2025 AIHL season

2025 AIHL season
LeagueAustralian Ice Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration5 April 2025 – 31 August 2025
Regular season
H Newman Reid TrophyMelbourne Ice
(5th title)
Season MVPYu Hikosaka
(Thunder)
Top scorerTanner Hopps (80 points)
(Lightning)
Goodall Cup
ChampionsMelbourne Ice (5th title)
  Runners-upCanberra Brave
Finals MVPMackenzie Caruana (Ice)

The 2025 AIHL season is the 24th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The season consisted of 117 games, spanning the regular season and Finals (play-offs). The 112 game regular season ran from 5 April to 24 August 2025. The 5 game 2025 Finals series ran from 29 to 31 August 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. The Melbourne Ice won the AIHL premiership and championship double in 2025, claiming the H Newman Reid Trophy and Goodall Cup. The Canberra Brave finished runners-up to both titles and the Central Coast Rhinos claimed the wooden spoon.

Teams

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
TeamCityArenaHead CoachCaptain
Adelaide AdrenalineSouth Australia AdelaideAdelaide Ice ArenaCanada Jade GalbraithAustralia Joey MacDougall
Brisbane LightningQueensland BrisbaneBoondall IceworldSweden Christer LundkvistAustralia Aaron Wanat
Canberra BraveAustralian Capital Territory CanberraAIS ArenaAustralia Stuart PhilpsAustralia Kai Miettinen
Central Coast RhinosNew South Wales Central CoastErina Ice ArenaAustralia Ron KuprowskyAustralia Robert Malloy
Melbourne IceVictoria (state) MelbourneO'Brien IcehouseCanada Kerry GouletAustralia Mackenzie Caruana
Melbourne MustangsVictoria (state) MelbourneO'Brien IcehouseCanada Scott TimminsAustralia Todd Cutter
Newcastle NorthstarsNew South Wales NewcastleHunter Ice Skating StadiumCanada Kevin NobleAustralia Liam Manwarring
Perth ThunderWestern Australia PerthPerth Ice ArenaAustralia Benjamin BreaultAustralia Jamie Woodman

League Business

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 and 2024 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]

Exhibition games

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]

2025 AIHL exhibition games
Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
22 March 202517:00Central Coast Rhinos6–8Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating StadiumRef
28 March 202519:30Melbourne Mustangs3–5Melbourne IceO’Brien IcehouseRef
29 March 202515:15Newcastle Northstars1–2Central Coast RhinosErina Ice ArenaRef
22 April 202520:15Australia8–2AIHL All-StarsO’Brien IcehouseRef

Team changes

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 invokes the short lived former Adelaide Avalanche yeti logo from 2008 to 2009, 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 anniversary 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]

Personnel changes

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]

Player transfers

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

Regular season

Fixtures and results

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] A new AIHL regular season attendance record was set in 2025. 2,964 people attended the maiden AIHL game at the AIS Arena on 31 May 2025 in Canberra between the Canberra Brave and Adelaide Adrenaline.[25]

April

April
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
15 Apr 20254:45 PMCanberra Brave5–6Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
25 Apr 20255:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos1–10Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
35 Apr 20254:00 PMNewcastle Northstars4–7Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
46 Apr 20252:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos9–8 (OT)Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
56 Apr 20253:45 PMCanberra Brave4–3 (OT)Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
66 Apr 20254:00 PMNewcastle Northstars1–6Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
712 Apr 20255:00 PMBrisbane Lightning2–1 (OT)Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
812 Apr 20255:00 PMPerth Thunder6–4Canberra BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
912 Apr 20255:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos1–2 (OT)Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
1013 Apr 20252:00 PMBrisbane Lightning3–4 (OT)Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
1113 Apr 20253:30 PMNewcastle Northstars7–6 (OT)Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
1213 Apr 20254:45 PMPerth Thunder7–2Canberra BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
1326 Apr 20253:30 PMMelbourne Mustangs6–1Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
1426 Apr 20254:45 PMCanberra Brave6–5 (OT)Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
1526 Apr 20254:00 PMMelbourne Ice3–0Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
1627 Apr 20253:30 PMMelbourne Mustangs8–3Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
1727 Apr 20254:15 PMCanberra Brave5–2Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
1827 Apr 20254:00 PMMelbourne Ice9–3Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena

May

May
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
1910 May 20254:45 PMPerth Thunder5–6Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
2010 May 20255:00 PMNewcastle Northstars6–7Canberra BravePhillip Ice Skating Centre
2110 May 20254:45 PMMelbourne Ice12–2Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
2211 May 20253:45 PMPerth Thunder3–2Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
2311 May 20254:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos7–1Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
2411 May 20254:15 PMMelbourne Ice4–2Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
2516 May 20257:30 PMMelbourne Ice5–2Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
2617 May 20253:30 PMAdelaide Adrenaline4–5 (OT)Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
2717 May 20255:00 PMCanberra Brave2–10Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
2818 May 20252:00 PMCanberra Brave2–10Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
2918 May 20254:00 PMAdelaide Adrenaline1–6Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
3024 May 20254:45 PMCentral Coast Rhinos5–7Brisbane LightningIceworld Boondall
3124 May 20255:00 PMPerth Thunder8–9 (OT)Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
3224 May 20254:45 PMNewcastle Northstars11–3Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
3325 May 20252:00 PMPerth Thunder8–0Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
3425 May 20253:45 PMCentral Coast Rhinos2–4Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
3525 May 20254:00 PMNewcastle Northstars7–3Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
3630 May 20257:30 PMMelbourne Mustangs3–2 (OT)Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
3731 May 20255:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos2–6Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
3831 May 20255:00 PMAdelaide Adrenaline3–2Canberra BraveAIS Arena

June

June
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
391 Jun 20252:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos1–3Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
401 Jun 20254:45 PMAdelaide Adrenaline1–7Canberra BraveAIS Arena
417 Jun 20253:30 PMMelbourne Ice9–2Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
427 Jun 20254:45 PMMelbourne Mustangs3–5Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
437 Jun 20255:00 PMCanberra Brave4–6Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
447 Jun 20254:00 PMAdelaide Adrenaline7–4Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
458 Jun 20253:30 PMMelbourne Ice5–3Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
468 Jun 20253:45 PMMelbourne Mustangs6–9Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
478 Jun 20254:00 PMAdelaide Adrenaline4–7Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
4813 Jun 20257:30 PMMelbourne Ice7–3Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
4914 Jun 20255:00 PMPerth Thunder2–6Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
5014 Jun 20255:00 PMBrisbane Lightning8–6Canberra BraveAIS Arena
5114 Jun 20254:45 PMCentral Coast Rhinos2–7Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
5215 Jun 20252:00 PMPerth Thunder3–4Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
5315 Jun 20254:45 PMBrisbane Lightning4–6Canberra BraveAIS Arena
5415 Jun 20254:15 PMCentral Coast Rhinos1–4Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
5521 Jun 20253:30 PMPerth Thunder6–5Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
5621 Jun 20254:45 PMMelbourne Ice5–4 (OT)Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
5721 Jun 20255:00 PMMelbourne Mustangs4–7Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
5822 Jun 20253:30 PMMelbourne Mustangs3–6Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
5922 Jun 20253:45 PMMelbourne Ice12–5Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
6022 Jun 20254:00 PMPerth Thunder2–3 (OT)Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
6128 Jun 20253:30 PMCanberra Brave9–6Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
6228 Jun 20255:00 PMMelbourne Ice6–3Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
6328 Jun 20255:00 PMAdelaide Adrenaline0–4Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
6428 Jun 20254:00 PMBrisbane Lightning2–11Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
6529 Jun 20252:00 PMAdelaide Adrenaline4–8Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
6629 Jun 20253:30 PMMelbourne Ice10–4Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
6729 Jun 20254:00 PMCanberra Brave4–3Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
6829 Jun 20254:00 PMBrisbane Lightning4–5 (OT)Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena

July

July
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
694 Jul 20257:30 PMMelbourne Mustangs2–5Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
705 Jul 20255:00 PMNewcastle Northstars6–8Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
715 Jul 20255:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos2–13Canberra BraveAIS Arena
725 Jul 20254:45 PMBrisbane Lightning7–4Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
736 Jul 20252:00 PMNewcastle Northstars8–5Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
746 Jul 20254:15 PMBrisbane Lightning4–2Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
7512 Jul 20255:00 PMBrisbane Lightning3–7Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
7612 Jul 20255:00 PMMelbourne Mustangs0–4Canberra BraveAIS Arena
7712 Jul 20254:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos2–8Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
7813 Jul 20253:30 PMBrisbane Lightning4–8Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
7913 Jul 20254:45 PMMelbourne Mustangs4–8Canberra BraveAIS Arena
8013 Jul 20254:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos0–8Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
8119 Jul 20255:00 PMPerth Thunder0–4Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
8219 Jul 20255:00 PMMelbourne Ice2–5Canberra BraveAIS Arena
8319 Jul 20254:45 PMMelbourne Mustangs1–5Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
8420 Jul 20253:30 PMPerth Thunder10–1Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
8520 Jul 20254:45 PMMelbourne Ice3–9Canberra BraveAIS Arena
8620 Jul 20254:15 PMMelbourne Mustangs4–3Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
8726 Jul 20254:45 PMAdelaide Adrenaline4–3Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
8826 Jul 20255:00 PMNewcastle Northstars8–1Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
8927 Jul 20252:00 PMNewcastle Northstars5–7Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
9027 Jul 20253:45 PMAdelaide Adrenaline7–3Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall

August

August
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
912 Aug 20253:30 PMNewcastle Northstars6–3Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
922 Aug 20255:00 PMBrisbane Lightning4–8Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
932 Aug 20254:00 PMCanberra Brave2–11Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
943 Aug 20252:00 PMBrisbane Lightning6–10Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
953 Aug 20254:00 PMCanberra Brave6–3Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
969 Aug 20255:00 PMAdelaide Adrenaline4–6Newcastle NorthstarsHunter Ice Skating Stadium
979 Aug 20255:00 PMCentral Coast Rhinos3–4Canberra BraveAIS Arena
9810 Aug 20253:30 PMAdelaide Adrenaline8–5Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
9910 Aug 20254:45 PMNewcastle Northstars4–7Canberra BraveAIS Arena
10016 Aug 20253:30 PMBrisbane Lightning8–2Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
10116 Aug 20255:00 PMCanberra Brave6–7Melbourne MustangsO'Brien Icehouse
10216 Aug 20254:45 PMPerth Thunder2–5Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
10317 Aug 20252:00 PMCanberra Brave4–3 (OT)Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
10417 Aug 20253:30 PMBrisbane Lightning6–7 (SO)Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
10517 Aug 20254:15 PMPerth Thunder3–4Adelaide AdrenalineAdelaide Ice Arena
10623 Aug 20254:45 PMNewcastle Northstars11–1Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
10723 Aug 20255:00 PMAdelaide Adrenaline3–11Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
10823 Aug 20254:00 PMMelbourne Mustangs4–13Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena
10924 Aug 20252:00 PMAdelaide Adrenaline3–8Melbourne IceO'Brien Icehouse
11024 Aug 20253:30 PMCanberra Brave6–2Central Coast RhinosErina Ice Arena
11124 Aug 20253:45 PMNewcastle Northstars4–8Brisbane LightningIceWorld Boondall
11224 Aug 20254:00 PMMelbourne Mustangs7–11Perth ThunderPerth Ice Arena

Key:

Winner

Standings

Overall

Pos Team Pld W OTW OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Melbourne Ice 28 20 2 4 2 183 103 +80 68 2025 Goodall Cup Semi Finals
2 Canberra Brave 28 15 3 0 10 149 130 +19 51
3 Perth Thunder 28 15 1 2 10 162 110 +52 46 2025 Goodall Cup Play-In Finals
4 Newcastle Northstars 28 13 3 0 12 150 125 +25 45
5 Brisbane Lightning 28 11 1 5 11 131 157 −26 40
6 Melbourne Mustangs 28 11 2 0 15 127 143 −16 37
7 Adelaide Adrenaline 28 10 0 2 16 104 148 −44 32
8 Central Coast Rhinos 28 2 3 2 21 93 183 −90 14
Source: AIHL Elite 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

Statistics

Skater statistics

2025 AIHL season top-ten skater statistics for points, goals, assists and penalty minutes.[26]

Points
# Name Team Pos Pts
1Canada Tanner HoppsBLF70
2Japan Yu HikosakaPTF68
3Canada Carson MillerBLF66
4United States David BoothMIF64
5Sweden Joakim ErduganMIF64
6Romania Evgeny SkachkovNNF61
7Canada Kolton ShindleMIF60
8Australia Mackenzie CaruanaMIF60
9Sweden Kim TallbergNNF59
10Australia Casey KubaraNNF50
Goals
# Name Team Pos G
1Japan Yu HikosakaPTF36
2United States David BoothMIF34
3Canada Tanner HoppsBLF33
4Canada Kolton ShindleMIF33
5Sweden Kim TallbergNNF28
6Canada Carson MillerBLF23
7Australia Mackenzie CaruanaMIF23
8Romania Evgeny SkachkovNNF21
9Canada Josh AdkinsAAF20
10Australia Tyrone BronteMIF20
Assists
# Name Team Pos A
1Canada Tanner HoppsBLF47
2Sweden Joakim ErduganMIF45
3Canada Carson MillerBLF43
4Romania Evgeny SkachkovNNF40
5Australia Mackenzie CaruanaMIF37
6Australia Casey KubaraNNF34
7Japan Yu HikosakaPTF32
8United Kingdom Robert LachowiczPTF32
9Sweden Kim TallbergNNF31
10Canada Scott TimminsMMF31
Penalty minutes
# Name Team Pos PIM
1Australia Darcy FlanaganAAD145
2Canada Mac RoyMMF82
3Australia Jamie BourkeMIF79
4Australia Jordan WarrenMMF78
5Australia Gustav Remler-JensenCRF78
6Australia Joey MacDougallAAF77
7New Zealand Dominic CanicCBF70
8New Zealand Bradley AppsMMF70
9Australia Tyerell ClareMMD69
10Jamaica Kolby JohnsonPTF68

Goaltender statistics

2025 AIHL season top-ten1 goaltender statistics for goals against average and save percentage.[27]

1 only goaltenders who have played 10 or more games qualify for these lists
Goals against average
# Name Team Pos GAA
1Japan Tatsunoshin IshidaMIG3.37
2Australia Aleksi ToivonenPTG3.44
3Australia Anthony KimlinMMG3.66
4Australia Charles SmartNNG3.77
5Australia Alex TétreaultCBG4.38
6Australia Matus TrnkaBLG4.57
7New Zealand Joel HasselmanCBG4.60
8Canada Cale DolanAAG4.77
9Canada Anand OberoiCRG6.27
10Australia Jakob DoornbosBLG6.95
Save percentage
# Name Team Pos SV%
1Japan Tatsunoshin IshidaMIG.908
2Australia Anthony KimlinMMG.903
3Australia Aleksi ToivonenPTG.895
4Australia Matus TrnkaBLG.885
5Australia Alex TétreaultPTG.869
6Canada Anand OberoiCRG.869
7Australia Charles SmartNNG.866
8New Zealand Joel HasselmanCBG.862
9Australia Jakob DoornbosBLG.858
10Canada Cale DolanAAG.852

Awards

Skaters Network player of the week

Each week the AIHL, through sponsorship, names a player of the week.[28]
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.
RoundAwarded toPosRef
1Australia Tyler KubaraFRef
2Australia Jakob DoornbosGRef
3Australia Tyrone BronteFRef
4Australia Mackenzie CaruanaFRef
5Australia Ivan KuleshovFRef
6Australia Aleksi ToivonenGRef
7Australia Cameron ToddFRef
8Australia Arum RapchukFRef
9Australia Thomas PapasGRef
10Australia Mackenzie CaruanaFRef
11Australia Jordan KyrosFRef
12Australia Casey KubaraFRef
13Australia Alexandre TétreaultGRef
14Australia Charlie SmartGRef
15Australia Nathaniel BensonFRef
16Australia Yannic LodgeFRef
17Australia Dmitri KuleshovFRef
18Australia Zachary BoyleDRef
19Australia Wehebe DargeFRef

Season awards

Below lists the 2025 AIHL season award winners.[29]

Award Name Team
MVPJapan Yu HikosakaPerth Thunder
GoaltenderAustralia Aleksi ToivonenPerth Thunder
DefencemanAustralia Bray CrowderCanberra Brave
LocalAustralia Wehebe DargeNewcastle Northstars
RookieAustralia Artem Astafiev
Australia Luka Loria		Melbourne Mustangs
Adelaide Adrenaline
CoachAustralia Benjamin BreaultPerth Thunder
Finals MVPAustralia Mackenzie CaruanaMelbourne Ice

Goodall Cup playoffs

For season 2025, the AIHL Finals format remained the same as 2024. 6 teams qualify for 5 games over 3 days at 1 venue. The 4 lowest ranked teams from the regular season enter on Friday in the preliminary finals with the top two ranked teams entering on Saturday in the semi-finals. Winner from each game advances with the loser eliminated. Winner of the grand final on Sunday is crowned AIHL champions and claim the historic Goodall Cup. The grand final man of the match is named the AIHL Finals MVP.[30]

The Finals weekend in 2025 was held at O’Brien Icehouse in Docklands, Melbourne. This is the twelfth time the Icehouse has hosted the AIHL Finals weekend since it first opened in 2010. The District Docklands held a AIHL Finals Festival at the shopping centre that included a street hockey shootout, AIHL trivia challenge, player meet and greets, photos with the Goodall Cup and daily prizes.[30] The event was broadcast on AIHL.TV and for the first time ESPN Australia, making it accessible on platforms including Disney+, Kayo Sports, Foxtel GO and Fetch TV.[31]

The Melbourne Mustangs, Brisbane Lightning, Newcastle Northstars, Perth Thunder all qualified for the preliminary finals in 2025. The Thunder and Northstars advanced to the semi-finals with victories over the Lightning and Mustangs. The Canberra Brave and Melbourne Ice qualified for the semi-finals and advanced to the grand final after defeating the Thunder and Northstars. The grand final was a repeat of 2024, with the Ice up against the Brave for the title and Cup. However, unlike 2024, the Melbourne Ice defeated the Brave 7-3 to claim their 5th Goodall Cup and their first since 2017.[32] Ice captain, Mac Caruana, was named Finals MVP after the game.[33]

Preliminary-finalsSemi-finalsGrand final
30 August – Melbourne
29 August – MelbournePerth Thunder1
Melbourne Mustangs2Canberra Brave631 August – Melbourne
Perth Thunder5Canberra Brave3
30 August – MelbourneMelbourne Ice7
29 August – MelbourneNewcastle Northstars4
Brisbane Lightning1Melbourne Ice6
Newcastle Northstars6

All times are UTC+10:00

Preliminary-finals

29 August 2025
15:00		Melbourne Mustangs2–5
(1–1, 1–2, 0–2)		Perth ThunderO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Anthony KimlinGoaliesAustralia Aleksi ToivonenReferees:
Jeffrey Scott
David Gal
Linesmen:
Nick Air
Beth Bowshall
0 – 1Lodge (Lyashenko, Johnson)
(Wishart, Dunkley) Lindal1 – 1
1 – 2Langille (Kyros)
(Lindal, Klomp) Dunkley2 – 2
2 – 3Kudla (Langille, Kyros)
2 – 4Hamilton (Kyros)
2 – 5Tenosalmi (Hikosaka, Hamilton)
8 minPenalties15 min
42Shots42
29 August 2025
19:00		Brisbane Lightning1–6
(1–2, 0–3, 0–1)		Newcastle NorthstarsO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Matus TrnkaGoaliesAustralia Charles SmartReferees:
Fraser Ohlson
Rob Love
Linesmen:
Hamish Young
Jake O'Brien
0 – 1Darge (C.Kubara)
(Campbell, Hopps) Miller1 – 1
1 – 2Skachkov (Tallberg, Ellen)
1 – 3Annesley (Tallberg, C.Kubara)
1 – 4Taylor (Skachkov)
1 – 5Tallberg (Skachkov, Drolet)
1 – 6C.Kubara (Darge)
8 minPenalties6 min
21Shots38

Semi-finals

30 August 2025
14:00		Newcastle Northstars4–6
(0–2, 3–3, 1–1)		Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Charles SmartGoaliesJapan Tatsunoshin IshidaReferees:
Fraser Ohlson
David Gal
Linesmen:
Jake O'Brien
Nick Air
0 – 1Carini (T.Bronte)
0 – 2Booth (Caruana, Bergholt)
0 – 3Bourke (Caruana, Shindle)
(Tallberg, Drolet) Skachkov1 – 3
(R.Klugerman, Darge) Ellen2 – 3
(Tallberg, Funes) Skachkov3 – 3
3 – 4Caruana (T.Bronte)
3 – 5Erdugan (T.Bronte, Booth)
3 – 6T.Bronte (Booth, Erdugan)
(Hawes, Drolet) Tallberg4 – 6
4 minPenalties10 min
51Shots37
30 August 2025
19:00		Perth Thunder1–6
(0–0, 1–2, 0–4)		Canberra BraveO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Aleksi ToivonenGoaliesAustralia Alexandre TetreaultReferees:
Rob Love
Jeffrey Scott
Linesmen:
Beth Bowshall
Hamish Young
0 – 1Ratcliffe (Carnbäck, Carey)
(Jones, Hikosaka) Kyros1 – 1
1 – 2Marks (Ratcliffe, Čanić)
1 – 3Viikilä (Ratcliffe)
1 – 4Clark (Carnbäck, Ratcliffe)
1 – 5Clark (Marks)
1 – 6Clark (Viikilä, Carnbäck)
8 minPenalties8 min
22Shots35

Final

31 August 2025
14:00		Canberra Brave3–7
(0–3, 3–1, 0–3)		Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Australia Alexandre TetreaultGoaliesJapan Tatsunoshin IshidaReferees:
David Gal
Joey Theriault
Linesmen:
David Rehak
Jake O'Brien
0 – 1Shindle (Cachia, Caruana)
0 – 2Erdugan (Stringer, Berholt)
0 – 3Caruana (Unassisted)
(Carnbäck, Viikilä) Ratcliffe1 – 3
(Carey) Miettinen2 – 3
(Viikilä, Ratcliffe) Carey3 – 3
3 – 4T.Bronte (Booth, Erdugan)
3 – 5Caruana (McMahon, D.Bronte)
3 – 6Bourke (Shindle, McMahon)
3 – 7Booth (T.bronte)
20 minPenalties14 min
29Shots33

References

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