Australian Ice Hockey League: Difference between revisions

During 2020 and 2021, the league suspended operations due to the outbreak of [[COVID-19]]. Different health measures and border restrictions domestically and internationally made it unviable to run seasons in 2020 and 2021. Originally in 2020 the league was suspended but it was later cancelled.<ref name="2020SEASONPOSTPONED">{{cite web | url=https://theaihl.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=3856&leagueID=11464&page=109612 | title=AIHL Statement on the AIHL Season and the Coronavirus | publisher=Australian Ice Hockey League | first=David | last=Turik | date=12 March 2020 | access-date=16 March 2020 }}</ref><ref name="2020SEASONCANCELLED">{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/theAIHL/photos/a.117555264850/10158518308314851 | title=2020 Update: 2020 AIHL season cancelled | publisher=Australian Ice Hockey League | date=29 July 2020 | access-date=3 August 2020 }}</ref> In 2021, exhibition series were run instead of the league, but they were interrupted due to the ongoing outbreak.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/theAIHL/photos/a.117555264850/10159006998794851 | title=AIHL presents 2021 Super Series | publisher=Australian Ice Hockey League | date=10 February 2021 | access-date=12 December 2021 }}[[Wikipedia:SPS|{{sup|[''self-published'']}}]]</ref><ref name="YARRACAPITALCANCELLED">{{cite web | url= https://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2021/08/18/yarra-cup-and-capital-cup-cancelled/ | title= Yarra Cup and Capital Cup cancelled | publisher= www.icehockeynewsaustralia.com | date=18 August 2021 | access-date=10 December 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2021/07/31/remainder-of-the-mccormack-cup-postponed/ | title=Remainder of the McCormack Cup postponed | publisher=www.icehockeynewsaustralia.com | date=31 July 2021 | access-date=12 December 2021 }}</ref> In 2021, AIHL Commissioner, David Turik, resigned from the role by “mutual agreement”, no reasons for his departure were disclosed.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2021/01/28/turik-resigns-as-aihl-commissioner/ | title= Turik resigns as AIHL Commissioner | publisher= icehockeynewsaustralia.com | date=28 January 2021 | access-date=2 April 2022 }}</ref>

 

[[File:Australia vs New Zealand ice hockey.png|thumb]]

In 2022, the AIHL announced it would be returning to a regular season for the first time since 2019.<ref name="AIHL22RETURN">{{cite web | url=https://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2021/12/06/aihl-to-return-in-2022/ | title=AIHL to return in 2022 | publisher=icehockeynewsaustralia.com | date=6 December 2021 | access-date=20 March 2022 }}</ref> The League released information of a new board of directors and executive team as well as the adoption of a new finals format and increase to game lengths.<ref name="AIHL22INFO">{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=3856&leagueID=11464&page=112263 | title=2022 season - locked, loaded and ready to play | publisher=Australian Ice Hockey League | date=12 February 2022 | access-date=20 March 2022 }}</ref> The AIHL would implement the international standard 60-minute games (up from 50 minutes) and expanded the finals weekend to include a preliminary final and an additional day in the schedule.<ref name="AIHL22INFO"/><ref name="NEWFINALS">{{cite web | url=https://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2022/03/28/aihl-introduces-new-playoff-format/ | title=AIHL introduces new playoff format | publisher=icehockeynewsaustralia.com | date=28 March 2022 | access-date=30 March 2022 }}</ref> The League also announced a new license holder for the Adelaide Adrenaline franchise, headed by Benny Gebert and Glen Foll.<ref name="AIHL22INFO"/> A new domestic broadcasting deal was struck with [[Kayo Sports]] that will increase the amount of AIHL content broadcast within Australia.<ref name="AIHL22INFO"/> Internationally, the league signed a three-year contract with Swiss-based multi-national [[Sportradar]] to distribute AIHL broadcasting in [[North America]] and [[Europe]].<ref name="SPORTRADAR">{{cite web | url=https://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2022/03/24/aihl-partners-with-sportradar/ | title=AIHL partners with Sportradar | publisher=icehockeynewsaustralia.com | date=24 March 2022 | access-date=30 March 2022 }}</ref> Preparations for the 2022 season was disrupted by the withdrawals of the Perth Thunder and Adelaide Adrenaline due to continued state border restrictions and disagreements with rink management respectively.<ref name="PERTHWITHDRAW">{{cite web | url=https://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2022/02/18/perth-thunder-withdraw-from-2022-aihl-season/ | title=Perth Thunder withdraw from 2022 AIHL season | publisher=icehockeynewsaustralia.com | date=18 February 2022 | access-date=20 March 2022 }}</ref><ref name="ADRENALINEWITHDRAW">{{cite web | url=https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideAdrenaline/posts/5052208768134853 | title=Adelaide Adrenaline withdraw from 2022 AIHL season | publisher=Adelaide Adrenaline | date=27 March 2022 | access-date=30 March 2022 }}</ref> However, in February 2022, the AIHL announced the expansion of the league would take place in 2023 and followed this up with the granting of licenses to the [[Brisbane Lightning]], headed by [[Ice Hockey Queensland]] (IHQ), and the [[Central Coast Rhinos]], who will be returning to the league for the first time in fourteen years after originally leaving at the conclusion of the 2008 season.<ref name="QLDSUCCESS">{{cite web | url=https://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2022/02/28/ice-hockey-queensland-secures-aihl-license/ | title=Ice Hockey Queensland secures AIHL license | publisher=icehockeynewsaustralia.com | date=28 February 2022 | access-date=20 March 2022 }}</ref><ref name="RHINOSSUCCESS">{{cite web | url=https://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2022/03/10/central-coast-rhinos-aihl-application-successful/ | title=Central Coast Rhinos AIHL application successful | publisher=icehockeynewsaustralia.com | date=10 March 2022 | access-date=20 March 2022 }}</ref>