league's top scorer with 67 points. Anthony Kimlin of the Sydney Ice Dogs was named the Australian Player of the Year and Best Goaltender, finishing with a save percentage 0.919.[45] The Sydney Bears' Cameron Todd won the award for Best Rookie and John Gordon of the Melbourne Ice was named Best Defenceman.[45]

Season awards

Below lists the 2013 AIHL regular season award winners.

Award	Name	Team
MVP	Jeff Martens	Newcastle North Stars
Goaltender	Anthony Kimlin	Sydney Ice Dogs
Defenceman	John Gordon	Melbourne Ice
Rookie	Cameron Todd	Sydney Bears
Local player	Anthony Kimlin	Sydney Ice Dogs

Source

The 2013 playoffs started on 7 September 2013, with the Goodall Cup final held on 8 September. Following the end of the regular season the top four teams advanced to the playoff series. All three games were held at the Medibank Icehouse in Docklands, Victoria, the home of the Melbourne Ice and Melbourne Mustangs. The series was a single game elimination with the two winning semi-finalists advancing to the Goodall Cup final.[48] The Sydney Ice Dogs won the Goodall Cup (2nd title) with a 6-2 victory over the Newcastle North Stars.[49] Anthony Kimlin’s defensive efforts for the Ice Dogs earned him the award of Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the finals series.[50]

• The Australian Ice Hockey League