Wikipedia

2008 AIHL season

The 2008 AIHL season was the ninth season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 19 April 2008 until 24 August 2008, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 30 and 31 August 2008. The Bears won the H Newman Reid Trophy (backdated) after finishing the regular season first in the league standings. The Newcastle North Stars won the Goodall Cup for the fourth time by defeating the Western Sydney Ice Dogs in the final.

2008 AIHL season
LeagueAustralian Ice Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration19 April 2008 – 31 August 2008
Regular season
H Newman Reid TrophySydney Bears
(2nd title)
Season MVPLliam Webster (Ice)
Top scorerMickey Gilchrist (67 points)
(North Stars)
Goodall Cup
ChampionsNewcastle North Stars
  Runners-upWestern Sydney Ice Dogs
Finals MVPMickey Gilchrist (North Stars)
AIHL seasons
← 2007
2009 →

League business

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In 2008, Brisbane Blue Tongues became the Gold Coast Blue Tongues after the team relocated from Brisbane's Ice World in Boondall to Gold Coast's Iceland Bundall ice rink.[1]

April 2008, the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium was significantly upgraded for the 2008 IIHF World Championship Division II, featuring plexi-glass boards, along with new lighting, scoreboards and expanded seating. The upgrade saw the Newcastle venue selected by the AIHL for the 2008 Goodall Cup finals weekend.

On 17 June, financial difficulties forced the Adelaide Avalanche to withdraw from the remainder of the 2008 season, leading to the cancellation and forfeiting of its 21 and 22 June games in Canberra and Penrith against the Knights (double points match) and Bears. Following negotiations, the Thebarton Ice Arena was one week later given a license for a new Adelaide team, the Adelaide A's, to fulfil the Avalanche's remaining commitments for the season, and inheriting their 2008 season results.[2]

Regular season

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The regular season began on 19 April 2008 and will run through to 24 August 2008 before the top four teams advanced to compete in the Goodall Cup playoff series.[3]

April

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Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
19 April 17:00 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 1–3 Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [1]
19 April 17:00 Canberra Knights 0–4 Adelaide A's IceArenA [2]
19 April 17:30 Central Coast Rhinos 4–6 The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [3]
20 April 16:30 Canberra Knights 0–2 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [4]
20 April 17:00 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 3–5 The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [5]
20 April 18:00 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 5–0 (Forfeit)[a] Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena
24 April 19:30 The Bears 6–5 Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [6]
26 April 16:30 Melbourne Ice 3–0 Adelaide A's IceArenA [7]
26 April 17:30 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 3–4 Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [8]
27 April 16:30 Melbourne Ice 6–5 (SO) Adelaide A's IceArenA [9]
27 April 17:00 Canberra Knights 3–2 Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [10]
27 April 18:00 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 2–10 (DP) Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [11]

Notes:

  1. ^ The Central Coast Rhinos forfeited their first home match (originally a 5-1 victory) to the Gold Coast Blue Tongues by a margin of 5-0 after icing an IIHF and IHA uncleared import. Goaltender Markus Claesson was not cleared to play in the AIHL until 3 May.

May

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Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
3 May 17:00 Newcastle North Stars 2–3 (SO) Adelaide A's IceArenA [12]
3 May 17:30 The Bears 5–3 Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [13]
3 May 18:00 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 6–4 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [14]
4 May 16:30 Newcastle North Stars 2–7 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [15]
4 May 18:00 Canberra Knights 2–6 Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [16]
10 May 17:00 The Bears 4–3 Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [17]
10 May 17:30 Melbourne Ice 6–1 (DP) Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [18]
10 May 18:00 Central Coast Rhinos 1–2 Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [19]
11 May 17:00 Melbourne Ice 1–3 (DP) The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [20]
11 May 18:00 Newcastle North Stars 1–3 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [21]
17 May 17:00 Central Coast Rhinos 4–3 (SO) Adelaide A's IceArenA [22]
17 May 17:30 Newcastle North Stars 3–2 (SO) Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [23]
17 May 18:00 The Bears 4–3 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [24]
18 May 15:30 The Bears 4–3 Adelaide A's IceArenA [25]
18 May 16:30 Central Coast Rhinos 4–6 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [26]
18 May 17:00 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 3–2 (SO) Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [27]
24 May 16:30 Canberra Knights 2–3 (SO) Adelaide A's IceArenA [28]
24 May 17:00 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 5–4 (SO) Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [29]
25 May 16:30 Canberra Knights 3–2 (SO) Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [30]
25 May 18:00 Newcastle North Stars 3–1 Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [31]
31 May 16:30 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 5–3 Adelaide A's IceArenA [32]
31 May 17:30 Newcastle North Stars 7–1 Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [33]
31 May 17:30 Central Coast Rhinos 4–5 The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [34]

June

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Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
1 June 16:15 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 2–4 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [35]
1 June 17:00 Canberra Knights 4–5 The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [36]
7 June 17:30 The Bears 5–6 Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [37]
7 June 17:45 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 3–10 Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [38]
7 June 18:00 Adelaide A's 2–5 (DP) Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [39]
8 June 17:00 Adelaide A's 2–1 (DP) Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [40]
8 June 17:30 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 5–4 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [41]
14 June 15:30 The Bears 1–9 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [42]
14 June 17:00 Melbourne Ice 3–8 (DP) Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [43]
14 June 17:30 Central Coast Rhinos 4–2 Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [44]
15 June 15:40 The Bears 4–5 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [45]
15 June 17:00 Melbourne Ice 4–5 Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [46]
15 June 18:00 Canberra Knights 5–2 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [47]
21 June 15:30 Newcastle North Stars 5–0 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [48]
21 June 17:30 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 1–6 The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [49]
21 June 17:30 Adelaide A's 0–5 (Forfeit)[a] Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre
22 June 15:30 Newcastle North Stars 5–4 (SO) Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [50]
22 June 17:00 Adelaide A's 0–5 (Forfeit)[b] The Bears Penrith Ice Palace
22 June 18:00 Canberra Knights 0–2 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [51]
28 June 15:30 Central Coast Rhinos 2–0 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [52]
28 June 17:30 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 5–4 Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [53]
28 June 17:45 Adelaide A's 4–8 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [54]
29 June 15:30 Central Coast Rhinos 4–9 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [55]
29 June 16:30 Adelaide A's 0–4 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [56]
29 June 18:00 Newcastle North Stars 3–8 Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [57]

Notes:

  1. ^ The Adelaide Avalanche forfeited their double point match to the Canberra Knights by a margin of 5-0 following the collapse of the franchise. The Adelaide A's would be established during the next week and the results, including the forfeit, was transferred to the new A's franchise.
  2. ^ The Adelaide Avalanche forfeited their match to the AIHL Bears by a margin of 5-0 following the collapse of the franchise. The Adelaide A's would be established during the next week and the results, including the forfeit, was transferred to the new A's franchise.

July

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Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
5 July 16:45 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 5–6 (SO) (DP) Adelaide A's IceArenA [58]
5 July 17:45 Newcastle North Stars 2–5 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [59]
5 July 18:00 The Bears 2–1 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [60]
6 July 16:30 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 3–6 (DP) Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [61]
6 July 16:30 Newcastle North Stars 9–10 (SO) Adelaide A's IceArenA [62]
6 July 18:00 Canberra Knights 2–3 Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [63]
12 July 15:30 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 7–4 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [64]
12 July 18:00 Newcastle North Stars 6–3 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [65]
13 July 15:30 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 2–5 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [66]
13 July 16:30 The Bears 7–8 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [67]
19 July 15:30 Canberra Knights 2–5 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [68]
19 July 17:30 Newcastle North Stars 4–6 The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [69]
19 July 18:00 Melbourne Ice 3–2 (DP) Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [70]
20 July 15:30 Canberra Knights 7–3 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [71]
20 July 15:30 The Bears 5–3 Adelaide A's IceArenA [72]
20 July 17:00 Central Coast Rhinos 0–8 Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [73]
20 July 17:00 Melbourne Ice 2–8 Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [74]

August

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Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
2 August 16:30 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 2–3 (SO) Adelaide A's IceArenA [75]
2 August 17:30 Central Coast Rhinos 2–4 Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [76]
2 August 17:30 Newcastle North Stars 10–2 The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [77]
3 August 16:30 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 3–1 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [78]
3 August 17:00 Central Coast Rhinos 3–13 Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [79]
9 August 15:30 Melbourne Ice 4–6 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [80]
9 August 17:00 Adelaide A's 3–5 (DP) Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [81]
9 August 17:30 Canberra Knights 5–2 The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [82]
9 August 18:00 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 3–2 (SO) Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [83]
10 August 15:30 Melbourne Ice 9–1 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [84]
10 August 17:30 Adelaide A's 3–4 The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [85]
16 August 16:30 Central Coast Rhinos 0–7 Adelaide A's IceArenA [86]
16 August 17:30 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 6–9 Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [87]
16 August 18:00 The Bears 7–8 (SO) Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [88]
17 August 16:30 Central Coast Rhinos 1–8 Melbourne Ice Olympic Ice Skating Centre [89]
17 August 17:00 Gold Coast Blue Tongues 4–8 (DP) The Bears Penrith Ice Palace [90]
17 August 17:00 Canberra Knights 5–7 Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [91]
23 August 15:30 Adelaide A's 3–2 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [92]
23 August 17:30 Western Sydney Ice Dogs 7–4 Canberra Knights Phillip Ice Skating Centre [93]
23 August 18:00 The Bears 9–3 Central Coast Rhinos Erina Ice Arena [94]
24 August 15:30 Adelaide A's 7–0 Gold Coast Blue Tongues Gold Coast Iceland [95]
24 August 19:00 The Bears 3–10 Newcastle North Stars Hunter Ice Skating Stadium [96]
24 August 18:00 Central Coast Rhinos 2–4 Western Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Ice Arena [97]

Standings

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Team GP W SOW SOL L GF GA GDF PTS
The Bears 28 20 0 1 7 134 118 +16 61
Western Sydney Ice Dogs 28 15 4 1 8 126 91 +35 54
Melbourne Ice 28 17 1 1 9 124 91 +33 54
Newcastle North Stars 28 15 2 4 7 150 97 +53 53
Canberra Knights 28 10 1 2 15 91 107 -16 34
Adelaide A's 28 6 6 2 14 90 107 -17 32
Gold Coast Blue Tongues 28 8 0 3 17 104 154 -50 27
Central Coast Rhinos 28 6 1 1 20 73 129 -56 21
Qualified for the Goodall Cup playoffs H Newman Reid Trophy winners

Source

Statistics

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Scoring leaders

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List shows the ten top skaters sorted by points, then goals. Current as of 31 August 2008[4]

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM POS
Mickey Gilchrist Newcastle North Stars 15 30 37 67 8 F
B.J. Pelkey Newcastle North Stars 21 35 30 65 14 F
Vladan Stransky The Bears 25 22 42 64 34 F
Ryan Tremblay Western Sydney Ice Dogs 23 23 28 51 40 F
Vladimir Rubes The Bears 25 16 35 51 12 F
Colin Nicholson Newcastle North Stars 14 17 30 47 0 C
Lliam Webster Melbourne Ice 20 24 22 46 61 F
Marko Raita Canberra Knights 25 17 25 42 22 F
Vit Stransky The Bears 15 22 19 41 12 F
Kyle Teague Western Sydney Ice Dogs 20 14 25 39 42 F

Leading goaltenders

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Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage with a minimum 40% of the team's ice time. Current as of 31 August 2008[5]

Player Team MIP SOG GA GAA SVS% SO
Matthew Ezzy Newcastle North Stars 879 525 53 3.01 0.899 2
Markus Claesson Central Coast Rhinos 803 554 68 4.23 0.877 2
Christopher Elf Adelaide A's 630 352 48 3.81 0.864 1
James Herbert Western Sydney Ice Dogs 663 347 48 3.62 0.862 0
Stuart Denman Melbourne Ice 942 444 66 3.50 0.851 3

Goodall Cup playoffs

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The 2008 playoffs was scheduled for 30 August with the Goodall Cup final held on 31 August 2008.[3] Following the end of the regular season the top four teams advanced to the playoff series which was held at the redeveloped Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Warners Bay, Newcastle, New South Wales. The series was a single game elimination with the two winning semi-finalists advancing to the Goodall Cup final. The Goodall Cup was won by the Newcastle North Stars (4th title) who defeated the Western Sydney Ice Dogs 4-1. The North Star's Canadian import forward, Mickey Gilchrist, was named the finals most valuable player (MVP).[6]

All times are UTC+10:00

Semi-finals

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30 August 2008
16:30		Newcastle North Stars7–5
(2–1, 3–1, 2–3)		The BearsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
Attendance: 700
Game reference
Matthew EzzyGoaliesJohn DaugulisReferee:
Jeff Scott
Linesmen:
Tim Bell
Darren Hardy-Hawken
Buckley (PP) (Carberry, Minson)1 – 0
Nicholson (PP) (Pelkey, Gilchrist)2 – 0
2 – 1Wand (PP) (Gribben, Stransky)
Nicholson (Starke, Gilchrist)3 – 1
Pelkey (Nicholson, Gilchrist)4 – 1
4 – 2Nelson-Bond (Wand, Gribben)
Sheffield (Carberry)5 – 2
Nicholson (Gilchrist, Pelkey)6 – 2
6 – 3Stransky (Rubes)
6 – 4Gribben (Stransky)
Carberry (Minson)7 – 4
7 – 5Shumak (SH) (Gribben)
22 minPenalties16 min
41Shots23
30 August 2008
19:30		Melbourne Ice1–2 (OT)
(1–1, 0–0, 0–0, 0–1)		Western Sydney Ice DogsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
Attendance: 500
Game reference
Stuart DenmanGoaliesJames HerbertReferee:
Rob Duchemin
Linesmen:
Chris Mason
Steve Clyde-Smith
Powell (PP) (Ferguson, Tremblay)1 – 0
1 – 1Angyal (PP) (White, T.Stephenson)
1 – 2Sheddon (unassisted)
16 minPenalties24 min
23Shots27

Final

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31 August 2008
16:00		Newcastle North Stars4–1
(1–0, 1–1, 2–0)		Western Sydney Ice DogsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
Attendance: 900
Game reference
Matthew EzzyGoaliesJames HerbertReferee:
Jeff Scott
Linesmen:
Chris Mason
Steve Clyde-Smith
Pelkey (PP) (Nicholson, Starke)1 – 0
1 – 1Strang (unassisted)
Gilchrist (SH) (Nicholson)2 – 1
Gilchrist (SH) (Nicholson, Buckley)3 – 1
Gilchrist (unassisted)4 – 1
26 minPenalties26 min
34Shots31

References

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  1. ^ "Gold Coast Blue Tongues: Team History and Standings". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  2. ^ "History of the Australian Ice Hockey League". theaihl.com. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  3. ^ a b "2008 AIHL Schedule". theaihl.com. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  4. ^ "2008 AIHL season: League leading players". theaihl.com. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  5. ^ "2008 AIHL season: League leading goalies". theaihl.com. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  6. ^ Lambert, Peter (1 September 2018). "North Stars win Fourth Goodall Cup vs Ice Dogs, 4-1". theaihl.com. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
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