# 2011 AIHL season

The 2011 AIHL season is the 12th season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 14 April 2011 until 28 August 2011, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 3 and 4 September. The Melbourne Ice won the H Newman Ried trophy after finishing first in the regular season standings with 65 points. The Ice also won the Goodall Cup final series after defeating the Newcastle North Stars in the final.

## Teams

In 2011 the AIHL had 8 teams competing in the league.

## League business

During the off-season the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) announced two new teams would be joining the league. The Mustangs IHC were announced to become the eighth team in the AIHL starting in the 2011 season. The Mustangs are based at Docklands, Victoria, the home of the Melbourne Ice. The ninth team, Perth Thunder, were accepted into the league as a provisional member. The Thunder will play exhibition games against other AIHL teams during the 2011 season in order to gain the vote to be accepted for the 2012 season. At the Annual General Meeting it was proposed to increase the length of the games periods from 15 minutes to 20 minutes to be inline with International Ice Hockey Federation rules however the proposal was unsuccessful due to reasons such as costs to the teams and the ability to fill the four lines with AIHL-level players.
On 10 July the game between the Gold Coast Blue Tongues and the Sydney Ice Dogs was cancelled due to an unsafe surface at the Blue Tongues home venue, Bundall Iceland. The AIHL deemed that the Blue Tongues have forfeited the game against the Ice Dogs 5–0, with the Ice Dogs being awarded the full three points.
From 20 to 21 August the Australia men's national ice hockey team will field a team at the 2011 New Zealand Winter Games so only two games will be held for that weekend.

### Player transfers

| Date | Player | New team | Previous team |
| 18 January 2011 | David Phillips | Adelaide Adrenaline | Toledo Walleye |
| 19 January 2011 | Kevin Phillips | Adelaide Adrenaline | Braehead Clan |
| 10 February 2011 | Kurtis Dulle | Sydney Bears | Hull Stingrays |
| 24 February 2011 | Sean Scarbrough | Adelaide Adrenaline | Canberra Knights |
| 3 March 2011 | Jordan Hale | Sydney Bears | Camrose Kodiaks |
| 14 March 2011 | Jacques Perreault | Melbourne Ice | Quad City Mallards |
| 17 March 2011 | Josef Rezek | Adelaide Adrenaline | HC Milevsko |
| 23 March 2011 | Bob Sannemo | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Östersund Hockey |
| 23 March 2011 | Tobias Falk | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Östersund Hockey |
| 23 March 2011 | Peter Cartwright | Newcastle North Stars | Dundee Stars |
| 4 April 2011 | Brook Robson | Sydney Ice Dogs | Peter North Stars |
| 8 April 2011 | Obi Aduba | Melbourne Ice | Quad City Mallards |
| 11 April 2011 | Tony Demelinne | Sydney Bears | HYS The Hague |
| 14 April 2011 | Justin Chwedoruk | Newcastle North Stars | Rødovre Mighty Bulls |
| 14 April 2011 | Scott Thauwald | Newcastle North Stars | Nijmegen Devils |
| 20 April 2011 | Justin Sawyer | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Odessa Jackalopes |
| 20 April 2011 | Sheldon Baerg | Sydney Bears | Concordia Stingers |
| 22 April 2011 | Ricky Helmbrecht | Sydney Ice Dogs | Wasquehal Lions |
| 22 April 2011 | Mitch Bye | Sydney Ice Dogs | Marian University |
| 7 June 2011 | Geoff O'Hara | Sydney Bears | Bristol Pitbulls |
| 24 June 2011 | Anthony Ciraulo | Canberra Knights | Bloomington PrairieThunder |
| 28 June 2011 | Jason Lindner | Canberra Knights | Indiana Blizzard |
| | Addison DeBoer | Canberra Knights | Laredo Bucks |

## Exhibition games

Prior to the regular season, the Sydney Bears hosted an exhibition All-Star event and match at the Penrith Ice Palace. The All Star Classic had the Bears Veterans (over 35's) face off against the Rookies (Under 35s). The Rookies team won the All Star Classic 9–5.
During the season three teams competed against the AIHL's provisional member, Perth Thunder, in order for the Thunder to gain entry into the league for the following season. In May the Thunder travelled to Adelaide to compete in two games against the Adelaide Adrenaline. They drew the first game 2–2 and won the second 3–0. In June the Melbourne Ice travelled to Perth to compete in two games against the Thunder at the Cockburn Ice Arena. The Ice won the first game 4–3 and lost the second game 3–6 after letting in six goals to none in the final period. In September the Newcastle North Stars traveled to Perth to play the Thunder in a two-game series. The Thunder won both the first and second game 4–2.

## Regular season

The Melbourne Ice won the H Newman Reid Trophy after finishing first in the regular season standings with 65 points. Last years winners, the Newcastle North Stars finished second with 59 points. Jason Baclig of the Melbourne Ice was named the 2011 AIHL MVP edging out the Gold Coast Blue Tongues' Matt Amado and Sydney Ice Dogs' Matt Monaghan.

### April

| Game | Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location | Attendance |
| 1 | 14 April | 20:00 | Melbourne Ice | 8–4 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | |
| 2 | 16 April | 17:00 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 3–7 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | 800 |
| 3 | 16 April | 19:30 | Mustangs IHC | 6–2 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | |
| 4 | 17 April | 17:00 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 3 – 2 (SO) | Sydney Bears | Penrith | |
| 5 | 17 April | 17:00 | Mustangs IHC | 6–7 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | 700 |
| 6 | 23 April | 17:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 7–3 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | |
| 7 | 23 April | 17:45 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 2–6 | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | |
| 8 | 24 April | 16:15 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 6–3 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | |
| 9 | 28 April | 20:00 | Sydney Bears | 2–4 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | 600 |
| 10 | 30 April | 16:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 6–2 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | |
| 11 | 30 April | 17:30 | Melbourne Ice | 6–5 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | |
| 12 | 30 April | 17:45 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 3–5 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | 250 |

### May

| Game | Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location | Attendance |
| 13 | 1 May | 16:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 7–6 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | 150 |
| 14 | 1 May | 16:15 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 2–5 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | |
| 15 | 1 May | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 3–2 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | |
| 16 | 7 May | 16:30 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 4 – 5 (SO) | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | |
| 17 | 7 May | 17:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 4–6 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | |
| 18 | 7 May | 17:30 | Sydney Bears | 3–5 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | |
| 19 | 7 May | 17:45 | Mustangs IHC | 5 – 4 (SO) | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | |
| 20 | 8 May | 16:30 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 3–5 | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | |
| 21 | 8 May | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 1–9 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | |
| 22 | 8 May | 17:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 6–2 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | |
| 23 | 14 May | 16:00 | Canberra Knights | 3–6 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | |
| 24 | 14 May | 17:00 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 3–4 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | 850 |
| 25 | 14 May | 17:45 | Sydney Bears | 3 – 4 (SO) | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | |
| 26 | 15 May | 16:00 | Canberra Knights | 1–8 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | |
| 27 | 15 May | 16:15 | Sydney Bears | 5–3 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | |
| 28 | 15 May | 17:00 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 2–4 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | |
| 29 | 21 May | 17:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 3–8 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | |
| 30 | 21 May | 17:30 | Sydney Bears | 5–10 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | |
| 31 | 21 May | 17:45 | Newcastle North Stars | 4 – 5 (SO) | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | |
| 32 | 22 May | 16:15 | Newcastle North Stars | 2–5 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | |
| 33 | 22 May | 17:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 6–3 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | |
| 34 | 28 May | 16:30 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 0–2 | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | |
| 35 | 28 May | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 4–5 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | |
| 36 | 28 May | 17:45 | Canberra Knights | 5–4 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | |
| 37 | 29 May | 16:15 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 3–9 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | |
| 38 | 29 May | 16:30 | Canberra Knights | 2–7 | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | |
| 39 | 29 May | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 8–1 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | |

### June

| Game | Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location | Attendance |
| 40 | 2 June | 20:00 | Mustangs IHC | 1–5 | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | |
| 41 | 4 June | 16:00 | Mustangs IHC | 5–8 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | |
| 42 | 4 June | 17:00 | Sydney Bears | 5 – 4 (SO) | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | 800 |
| 43 | 4 June | 17:30 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 8–4 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | |
| 44 | 4 June | 17:45 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 3 – 2 (SO) | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | |
| 45 | 5 June | 16:00 | Mustangs IHC | 4–6 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | |
| 46 | 5 June | 16:15 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 2–4 | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | |
| 47 | 5 June | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 6–8 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | |
| 48 | 11 June | 17:30 | Mustangs IHC | 5–2 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | |
| 49 | 12 June | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 3–9 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | |
| 50 | 12 June | 17:00 | Mustangs IHC | 1–8 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | |
| 51 | 18 June | 16:00 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 5–0 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | |
| 52 | 18 June | 17:00 | Mustangs IHC | 4–9 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | 900 |
| 53 | 18 June | 17:30 | Melbourne Ice | 7–4 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | |
| 54 | 19 June | 16:00 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 4–3 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | |
| 55 | 19 June | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 7–3 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | |
| 56 | 19 June | 17:00 | Mustangs IHC | 3 – 4 (SO) | Sydney Bears | Penrith | |
| 57 | 25 June | 16:30 | Sydney Bears | 3–6 | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | |
| 58 | 25 June | 17:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 7–4 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | |
| 59 | 25 June | 17:30 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 10–3 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | |
| 60 | 25 June | 17:45 | Melbourne Ice | 7–3 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | |
| 61 | 26 June | 16:45 | Sydney Bears | 2–3 | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | |
| 62 | 26 June | 17:30 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 5–7 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | |

### July

| Game | Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location | Attendance | Recap |
| 63 | 2 July | 16:30 | Melbourne Ice | 5 – 6 (SO) | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | | |
| 64 | 2 July | 17:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 0–5 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | | |
| 65 | 2 July | 17:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 4–14 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | | |
| 66 | 3 July | 16:30 | Melbourne Ice | 2 – 3 (SO) | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | | |
| 67 | 3 July | 17:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 7–5 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | | |
| 68 | 9 July | 16:00 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 1–7 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | | |
| 69 | 9 July | 16:30 | Mustangs IHC | 3–5 | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | | |
| 70 | 9 July | 17:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 4–2 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | | |
| 71 | 9 July | 17:45 | Canberra Knights | 2–8 | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | | |
| 72 | 10 July | 16:00 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 5 – 0 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | — | — |
| 73 | 10 July | 16:45 | Canberra Knights | 5–8 | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | | |
| 74 | 10 July | 16:30 | Mustangs IHC | 4 – 3 (SO) | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | | |
| 75 | 16 July | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 4–3 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | | |
| 76 | 16 July | 17:00 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 6–4 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | | |
| 77 | 16 July | 17:30 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 4–6 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | | |
| 78 | 17 July | 17:00 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 1–3 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | | |
| 79 | 17 July | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 8–4 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | | |
| 80 | 23 July | 16:00 | Sydney Bears | 4 – 5 (SO) | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | | |
| 81 | 23 July | 16:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 5–3 | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide | | |
| 82 | 23 July | 17:30 | Mustangs IHC | 2–8 | Canberra Knights | Canberra | | |
| 83 | 24 July | 16:00 | Sydney Bears | 2–5 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast | | |
| 84 | 24 July | 16:15 | Newcastle North Stars | 4–6 | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | | |
| 85 | 24 July | 17:00 | Mustangs IHC | 1–3 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | | |
| 86 | 30 July | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 0–4 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | | |
| 87 | 30 July | 17:00 | Sydney Bears | 2–5 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool | | |
| 88 | 30 July | 17:45 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 2 – 3 (SO) | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne | | |
| 89 | 31 July | 16:15 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 6–4 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne | | |
| 90 | 31 July | 17:00 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 4 – 3 (SO) | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle | | |
| 91 | 31 July | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 3–2 | Sydney Bears | Penrith | | |
^ I Game was forfeited due to poor ice conditions.

### August

| Game | Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location |
| 92 | 6 August | 16:00 | Melbourne Ice | 3–5 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast |
| 93 | 6 August | 16:30 | Sydney Bears | 1–10 | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide |
| 94 | 6 August | 17:30 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 6–4 | Canberra Knights | Canberra |
| 95 | 6 August | 17:45 | Newcastle North Stars | 3–2 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne |
| 96 | 7 August | 16:00 | Melbourne Ice | 5–3 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast |
| 97 | 7 August | 16:15 | Sydney Bears | 2–3 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne |
| 98 | 7 August | 16:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 3 – 2 (SO) | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide |
| 99 | 13 August | 17:00 | Sydney Bears | 0–7 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool |
| 100 | 13 August | 17:30 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 7–4 | Canberra Knights | Canberra |
| 101 | 13 August | 17:45 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 1–6 | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne |
| 102 | 14 August | 16:15 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 4–2 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne |
| 103 | 14 August | 17:00 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 1–3 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle |
| 104 | 14 August | 17:00 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 7–3 | Sydney Bears | Penrith |
| 105 | 20 August | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 2–3 | Sydney Ice Dogs | Liverpool |
| 106 | 21 August | 17:00 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 4–2 | Sydney Bears | Penrith |
| 107 | 27 August | 16:30 | Canberra Knights | 5–7 | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide |
| 108 | 27 August | 17:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 4–2 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle |
| 109 | 27 August | 17:45 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 6 – 5 (SO) | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne |
| 110 | 28 August | 16:15 | Canberra Knights | 2–5 | Mustangs IHC | Melbourne |
| 111 | 28 August | 16:30 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 2–4 | Adelaide Adrenaline | Adelaide |
| 112 | 28 August | 17:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 1–2 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle |

### Standings

| Team | GP | W | OTW | OTL | L | GF | GA | GDF | PCT | PTS |
| Melbourne Ice | 28 | 18 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 146 | 93 | +53 | 0.774 | 65 |
| Newcastle North Stars | 28 | 18 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 132 | 106 | +26 | 0.702 | 59 |
| Sydney Ice Dogs | 28 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 124 | 90 | +34 | 0.655 | 55 |
| Adelaide Adrenaline | 28 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 117 | 94 | +23 | 0.571 | 48 |
| Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 28 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 120 | 115 | +5 | 0.512 | 43 |
| Mustangs IHC | 28 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 17 | 107 | 132 | −23 | 0.345 | 29 |
| Canberra Knights | 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 119 | 167 | −48 | 0.286 | 24 |
| Sydney Bears | 28 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 21 | 83 | 151 | −68 | 0.155 | 13 |
| Qualified for the Goodall Cup playoffs | H Newman Reid Trophy winners |
Source

### Statistics
#### Scoring leaders

List shows the ten top skaters sorted by points, then goals.
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | POS |
| Addison DeBoer | Canberra Knights | 28 | 32 | 53 | 85 | 50 | F |
| Brit Ouellette | Canberra Knights | 26 | 32 | 45 | 77 | 62 | F |
| Peter Cartwright | Newcastle North Stars | 28 | 36 | 39 | 75 | 24 | F |
| Matt Amado | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 27 | 42 | 27 | 69 | 67 | F |
| Jason Baclig | Melbourne Ice | 28 | 36 | 32 | 68 | 20 | F |
| Brian Bales | Newcastle North Stars | 28 | 34 | 31 | 65 | 26 | F |
| Tobias Falk | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 28 | 29 | 36 | 65 | 26 | F |
| Justin Chwedoruk | Newcastle North Stars | 28 | 28 | 29 | 57 | 72 | F |
| Joseph Hughes | Melbourne Ice | 28 | 25 | 31 | 56 | 121 | F |
| Mike McRae | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 24 | 19 | 34 | 53 | 87 | F |

#### Leading goaltenders

Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage with a minimum of ten games played.
| Player | Team | MIP | SOG | GA | GAA | SVS% | SO |
| Luke Fiveash | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 540 | 343 | 38 | 3.17 | 88.9 | 0 |
| Matthew Ezzy | Newcastle North Stars | 1221 | 800 | 92 | 3.39 | 88.5 | 1 |
| Olivier Martin | Adelaide Adrenaline | 1159 | 671 | 82 | 3.18 | 87.8 | 2 |
| Chris J. Anderson | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 450 | 340 | 47 | 4.70 | 86.2 | 0 |
| Sheldon Baerg | Sydney Bears | 950 | 755 | 109 | 5.16 | 85.6 | 0 |

## Goodall Cup playoffs

The 2011 Finals weekend started on 3 September 2011, with the Goodall Cup final being held on 4 September 2011. Following the end of the regular season the top four teams advanced to the playoff series. Melbourne Ice who finished first in the standings was drawn against the Adelaide Adrenaline who finished fourth in the first semi-final match, while the second semi-final was played between the second and third ranked teams, Newcastle North Stars and Sydney Ice Dogs. The series was a single game elimination with the two winning semi-finalists advancing to the Goodall Cup final. All three games were held at the National Ice Sports Centre (Icehouse) in Melbourne, Victoria. The Melbourne Ice went back-to-back and won the Goodall Cup for the second year in a row after defeating the Newcastle North Stars in the final 3–2. Australian forward, Joseph Hughes, of the Melbourne Ice was named the finals MVP after the final.
| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| 1 | Melbourne Ice | 8 | | | |
| 4 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 3 | | | |
| 4 | Adelaide Adrenaline | 3 | Melbourne Ice | Melbourne Ice | 3 |
| | | | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle North Stars | 2 |
| 3 | Newcastle North Stars | 5 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle North Stars | 2 |
| 2 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 2 | | | |
All times are UTC+10:00