2020 AIHL season

The 2020 AIHL season was going to be the 21st season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It was originally scheduled to run from 18 April 2020 until 23 August 2020, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 29 August and 30 August 2020. However, on 12 March 2020 the league announced the postponement of the 2020 season to a to be determined date due to COVID-19. Then on 29 July 2020, the AIHL commission's return to play committee announced the official cancellation of the 2020 AIHL season due to July COVID outbreaks on the east coast as well as continued border closures for WA and SA. This marks the first time that the Goodall Cup will not be awarded since 1993, when the competition was cancelled as a result of financial problems.
==League business==
On 11 February 2020, the AIHL announced the league would be adopting the international standard sixty minutes match length. Between 2013 and 2019 the AIHL ran fifty minute matches, while prior to that the league ran forty-five minute matches. The change increases the league's matches by ten minutes and standardises the period lengths to twenty minutes each. The change came into effect for the 2020 season. On 12 March 2020, the CBR Brave announced they would be livestreaming all home matches at Phillip Ice Skating Centre for the 2020 season. A partnership with production company Wonqy would deliver the stream. Later on 12 March 2020, AIHL commissioner, David Turik announced the 2020 season would be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). The AIHL Commission held consultation with the teams and took medical advice from State and Federal Governments in coming to the decision. The Commission did not release a new proposed start date for the 2020 season but will meet regularly to discuss progress and determine if there is a time period for the season to be moved to.
===Exhibition games===
On 7 January 2020, the Melbourne Ice and Melbourne Mustangs co-announced the organisation of an exhibition charity match to be played between the two teams to raise money for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. The match was scheduled for 19 January 2020 at O’Brien Icehouse. The Ice defeated the Mustangs 5–2 in the charity match with the event raising over $50,000.
On 13 January 2020, it was announced that the South Australian ice hockey community, including the Adelaide Adrenaline, Adelaide Rush and Avalanche alumni had arranged for an exhibition charity match for 9 February 2020. The match was named The Bushfire Appeal Ice Hockey Classic with teams broken into ‘Locals’ and ‘Rest of the World’. In front of a packed out IceArenA, the Locals came from 6-4 down in the second intermission to claim a 7-6 (OT) victory. The Locals won with a golden goal scored by Adelaide Rush player Tash Farrier in the 3v3 overtime period. The event raised $23,951 with all money going to CFS Foundation and Kangaroo Island Mayoral Relief and Recovery Bushfire Fund to assist with the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island fire recovery effort.
On 27 January 2020, the Sydney Ice Dogs and Sydney Bears announced they would hold a bushfire recovery appeal charity match between the two teams at Macquarie Ice Rink on 21 February 2020. All proceeds would go to the NSW Rural Fire Service and Australian Red Cross. The Bears defeated the Ice Dogs 6–3 in the event.
On 28 February 2020, Melbourne Mustangs announced the annual pre-season exhibition Melbourne derby involving the Mustangs and Ice would be held at the Icehouse on Saturday 4 April. On 16 March 2020, the Ice and Mustangs officially cancelled their pre-season exhibition game due to COVID-19 and the postponement of the AIHL season.
On 2 March 2020, Adelaide Adrenaline announced a pre-season exhibition match against a South Australian Select team for 21 March 2020 to be held at the Adelaide IceArenA. On 15 March 2020, the Adrenaline officially cancelled their pre-season exhibition game due to COVID-19 and the postponement of the AIHL season.
On 30 July 2020, one day after the cancellation of the 2020 AIHL season, the Newcastle Northstars and Sydney Ice Dogs announced the formation of the 2020 Hawkesbury Classic exhibition series between the two teams. The four match series was originally to be held at both the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Newcastle and Macquarie Ice Rink in Sydney between 2 August and 22 August 2020. On 14 August 2020, it was revealed the series would be extended by three matches, creating a full seven match series. Game One ended with the Ice Dogs claiming a 3–2 overtime victory to take a 1–0 lead in the series. Game two saw the Ice Dogs double their lead in the series to 2–0 with a 3–2 overtime victory. Game three was won by the Northstars in a 5–4 shootout victory, halving the Ice Dog's series lead to 2–1.
==Regular season==
The regular season was scheduled to begin on 18 April 2020 and run through to 23 August 2020 before the top four teams advanced to compete in the Goodall Cup finals weekend.
===April===
April fixtures and results	April fixtures and results	April fixtures and results	April fixtures and results	April fixtures and results	April fixtures and results	April fixtures and results
Date 	Time 	Away 	Score 	Home 	Location 	Recap
18 APR 	17:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
18 APR 	17:00 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
18 APR 	17:00 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
19 APR 	14:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
25 APR 	16:30 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
25 APR 	17:00 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
25 APR 	17:00 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
26 APR 	14:00 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
26 APR 	16:30 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
26 APR 	17:00 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
===May===
May fixtures and results	May fixtures and results	May fixtures and results	May fixtures and results	May fixtures and results	May fixtures and results 	May fixtures and results
Date 	Time 	Away 	Score 	Home 	Location 	Recap
2 MAY 	16:30 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
2 MAY 	17:00 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
2 MAY 	17:00 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
3 MAY 	14:00 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
3 MAY 	16:30 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
3 MAY 	17:00 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
8 MAY 	19:30 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
8 MAY 	19:30 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
9 MAY 	16:30 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
9 MAY 	17:00 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
9 MAY 	17:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
10 MAY 	14:00 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
10 MAY 	16:30 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
10 MAY 	17:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
16 MAY 	16:30 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
16 MAY 	17:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
16 MAY 	17:00 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
17 MAY 	14:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
17 MAY 	16:00 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
17 MAY 	16:30 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
23 MAY 	16:30 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
23 MAY 	17:00 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
23 MAY 	17:00 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink, 	
23 MAY 	17:30 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
24 MAY 	16:00 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
24 MAY 	16:30 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
24 MAY 	17:00 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
29 MAY 	19:30 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
30 MAY 	16:30 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
30 MAY 	17:00 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
30 MAY 	17:30 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
31 MAY 	14:00 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
31 MAY 	16:30 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
===June===
June fixtures and results	June fixtures and results	June fixtures and results	June fixtures and results	June fixtures and results	June fixtures and results 	June fixtures and results
Date 	Time 	Away 	Score 	Home 	Location 	Recap
6 JUN 	17:00 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
6 JUN 	17:00 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
7 JUN 	16:30 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
7 JUN 	17:00 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
12 JUN 	19:30 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
13 JUN 	16:30 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
13 JUN 	16:30 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
13 JUN 	17:00 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
14 JUN 	16:30 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
14 JUN 	16:30 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
14 JUN 	16:30 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
20 JUN 	17:00 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
20 JUN 	17:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
20 JUN 	17:30 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
21 JUN 	14:00 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
21 JUN 	16:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
21 JUN 	16:30 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
27 JUN 	16:30 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
27 JUN 	16:30 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
27 JUN 	17:00 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
27 JUN 	17:00 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
28 JUN 	16:30 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
28 JUN 	16:30 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
28 JUN 	17:00 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
===July===
July fixtures and results	July fixtures and results	July fixtures and results	July fixtures and results	July fixtures and results	July fixtures and results 	July fixtures and results
Date 	Time 	Away 	Score 	Home 	Location 	Recap
4 JUL 	17:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
4 JUL 	17:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
4 JUL 	17:00 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
5 JUL 	14:00 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
5 JUL 	16:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
5 JUL 	17:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
10 JUL 	19:30 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
11 JUL 	17:00 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
11 JUL 	17:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
12 JUL 	14:00 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
12 JUL 	16:30 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
12 JUL 	17:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
18 JUL 	16:30 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
18 JUL 	17:00 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
19 JUL 	16:30 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
19 JUL 	16:30 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
24 JUL 	19:30 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
25 JUL 	17:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
25 JUL 	17:00 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium	
25 JUL 	17:30 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
26 JUL 	14:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
26 JUL 	16:30 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre	
===August===
August fixtures and results	August fixtures and results	August fixtures and results	August fixtures and results	August fixtures and results	August fixtures and results	August fixtures and results
Date 	Time 	Away 	Score 	Home 	Location 	Recap
1 AUG 	16:30 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
1 AUG 	16:30 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
1 AUG 	17:00 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
1 AUG 	17:00 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
2 AUG 	14:00 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
2 AUG 	16:30 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
2 AUG 	16:30 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
8 AUG 	17:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
8 AUG 	17:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium 	
8 AUG 	17:30 	Sydney Bears 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre 	
9 AUG 	14:00 	Perth Thunder 	X–X 	Melbourne Ice 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
9 AUG 	17:00 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
15 AUG 	17:00 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium 	
15 AUG 	17:00 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
15 AUG 	17:30 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre 	
16 AUG 	16:00 	Melbourne Mustangs 	X–X 	Newcastle Northstars 	Hunter Ice Skating Stadium 	
16 AUG 	17:00 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
21 AUG 	19:30 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
22 AUG 	16:30 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Perth Thunder 	Perth Ice Arena 	
22 AUG 	17:00 	CBR Brave 	X–X 	Sydney Bears 	Macquarie Ice Rink 	
22 AUG 	17:00 	Melbourne Ice 	X–X 	Melbourne Mustangs 	O’Brien Icehouse 	
23 AUG 	16:30 	Sydney Ice Dogs 	X–X 	Adelaide Adrenaline 	IceArena 	
23 AUG 	16:30 	Newcastle Northstars 	X–X 	CBR Brave 	Phillip Ice Skating Centre 	
==Goodall Cup playoffs==
The 2020 finals weekend was scheduled to begin on 29 August with the Goodall Cup final held on 30 August. 
All times are UTC+10:00
===Semi-finals===
===Final===
==External links==
*The Australian Ice Hockey League
*Ice Hockey Australia
Category:2020 in ice hockey