Adelaide Avalanche

The Adelaide Avalanche were a semi-professional ice hockey team based in Thebarton, Adelaide, South Australia that competed in the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The Avalanche was founded in 2000 as one of three inaugural members of the AIHL and played home matches at Snowdome Adelaide (now known as IceArenA). The Avalanche won multiple premiership titles and two AIHL Championships before the franchise experienced financial difficulties in 2008 and collapsed resulting in their AIHL licence being taken over by a new franchise run by Snowdome Adelaide called Adelaide A's (later to be renamed Adelaide Adrenaline).

History
Along with the Sydney Bears and Canberra Knights, the Avalanche were one of the founding members of the AIHL in 2000.  They finished first out of the three teams that year and claimed the inaugural AIHL championship.  In 2001, the club enjoyed the same success in winning their second consecutive title.

In 2002, the Melbourne Ice, Western Sydney Ice Dogs, and Newcastle North Stars joined the AIHL, expanding it to six teams.  The Goodall Cup, Australia's top prize in ice hockey, also became part of the AIHL that year.  Adelaide again finished second in the overall standings and lost to the Bears in the Goodall Cup final.

The Avalanche finished the 2003 season with their fourth straight minor premiership but lost to the Ice Dogs in the first round of a newly introduced four-team playoff system.  They would lose in the semifinals again in 2004 to the North Stars in double overtime.

As two more teams—the Brisbane Blue Tongues and Central Coast Rhinos—entered the league in 2005, the Avalanche returned to dominance by finishing first overall in the regular season standings.  The "curse of the minor premiers" again haunted the team. Despite winning through to the Goodall Cup final for the first time in three years, they were defeated 3–1 by the North Stars in that game.

The Avalanche have retooled for 2006 in the quest for their first-ever Goodall Cup, with their current roster boasting Mighty Roos players Greg Oddy and brothers Ben & Luke Thilthorpe. They finished second after the regular season and hosted the finals series, beating the Ice Dogs 5–2 to reach the final but losing the final 0-4 to the North Stars.

Members of the Adelaide Avalanche were featured on episode 11 of Network Ten's Cyber Shack TV on 10 October 2006. Both David Huxley and Brad Wanchulak played and reviewed the new NHL 2K6 on Xbox 360.

The Avalanche came into financial difficulties in 2008, and after being able to host several game at the start of the season, could not meet its road commitments, forcing the team to withdraw from the remainder of the season on 17 June. The team's players were transferred to the newly formed Adelaide A's, who in a deal with the AIHL was allowed to play the remainder of the Avalanche's season.

Season-by-season record

Notes:

Notes References:

Championships

AIHL Championships (2000–01)1
Champions (2): 2000, 2001
 Runners-Up (0):

Goodall Cup 
Champions (0): 
 Runners-Up (3): 2002, 2005, 2006

V.I.P. Cup (2004–07)2
Premiers (4): 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
 Runners-Up (2): 2002, 2006

1 The first two season's of the AIHL did not have the Goodall Cup as the Championship prize. The Adelaide Avalanche is the only AIHL team to win the AIHL and not be crowned Goodall Cup Champions.
2 This list also includes Premierships won prior to the first trophy (VIP Cup) for Premiers came into existence in 2004.

Notable former players
Steve McKenna (2005)
Mel Angelstad (2007)

References

External links
Adelaide Avalanche's website

Category:Australian Ice Hockey League teams
Category:Ice hockey teams in Australia
Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 2000
Category:2000 establishments in Australia
Category:2008 disestablishments in Australia
Category:Sporting clubs in Adelaide
Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2008