2008 AIHL season
# 2008 AIHL season

The 2008 AIHL season was the ninth season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 19 April 2008 until 24 August 2008, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 30 and 31 August 2008. The Bears won the H Newman Reid Trophy (backdated) after finishing the regular season first in the league standings. The Newcastle North Stars won the Goodall Cup for the fourth time by defeating the Western Sydney Ice Dogs in the final.

## League business

In 2008, Brisbane Blue Tongues became the Gold Coast Blue Tongues after the team relocated from Brisbane's Ice World in Boondall to Gold Coast's Iceland Bundall ice rink.

April 2008, the Hunter Ice Skating Stadium was significantly upgraded for the 2008 IIHF World Championship Division II, featuring plexi-glass boards, along with new lighting, scoreboards and expanded seating. The upgrade saw the Newcastle venue selected by the AIHL for the 2008 Goodall Cup finals weekend.

On 17 June, financial difficulties forced the Adelaide Avalanche to withdraw from the remainder of the 2008 season, leading to the cancellation and forfeiting of its 21 and 22 June games in Canberra and Penrith against the Knights (double points match) and Bears. Following negotiations, the Thebarton Ice Arena was one week later given a license for a new Adelaide team, the Adelaide A's, to fulfil the Avalanche's remaining commitments for the season, and inheriting their 2008 season results.

## Regular season

The regular season began on 19 April 2008 and will run through to 24 August 2008 before the top four teams advanced to compete in the Goodall Cup playoff series.

### April

| Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 19 April | 17:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 1–3 | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 19 April | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 0–4 | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 19 April | 17:30 | Central Coast Rhinos | 4–6 | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 20 April | 16:30 | Canberra Knights | 0–2 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 20 April | 17:00 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 3–5 | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 20 April | 18:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 5–0 (Forfeit) | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 24 April | 19:30 | The Bears | 6–5 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |
| 26 April | 16:30 | Melbourne Ice | 3–0 | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 26 April | 17:30 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 3–4 | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 27 April | 16:30 | Melbourne Ice | 6–5 (SO) | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 27 April | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 3–2 | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 27 April | 18:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 2–10 (DP) | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |

Notes:

* ↑ The Central Coast Rhinos forfeited their first home match (originally a 5-1 victory) to the Gold Coast Blue Tongues by a margin of 5-0 after icing an IIHF and IHA uncleared import. Goaltender Markus Claesson was not cleared to play in the AIHL until 3 May.

### May

| Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 May | 17:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 2–3 (SO) | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 3 May | 17:30 | The Bears | 5–3 | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 3 May | 18:00 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 6–4 | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 4 May | 16:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 2–7 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 4 May | 18:00 | Canberra Knights | 2–6 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |
| 10 May | 17:00 | The Bears | 4–3 | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 10 May | 17:30 | Melbourne Ice | 6–1 (DP) | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 10 May | 18:00 | Central Coast Rhinos | 1–2 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |
| 11 May | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 1–3 (DP) | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 11 May | 18:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 1–3 | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 17 May | 17:00 | Central Coast Rhinos | 4–3 (SO) | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 17 May | 17:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 3–2 (SO) | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 17 May | 18:00 | The Bears | 4–3 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 18 May | 15:30 | The Bears | 4–3 | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 18 May | 16:30 | Central Coast Rhinos | 4–6 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 18 May | 17:00 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 3–2 (SO) | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 24 May | 16:30 | Canberra Knights | 2–3 (SO) | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 24 May | 17:00 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 5–4 (SO) | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 25 May | 16:30 | Canberra Knights | 3–2 (SO) | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 25 May | 18:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 3–1 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |
| 31 May | 16:30 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 5–3 | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 31 May | 17:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 7–1 | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 31 May | 17:30 | Central Coast Rhinos | 4–5 | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |

### June

| Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 June | 16:15 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 2–4 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 1 June | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 4–5 | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 7 June | 17:30 | The Bears | 5–6 | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 7 June | 17:45 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 3–10 | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 7 June | 18:00 | Adelaide A's | 2–5 (DP) | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 8 June | 17:00 | Adelaide A's | 2–1 (DP) | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |
| 8 June | 17:30 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 5–4 | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 14 June | 15:30 | The Bears | 1–9 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 14 June | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 3–8 (DP) | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 14 June | 17:30 | Central Coast Rhinos | 4–2 | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 15 June | 15:40 | The Bears | 4–5 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 15 June | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 4–5 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |
| 15 June | 18:00 | Canberra Knights | 5–2 | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 21 June | 15:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 5–0 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 21 June | 17:30 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 1–6 | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 21 June | 17:30 | Adelaide A's | 0–5 (Forfeit) | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 22 June | 15:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 5–4 (SO) | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 22 June | 17:00 | Adelaide A's | 0–5 (Forfeit) | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 22 June | 18:00 | Canberra Knights | 0–2 | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 28 June | 15:30 | Central Coast Rhinos | 2–0 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 28 June | 17:30 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 5–4 | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 28 June | 17:45 | Adelaide A's | 4–8 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 29 June | 15:30 | Central Coast Rhinos | 4–9 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 29 June | 16:30 | Adelaide A's | 0–4 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 29 June | 18:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 3–8 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |

Notes:

* ↑ The Adelaide Avalanche forfeited their double point match to the Canberra Knights by a margin of 5-0 following the collapse of the franchise. The Adelaide A's would be established during the next week and the results, including the forfeit, was transferred to the new A's franchise.
* ↑ The Adelaide Avalanche forfeited their match to the AIHL Bears by a margin of 5-0 following the collapse of the franchise. The Adelaide A's would be established during the next week and the results, including the forfeit, was transferred to the new A's franchise.

### July

| Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 July | 16:45 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 5–6 (SO) (DP) | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 5 July | 17:45 | Newcastle North Stars | 2–5 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 5 July | 18:00 | The Bears | 2–1 | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 6 July | 16:30 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 3–6 (DP) | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 6 July | 16:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 9–10 (SO) | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 6 July | 18:00 | Canberra Knights | 2–3 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |
| 12 July | 15:30 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 7–4 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 12 July | 18:00 | Newcastle North Stars | 6–3 | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 13 July | 15:30 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 2–5 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 13 July | 16:30 | The Bears | 7–8 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 19 July | 15:30 | Canberra Knights | 2–5 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 19 July | 17:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 4–6 | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 19 July | 18:00 | Melbourne Ice | 3–2 (DP) | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 20 July | 15:30 | Canberra Knights | 7–3 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 20 July | 15:30 | The Bears | 5–3 | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 20 July | 17:00 | Central Coast Rhinos | 0–8 | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 20 July | 17:00 | Melbourne Ice | 2–8 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |

### August

| Date | Time | Away | Score | Home | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 August | 16:30 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 2–3 (SO) | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 2 August | 17:30 | Central Coast Rhinos | 2–4 | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 2 August | 17:30 | Newcastle North Stars | 10–2 | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 3 August | 16:30 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 3–1 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 3 August | 17:00 | Central Coast Rhinos | 3–13 | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 9 August | 15:30 | Melbourne Ice | 4–6 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 9 August | 17:00 | Adelaide A's | 3–5 (DP) | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 9 August | 17:30 | Canberra Knights | 5–2 | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 9 August | 18:00 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 3–2 (SO) | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 10 August | 15:30 | Melbourne Ice | 9–1 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 10 August | 17:30 | Adelaide A's | 3–4 | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 16 August | 16:30 | Central Coast Rhinos | 0–7 | Adelaide A's | IceArenA |
| 16 August | 17:30 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 6–9 | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 16 August | 18:00 | The Bears | 7–8 (SO) | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |
| 17 August | 16:30 | Central Coast Rhinos | 1–8 | Melbourne Ice | Olympic Ice Skating Centre |
| 17 August | 17:00 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 4–8 (DP) | The Bears | Penrith Ice Palace |
| 17 August | 17:00 | Canberra Knights | 5–7 | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 23 August | 15:30 | Adelaide A's | 3–2 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 23 August | 17:30 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 7–4 | Canberra Knights | Phillip Ice Skating Centre |
| 23 August | 18:00 | The Bears | 9–3 | Central Coast Rhinos | Erina Ice Arena |
| 24 August | 15:30 | Adelaide A's | 7–0 | Gold Coast Blue Tongues | Gold Coast Iceland |
| 24 August | 19:00 | The Bears | 3–10 | Newcastle North Stars | Hunter Ice Skating Stadium |
| 24 August | 18:00 | Central Coast Rhinos | 2–4 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Sydney Ice Arena |

### Standings

| Team | GP | W | SOW | SOL | L | GF | GA | GDF | PTS |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| The Bears | 28 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 134 | 118 | +16 | 61 |
| Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 28 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 126 | 91 | +35 | 54 |
| Melbourne Ice | 28 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 124 | 91 | +33 | 54 |
| Newcastle North Stars | 28 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 150 | 97 | +53 | 53 |
| Canberra Knights | 28 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 91 | 107 | -16 | 34 |
| Adelaide A's | 28 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 90 | 107 | -17 | 32 |
| Gold Coast Blue Tongues | 28 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 104 | 154 | -50 | 27 |
| Central Coast Rhinos | 28 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 73 | 129 | -56 | 21 |
| 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. Current as of 31 August 2008

| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | POS |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Mickey Gilchrist | Newcastle North Stars | 15 | 30 | 37 | 67 | 8 | F |
| B.J. Pelkey | Newcastle North Stars | 21 | 35 | 30 | 65 | 14 | F |
| Vladan Stransky | The Bears | 25 | 22 | 42 | 64 | 34 | F |
| Ryan Tremblay | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 23 | 23 | 28 | 51 | 40 | F |
| Vladimir Rubes | The Bears | 25 | 16 | 35 | 51 | 12 | F |
| Colin Nicholson | Newcastle North Stars | 14 | 17 | 30 | 47 | 0 | C |
| Lliam Webster | Melbourne Ice | 20 | 24 | 22 | 46 | 61 | F |
| Marko Raita | Canberra Knights | 25 | 17 | 25 | 42 | 22 | F |
| Vit Stransky | The Bears | 15 | 22 | 19 | 41 | 12 | F |
| Kyle Teague | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 20 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 42 | F |

**Leading goaltenders**

Only the top five goaltenders, based on save percentage with a minimum 40% of the team's ice time. Current as of 31 August 2008

| Player | Team | MIP | SOG | GA | GAA | SVS% | SO |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Matthew Ezzy | Newcastle North Stars | 879 | 525 | 53 | 3.01 | 0.899 | 2 |
| Markus Claesson | Central Coast Rhinos | 803 | 554 | 68 | 4.23 | 0.877 | 2 |
| Christopher Elf | Adelaide A's | 630 | 352 | 48 | 3.81 | 0.864 | 1 |
| James Herbert | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 663 | 347 | 48 | 3.62 | 0.862 | 0 |
| Stuart Denman | Melbourne Ice | 942 | 444 | 66 | 3.50 | 0.851 | 3 |

## Goodall Cup playoffs

The 2008 playoffs was scheduled for 30 August with the Goodall Cup final held on 31 August 2008. Following the end of the regular season the top four teams advanced to the playoff series which was held at the redeveloped Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Warners Bay, Newcastle, New South Wales. The series was a single game elimination with the two winning semi-finalists advancing to the Goodall Cup final. The Goodall Cup was won by the Newcastle North Stars (4th title) who defeated the Western Sydney Ice Dogs 4-1. The North Star's Canadian import forward, Mickey Gilchrist, was named the finals most valuable player (MVP).

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Newcastle North Stars | 7 | | | |
| 4 | The Bears | 5 | | | |
| 4 | The Bears | 5 | Newcastle North Stars | Newcastle North Stars | 4 |
| | | | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 1 |
| 3 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 2 | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | Western Sydney Ice Dogs | 1 |
| 2 | Melbourne Ice | 1 | | | |

All times are UTC+10:00

