The 2024 AIHL season is the 23nd season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The season consists of 155 total games, split between the 150 games regular season and 5 game Goodall Cup Finals post-season. The regular season is scheduled to run from 6 April to 11 August 2024. The Finals are scheduled to run from 23–25 August 2024 in Melbourne, Australia.
Teams
In 2024 the AIHL had 10 teams split into two conferences, Rurak and Hellyer, competing in the league.[1]
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.[2] 2024 AIHL Finals information was released by the league in February 2024, confirming dates and location.[1] 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.[3]
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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] On 8 June 2024, the AIHL.TV service was expanded to include the release of an app on Apple iOS and Andriod Play.[8]
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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]
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.[15]
Player transfers
All player transfers by the ten AIHL teams for season 2024.[16][17][18][19]
The 2024 regular season consists of 150 games that are scheduled to run from 6 April to 11 August 2024. Teams are split into two five-team conferences named Rurak and Hellyer. Each team plays a total of 30 regular season games, playing each other team in their conference four times (two at home and two away) and playing teams outside their conference two to three times.[20]
Updated to match(es) played on 16 June 2024. Source: AIHLElite Prospects Rules for classification: Tie-break: 1) points; 2) points percentage; 3) head to head; 4) goal difference; 5) goals scored; 6) coin toss Points: 3 points for regulation win; 2 points for OT or SO win; 1 point for OT or SO loss; 0 points for regulation loss
Updated to match(es) played on 16 June 2024. Source: AIHLElite Prospects Rules for classification: Tie-break: 1) points; 2) points percentage; 3) head to head; 4) goal difference; 5) goals scored; 6) coin toss Points: 3 points for regulation win; 2 points for OT or SO win; 1 point for OT or SO loss; 0 points for regulation loss
Updated to match(es) played on 16 June 2024. Source: AIHLElite Prospects Rules for classification: Tie-break: 1) points; 2) points percentage; 3) head to head; 4) goal difference; 5) goals scored; 6) coin toss Points: 3 points for regulation win; 2 points for OT or SO win; 1 point for OT or SO loss; 0 points for regulation loss
Awards
Skaters Network player of the week
Each week the AIHL, through sponsorship, names a player of the week.[21]
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.
For season 2024, the AIHL adopted another new Finals format not previously used by the league. Six teams will qualify, three from each conference, to play five games in three days. AIHL Finals uses single-game elimination with winning teams advancing to the next round and losing teams eliminated. Melbourne's O'Brien Icehouse will host Finals once again for the 11th time. Finals winners are crowned AIHL Champions and claim the historic Goodall Cup. Man of the match in the grand final is named AIHL Finals MVP.[22]
References
^ abHartshorne, Peter (26 February 2024). "Welcome to the AIHL in 2024"(PDF). Australian Ice Hockey League. Archived(PDF) from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.