2025 AIHL season

The 2025 AIHL season is the 24nd season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The 112 regular season games are scheduled to run from 5 April to 24 August 2024. Finals games are scheduled to run from 29-31 August 2025 .

In 2025 the AIHL had 8 teams competing in the league.^[1] The Sydney Bears and Sydney Ice Dogs withdrew from competing in the season.^[2]

2025 AIHL teams

Team	City	Arena	Head Coach	Captain
Adelaide Adrenaline	Adelaide	Adelaide Ice Arena	Jade Galbraith	Joey MacDougall
Brisbane Lightning	Brisbane	Boondall Iceworld	Christer Lundkvist	Aaron Wanat
Canberra Brave	Canberra	AIS Arena	Stuart Philps	Kai Miettinen
Central Coast Rhinos	Central Coast	Erina Ice Arena	Ron Kuprowsky	Robert Malloy
Melbourne Ice	Melbourne	O'Brien Icehouse	Kerry Goulet	Mackenzie Caruana
Melbourne Mustangs	Melbourne	O'Brien Icehouse	Scott Timmins	Todd Cutter
Newcastle Northstars	Newcastle	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	Kevin Noble	Liam Manwarring
Perth Thunder	Perth	Perth Ice Arena	Benjamin Breault	Jamie Woodman

For Season 2025, the AIHL first released the fixture list in November 2024. All ten teams from 2024 would be returning for a 150 game regular season running from 5 April to 24 August 2025.^[3] As part of a regular season revamp, the league introduced two all-team mid-season byes for Easter long weekend in late April and IIHF World Championships in early May. The conference system used between 2023-24 was abolished and more Friday night games were scheduled, including first Friday night games for Adelaide Adrenaline and Perth Thunder. The Goodall Cup, H Newman Reid Trophy would continue to the be prizes AIHL teams would compete for in 2025. However, the Rurak and Hellyer conference trophies would be retired.^[1]

The AIHL were forced into mandatory season plan changes in late December 2024.^[4] Macquarie Ice Rink in Sydney was closed for required repairs and rink upgrades that would keep the facility closed for the majority of 2025.^[5] Upgrades include new plant room infrastructure, new humidifiers across the arena, new boards, installation of plexiglass around the rink and new player benches and penalty boxes. The Sydney Bears and Sydney Ice Dogs were both affected by the closure and sought alternative option to continue to operate in 2025. Both teams failed to find suitable alternative options and formally withdrew from the 2025 AIHL season.^[2]

With the Ice Dogs and Bears out, the AIHL released a new 8-team season schedule, reducing the number of games from 150 to 112. Both all-team byes remained but the additional Friday night games were scrapped. All teams would play a total 28 games, down from 30, split between 14 home and 14 away fixtures.^[4]

Between December 2024 and January 2025, the league announced a number of personnel and governance changes including appointing Ron Gauci to the AIHL board of directors. Gauci joins Garry Dore, Peter Jon Hartshorne, Wayne Hellyer, John Hollingsworth, Joyce Price, Ivan Rapchuk, and Bob Turner on the board as the eighth member. Gauci is the current chairman of Vicsport and former CEO and managing director of the Melbourne Storm.^[6] Jo-Ann Flood was appointed AIHL Sports Integrity Officer to replace the departed Lesley Crombie. As the Head of Sport Integrity, Jo-Ann is responsible for ensuring compliant regulation of all league activities, including games and operations as well as leading efforts to promote fair play, prevent misconduct, and build trust amongst teams.^[7] Mark O'Brien was appointed new Head of Player Safety for the AIHL. Mark has vast experience officiating at all levels of ice hockey in Australia and joins the AIHL after being referee-in-chief for Ice Hockey Queensland for the past six years.^[8] Ben Armstrong resigned as AIHL operations manager. Ben held the position for 2 years, having been appointed in 2023. Armstrong took up an opportunity as gameday operations manager with the Newcastle Northstars.^[9]

In March 2025, the AIHL released a special anniversary logo for the 2025 season. The new logo recognised the 25th year since the league founding in 2000.^[10] Media partnerships were signed between the AIHL and Oz Hockey Media (Formally Hockey Hype Australia) and 6News Australia in April 2025. It is the second year of partnership between the league and Oz Hockey Media and a new partnership with 6News.^[11][12]

Three pre-season exhibition games were organised by AIHL teams in 2025. The Melbourne derby doubled as a Good Friday Appeal charity match, raising money for the Royal Children's Hospital. The exhibition game raised one of the largest charitable donations by the Australian ice hockey community, totaling $32,502.^[13] To help the Australian men's national team prepare for the IIHF World Championships division 2A tournament, an exhibition game was organised between the national team and an AIHL All-Stars team consisting of Mustangs and Ice players.^[14]

The Canberra Brave will change home venues for the first time in the team's history, switching Phillip Ice Skating Centre for the AIS Arena. The first three home games in 2025 will continue to be played at Phillip but the remaining 11 will be played in a temporary state-of-the-art rink constructed in the 2,700 seat (ice hockey seating configuration) AIS Arena.^[15] The AIS will offer the first full bowl seating experience in the AIHL, bringing a North-American or European style experience to Australian ice hockey for the first time.^[16]

Adelaide Adrenaline released a new team logo.^[17] The traditional 'A' logo is replaced with a yeti holding a hockey stick. This envokes the short lived former Adelaide Avalanche yeti logo from 2008-09, before the Avalanche organisation collapsed and folded. Last season, in 2024, the Adrenaline played in a one-off throwback jersey with the old yeti logo. As part of the rebrand, the Adrenaline have also amended their team colours to blue and gold, removing red.^[18] Adelaide also made fan experience improvements to the Adelaide Ice Arena by raising two sections around the rink to enable better viewing angles. A new standing zone was established behind the goals and a new VIP section was created in one of the rink corners.

Brisbane Lightning released new altered versions of their main and alternative logo for 2025. The main logo is simplified while the alternative 'BL' logo has been given additional stylised lightning elements.^[19] Melbourne Mustangs released a new special annivesary logo and jersey to celebrate the team's 15th year of operations. It features a modified version of the team’s regular logo and an updated layout of the orange-and-black colour scheme.^[20]

Ahead of the season, On 22 October 2024, Terry Kilwnik stepped down as head coach of the Brisbane Lightning.^[21] On 9 December 2024, it was announced Swedish coach Christer Lundkvist would take the rains as head coach of the Lightning for the 2025 AIHL season.^[22] With the head coaching position vacant at the Adelaide Adrenaline, the team announced a new head coach on 19 March 2025. Canadian Jade Galbraith was appointed for his first senior head coaching role of his career.^[23]

Below are lists of players entering, exiting, transferring and retiring from the AIHL in 2025.^[24]

Interclub transfers Nat Player Previous team New team Ryan Annesley Sydney Bears Newcastle Northstars Tyerell Clare Sydney Bears Melbourne Mustangs Scott Clemie Sydney Bears Canberra Brave Jakob Doornbos Sydney Ice Dogs Brisbane Lightning Glen Forbes-White Central Coast Rhinos Canberra Brave Brian Funes Sydney Bears Newcastle Northstars Arki Hearn Central Coast Rhinos Newcastle Northstars Mackenzie Hill Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne Ice Anthony Kimlin Sydney Bears Melbourne Mustangs Casey Kubara Canberra Brave Newcastle Northstars Tyler Kubara Canberra Brave Central Coast Rhinos Dmitri Kuleshov Sydney Ice Dogs Central Coast Rhinos Ivan Kuleshov Sydney Ice Dogs Central Coast Rhinos Tomas Landa Sydney Bears Central Coast Rhinos Brody Lindal Sydney Bears Melbourne Mustangs Michael McMahon Melbourne Mustangs Melbourne Ice Carson Miller Sydney Bears Brisbane Lightning Cameron Todd Sydney Ice Dogs Canberra Brave Aleksi Toivonen Canberra Brave Perth Thunder Matus Trnka Adelaide Adrenaline Brisbane Lightning * Mid-season transfer.

Retirements Nat Player Team New role Nicholas Novysedlak Brisbane Lightning No team

New signings Nat Player Previous team New team Sebastian Bergholt Rødovre Mighty Bulls Melbourne Ice Tyrone Bronte KHL Sisak Melbourne Ice Dominic Canic KHL Sisak Canberra Brave Gregory Chystyakov Polyflor Raptors Central Coast Rhinos Liam Dallimore Canterbury Red Devils Melbourne Mustangs Corey Dang Melbourne Jets Central Coast Rhinos Jarrod Downes Bison IHC Melbourne Mustangs Declan Downie Norwest Emperors Central Coast Rhinos Darcy Flanagan Eskilstuna Linden Hockey 2 Adelaide Adrenaline Jade Galbraith Cremona Coyotes Adelaide Adrenaline Devon Gatenby No team Newcastle Northstars Alexandre Gauthier No team Central Coast Rhinos Jake Hamilton Pensacola Ice Flyers Perth Thunder Noah Harvey Canberra Jokerit Canberra Brave Joel Hasselman Skycity Stampede Canberra Brave Tanner Hopps Macon Mayhem Brisbane Lightning Vinnie Hughes No team Melbourne Ice Mitchell Humphries No team Melbourne Mustangs Lucas Hunter IceHQ Ducks Melbourne Mustangs Mitchell Jackson-Leghorn Newcastle NorthRays Central Coast Rhinos Kolby Johnson Worcester Railers Perth Thunder Hwan Hee Kang HC Dukla Senica Canberra Brave Benjamin Kleineschay Aware Newcastle Northstars Henri Kohvakka IPK U20 Melbourne Ice Robert Lachowicz Glasgow Clan Perth Thunder Luka Loria EHC Straubing Adelaide Adrenaline Maxim Lyashenko West Coast Flyers Perth Thunder Kyle MacPhail KHL Sisak Adelaide Adrenaline Alex May Melbourne Sharks Brisbane Lightning Brandon McNally Tohoku Free Blades Canberra Brave Brandon Mendham No team Central Coast Rhinos Ryan Migliaccio No team Central Coast Rhinos Patrick O’Kane No team Melbourne Mustangs Nikolas Panayi Åmåls SK J20 Central Coast Rhinos Thomas Papas Tottenham Railers Melbourne Mustangs Connor Parr Botany Swarm Adelaide Adrenaline Zack Phillips Manchester Storm Melbourne Mustangs Jett Porter BioSteel Sports Academy Melbourne Mustangs Thomas Powell Blackhawks IHC Melbourne Ice David Quinn Sydney Heat Central Coast Rhinos Gustav Remler-Jensen Atlantic Coast Academy Central Coast Rhinos Mac Roy Powell River Regals Melbourne Mustangs Ryan Senti Hershey Cubs Canberra Brave Kolton Shindle Regina Cougars Melbourne Ice Billy Simmonds IceHQ Ducks Melbourne Mustangs Corey Stringer No team Melbourne Ice Jules Sturny EHC Basel Brisbane Lightning Riley Tonks Kallhälls IF Newcastle Northstars Dominik Trnka HC Letci Letnany Adelaide Adrenaline Robin Vortanov Botany Swarm Melbourne Mustangs Jordan Warren Melbourne Jets Melbourne Mustangs Justin Wen Toledo Cherokee Central Coast Rhinos

Players lost Nat Player Previous team New team Jeremiah Addison Perth Thunder No team Derry Adler Brisbane Lightning No team Chance Adrian Brisbane Lightning Tilburg Trappers Austin Albrecht Melbourne Ice Tulsa Oilers Harley Anderson Brisbane Lightning Brisbane Moose John Aonso Melbourne Ice Peoria Rivermen Matt Armstrong Melbourne Mustangs No team Oliver Ashby Melbourne Mustangs St. John's Red Storm Maximilian Astner Canberra Brave No team Matheus Baldwin Melbourne Mustangs No team Connor Bartholomew Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Bombers Daniel Berno Newcastle Northstars No team Léo Bertein Perth Thunder Corsaires de Dunkerque Connor Bolger Central Coast Rhinos No team Estefano Bonfante Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bombers Danick Bouchard Central Coast Rhinos Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise Matthew Brown Central Coast Rhinos No team Tanner Butler Newcastle Northstars Bristol Pitbulls Jamie Campbell Perth Thunder No team Austin Cangelosi Canberra Brave Storhamar Hockey Kale Costa Sydney Ice Dogs HC Stadion Litoměřice Andrew Cox Perth Thunder No team Mike Dalhuisen Sydney Ice Dogs Tilburg Trappers Cooper Davidson-Peacock Perth Thunder Adelaide Falcons Greg Davis Melbourne Ice No team Hayden Dawes Melbourne Mustangs No team Mathieu Desautels Newcastle Northstars Albatros de Brest Justin Dixon Melbourne Mustangs Blackhawks IHC Kesho Donald Sydney Ice Dogs Reach Rebels James Douchkov Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Bombers Michael Douglas Sydney Ice Dogs Evry Viry Hockey 91 Connor Dowell Sydney Ice Dogs Reach Rebels Robert Duchemin Newcastle Northstars No team Jean Dupuy Canberra Brave Podhale Nowy Targ Mitchell Dyck Brisbane Lightning Winkler Royals Chris Eaden Sydney Bears Phoenix Thunder Sean Ellison Sydney Ice Dogs Reach Rebels Lachlan Fixter Brisbane Lightning Brisbane Spitfires Logan Flodell Melbourne Mustangs Mechelen Golden Sharks Rylan Freed Melbourne Mustangs St. Brieux/Lake Lenore Rivals Christian Fuschini Brisbane Lightning No team Jackson Gallagher Canberra Brave No team Matheson Graham Melbourne Mustangs No team Quentin Greenwood Brisbane Lightning No team Joey Gunner Sydney Bears Polyflor Raptors Jacob Haley Melbourne Mustangs No team Sean Hamilton Perth Thunder Northern North Stars Mohd Hariz Ananda Melbourne Mustangs Central Oklahoma Bronchos Tom Harkness Brisbane Lightning Southern Drop Bears Joshua Healey Perth Thunder Northern North Stars Marcus Henderson Brisbane Lightning West Coast Flyers Orange Lucas Herrmann Sydney Bears Etoile Noire de Strasbourg Marcus Hosen Sydney Ice Dogs Reach Rebels Samuel Hou Gustafsson Central Coast Rhinos Monroe Moccasins Ronan Hoy Brisbane Lightning No team Mitsuaki Inoue Newcastle Northstars No team Patrick Ivens Brisbane Lightning Southern Drop Bears Michael James Melbourne Ice No team Eugene Ju Sydney Bears Polyflor Raptors CJ Kemp Sydney Ice Dogs Reach Rebels John Kennedy Perth Thunder No team Brendan Kleipas Melbourne Ice Sydney Bombers Joshua Kleipas Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Bombers Roman Kraemer Melbourne Ice Carolina Thunderbirds Toby Kubara Canberra Brave No team Chris Kushneriuk Sydney Bears North Dundas Rockets Samuel Lammert Newcastle Northstars No team Matthew Lavergne Brisbane Lightning No team Chris Lawrence Melbourne Mustangs No team Reece Lukowiak Perth Thunder Cockburn Blackhawks Joseph Maatouk Canberra Brave No team Alex MacDonald Sydney Ice Dogs Nijmegen Devils Kenta Matsukane Canberra Brave Yokohama Grits Kyler Matthews Newcastle Northstars Birmingham Bulls Justin Maylan Canberra Brave Rapaces de Gap Stephen McCann Brisbane Lightning No team Noah McMillan Perth Thunder No team Jordan McTaggart Brisbane Lightning Falher Pirates Curtis Meger Brisbane Lightning Carlyle Cougars Max Miller Sydney Ice Dogs Reach Rebels Nathan Moncrieff Sydney Bears Polyflor Raptors Noah Moncrieff Sydney Bears Canterbury Red Devils Thomas Moncrieff Sydney Bears Canterbury Red Devils Matt Musumeci Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Bombers Adrian Nash Newcastle Northstars No team Oscar Noone Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Bombers Stepan Olkin Sydney Ice Dogs Sydney Bombers Sean Oultram Newcastle Northstars Newcastle Northstars (ECSL) Tyrone Oxlade Sydney Bears West Chester Wolves Harrison Paraskevis Melbourne Mustangs No team Rhys Pelliccione Perth Thunder Northern North Stars Jason Polglase Central Coast Rhinos No team Samuel Poole Sydney Bears Adelaide Blackhawks Patrik Popovics Brisbane Lightning No team Hamish Powell Newcastle Northstars No team Vladislav Rachinsky Melbourne Mustangs No team Jack Ransome Sydney Ice Dogs Reach Rebels Jake Ratcliffe Canberra Brave Danbury Hat Tricks Harvey Rigg Melbourne Mustangs No team Jake Riley Sydney Bears Adelaide Jokers Taegan Rippon Sydney Bears Reach Rebels Drew Robson Newcastle Northstars No team Jonatan Ruth Canberra Brave No team Jayden Ryan Newcastle Northstars Newcastle Northstars (ECSL) Alistair Rye Central Coast Rhinos No team Anthony Santilli Brisbane Lightning No team Adrien Sebag Central Coast Rhinos Coqs de Courbevoie Josh Secomb Newcastle Northstars Newcastle Northstars (ECSL) Taj Siah Perth Thunder West Coast Flyers Andrew Smardon Central Coast Rhinos No team Paul Smith Central Coast Rhinos No team Jeff Solow Melbourne Ice No team Kenwrick Sze Sydney Ice Dogs Reach Rebels Jesse Thompson Melbourne Mustangs Saints Monarchs IHC Mac Tutton Sydney Bears New Hampshire Avalanche Samuli Vainionpää Sydney Bears Kristianstads IK Nátán Vertes Perth Thunder Budapest Akademia HC Aiden Wagner Newcastle Northstars Fayetteville Marksmen Josh Walt Melbourne Ice No team Aidan Wardlaw Central Coast Rhinos No team Alexander Wardlaw Central Coast Rhinos No team Callum Wardlaw Central Coast Rhinos Sydney Heat Lachlan White Canberra Brave Canberra Rebels Alexander Yuill Newcastle Northstars Deseronto Bulldogs

The 2025 regular season consists of 112 games that are scheduled to run from 5 April 2025 to 24 August 2025. Teams are ranked in a single standings table, with conferences removed in 2025. Each team plays a total of 28 regular season games, playing each other team four times times (two at home and two away).^[3]

Key:

Each week the AIHL, through sponsorship, names a player of the week.^[25]
The award is based on the following criteria:

• individual performance, including significant game statistics;
• contribution to the team's success through individual leadership abilities; and
• performance off the ice, including community engagement.

Round	Awarded to	Pos	Ref
1	Tyler Kubara	F	Ref
2	Jakob Doornbos	G	Ref

For season 2025, winners of the AIHL Finals are crowned AIHL Champions and claim the historic Goodall Cup. Man of the match in the grand final is named AIHL Finals MVP.

• The Australian Ice Hockey League
• Ice Hockey Australia