2023–24 AWIHL season

The 2023–24 AWIHL season is the 15th season of the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL). It ran from 28 October 2023 until 10 March 2024. Five teams competed in 40 regular season games followed by 4 playoff games, making up the AWIHL Finals weekend. The Perth Inferno claimed the Gower Memorial Shield premiership title, their maiden title, for finishing top of the regular season standings. The Melbourne Ice claimed their eighth Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy championship title by winning the grand final. Perth Inferno collected silver with Adelaide Rush claimed bronze. Defending champions, the Sydney Sirens, claimed the wooden spoon.

2023–24 AWIHL season
LeagueAWIHL
SportIce hockey
Duration28 October 2023 – 10 March 2024
Regular season
PremiersPerth Inferno (1st title)
Top scorerMichelle Clark-Crumpton
(38 points) (Inferno)
Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
ChampionsMelbourne Ice (8th title)
  Runners-upPerth Inferno
Finals MVPDanielle Butler (Ice)

Teams

In 2023–24 the AWIHL had five teams from five Australian state capital cities competing, stretching east to west of the continent.[1]

2023–24 AWIHL teams
TeamCityArenaHead CoachCaptain
Adelaide Rush AdelaideIceArenA Joey MacDougall Natasha Farrier
Brisbane Lightning BrisbaneBoondall Iceworld Matthew Meyer Christina Badgley
Melbourne Ice MelbourneO'Brien Icehouse Curtis Klooster Georgia Moore
Perth Inferno PerthCockburn Ice Arena Graham Hyde Chrystina Acker
Sydney Sirens SydneyMacquarie Ice Rink Gabriel Robledo Sarah Edney
Exhibition teams
Melbourne Ducks MelbourneIceHQ Jeremy Muir Lucy Parrington

League Business

Ahead of the 2023–24 season, IceHQ's Melbourne Ducks announced their bid to join the AWIHL.[2] The official AWIHL gameday schedule was released in early September 2023.[3] The season structure was amended from 2022 to 2023, with each team now playing eight home and eight away games for a total of sixteen games over the regular season. An increase from the previous six home and away games.[4] The trophy for the Premiership, winners of the regular season, was also amended in 2023. The Gower Memorial Shield replaced the previous Premiers trophy, the Stephanie Boxall Trophy.[5] In late September, the AWIHL broadcast partner, Clutch.TV, went into administration and ceased all operations.[6] The league was left little time to look for a new broadcaster for season 2023–24. On 24 October, the AWIHL announced a deal with Sportscast Australia to become the league's new broadcast partner for season 2023–24.[7] A few days later the AWIHL and Sportscast Australia launched AWIHL.TV to deliver region-unlocked live and on-demand streaming of all regular season and finals games on a custom built website and YouTube.[8] In January 2024, the AWIHL announced player equipment rule changes and a new equipment supplier agreement with Skaters Network.[9] Neck laceration protective equipment was made mandatory, bringing the league into policy alignment with Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) and the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).[10] The deal with Skaters network, also covers sponsorship of player of the month and end of season player awards.[9]

Exhibition games

To support the Melbourne Ducks application to join the league, the AWIHL approved the team to setup an exhibition series against existing AWIHL teams, including the Sydney Sirens, Melbourne Ice and Adelaide Rush, during season 2023–24.[11] The Sydney Sirens also arranged a pre-season exhibition against a select team from their sponsor Wayward Brewing Company[12]

2023-24 AWIHL exhibition games
Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
14 October 202316:30Wayward Sons1–3Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice RinkRef
20 October 202319:00Melbourne Ice15–0Melbourne DucksiceHQRef
21 October 202318:30Melbourne Ice14–0Melbourne DucksiceHQRef
9 December 202319:30Sydney Sirens14–4Melbourne DucksiceHQRef
10 December 202316:00Sydney Sirens1–2Melbourne DucksiceHQRef
3 February 202419:30Adelaide Rush12–1Melbourne DucksiceHQRef
4 February 202415:00Adelaide Rush9–1Melbourne DucksiceHQRef

Regular season

Fixtures & results

Running between 28 October 2023 and 25 February 2024, the AWIHL regular season consisted of 40 games in total, with teams playing 16 games each.[3] Game 34 of the regular season was first postponed and then cancelled by the AWIHL following a carbon monoxide poisoning incident at Adelaide’s IceArenA.[13] At least 42 people, including players from both AWIHL teams, were treated for poisoning with dozens hospitalised by the incident.[14] The LPG gas-powered Zamboni was identified as the source of the leak that led to the poisoning.[15] The game was declared a tie with each team awarded one point each.[16]

October
October
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
128 October 202316:30Melbourne Ice6–5Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
228 October 202317:00Adelaide Rush6–5 (OT)Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
329 October 202308:15Melbourne Ice6–3Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
429 October 202315:30Adelaide Rush2–6Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld

November
November
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
54 November 202316:00Perth Inferno5–4Melbourne IceiceHQ
65 November 202314:30Perth Inferno1–6Melbourne IceiceHQ
711 November 202313:45Sydney Sirens4–5Adelaide RushIceArenA
811 November 202320:00Melbourne Ice9–5Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
912 November 202310:00Sydney Sirens4–6Adelaide RushIceArenA
1012 November 202315:30Melbourne Ice5–7Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld

December
December
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
112 December 202316:30Adelaide Rush3–2Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
122 December 202317:00Perth Inferno9–0Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
133 December 202308:15Adelaide Rush7–1Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
143 December 202315:30Perth Inferno4–3 (OT)Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
159 December 202316:30Brisbane Lightning0–1Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
1610 December 202310:30Brisbane Lightning7–4Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
1716 December 202316:00Perth Inferno7–4Adelaide RushIceArenA
1816 December 202316:45Sydney Sirens6–8Melbourne IceMacquarie Ice Rink
1917 December 202310:00Perth Inferno9–8Adelaide RushIceArenA
2017 December 202313:45Sydney Sirens2–7Melbourne IceMacquarie Ice Rink

January
January
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
2113 January 202416:30Melbourne Ice4–5 (SO)Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
2214 January 202410:30Melbourne Ice6–3Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
2320 January 202416:00Brisbane Lightning5–8Adelaide RushIceArenA
2421 January 202410:00Brisbane Lightning2–6Adelaide RushIceArenA
2527 January 202416:30Sydney Sirens5–7Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
2627 January 202416:45Adelaide Rush2–3Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
2728 January 202410:30Sydney Sirens5–4Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
2828 January 202413:45Adelaide Rush5–2Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse

February
February
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
293 February 202417:00Sydney Sirens1–5Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
304 February 202415:30Sydney Sirens2–7Brisbane LightningBoondall Iceworld
3110 February 202416:00Melbourne Ice2–6Adelaide RushIceArenA
3210 February 202416:30Brisbane Lightning3–4Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
3311 February 202408:15Brisbane Lightning2–3 (SO)Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
3411 February 202410:00Melbourne IceCancelledAdelaide RushIceArenA
3517 February 202416:30Perth Inferno3–0Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
3618 February 202408:15Perth Inferno2–4Sydney SirensMacquarie Ice Rink
3724 February 202416:30Adelaide Rush3–5Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
3824 February 202416:45Brisbane Lightning8–4Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
3925 February 202410:30Adelaide Rush2–3Perth InfernoCockburn Ice Arena
4025 February 202413:45Brisbane Lightning5–3Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse

Key:

WinnerDraw

Standings
Pos Team Pld W OTW D OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Perth Inferno 16 9 2 0 0 5 72 61 +11 31 2024 Joan McKowen Finals
2 Adelaide Rush 16 8 1 1 0 6 74 61 +13 27
3 Melbourne Ice 16 8 0 1 1 6 76 69 +7 26
4 Brisbane Lightning 16 7 0 0 3 6 70 71 −1 24
5 Sydney Sirens 16 3 1 0 0 12 51 81 −30 11
Source: AWIHL Elite Prospects
Rules for classification:
Tie-break: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Points: 3 points for regulation win; 2 points for OT or SO win; 1 point for OT or SO loss or tie/draw; 0 points for regulation loss

Player stats

The season's league leader statistics for skaters and goaltenders.[17]

Goals
No.NamePosG
1 Elizabeth ScalaForward22
2 Sarah EdneyForward22
3 Emma WuthrichForward15
4 Sharna GodfreyForward14
5 Danielle ButlerForward14
Assists
No.NamePosA
1 Michelle Clark-CrumptonForward27
2 Sara SammonsForward24
3 Ashlie AparicioForward23
4 Sharna GodfreyForward17
5 Kaitlyn MalthanerForward15
Points
No.NamePosP
1 Michelle Clark-CrumptonForward38
2 Sara SammonsForward33
3 Sharna GodfreyForward31
4 Ashlie AparicioForward31
5 Elizabeth ScalaForward29
Penalty minutes
No.NamePosPIM
1 Maya TupperDefender41
2 Emma WuthrichForward39
3 Samantha BrophyDefender37
4 Molly LukowiakForward26
5 Gabrielle ArpsDefender26
Save percentage
No.NamePosSV%
1 Sasha KingGoaltender.923
2 Madison SmithGoaltender.888
3 Emma MoonenGoaltender.875
4 Katie MeyerGoaltender.868
5 Makayla PeersGoaltender.859
Goals against average
No.NamePosGAA
1 Sasha KingGoaltender2.86
2 Katie MeyerGoaltender3.23
3 Madison SmithGoaltender3.40
4 Emma MoonenGoaltender3.85
5 Amelia KnottGoaltender4.60

Season awards

Below lists the 2023–24 AWIHL regular season league award winners.[18]

Award Name Team
Best Forward Sarah EdneySydney Sirens
Best Defence Maya TupperAdelaide Rush
Best Goaltender Sasha KingPerth Inferno
Nellie Gee Rookie of the Year Katie MeyerBrisbane Lightning

Below lists the 2023–24 AWIHL regular season Hockey Hype Australia award winners.[18]

Award Name Team
Assist of the season Natalie AyrisAdelaide Rush
Goal of the season Sara SammonsPerth Inferno
Save of the season Archie SmithAdelaide Rush

Joan McKowen playoffs

The top four teams in the AWIHL regular season qualify for the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy playoffs. The playoffs is held on a single weekend and uses Australian conventions of being called Finals. The playoff system used by the AWIHL is a four team single game semi-finals and grand final system where the semi-final winners progress to the grand final and the losers playoff for third place. Semi-finals are played on the Saturday and the third place playoff and grand final is played on the Sunday.[19] The prize for being crowned AWIHL Champions for winning the grand final is the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy.[20]

In 2023–24, the Inferno, Rush, Ice and Lightning qualified for the finals weekend.[21] The event was held on the weekend of 9–10 March 2024 in host city Melbourne at O’Brien Icehouse.[22] Perth and Melbourne won the semi-final games on Saturday to progress to the grand final on Sunday.[23] The defeated teams, Adelaide and Brisbane, progressed to the bronze medal game on Sunday.[23] In the third-place play-off, the Adelaide Rush defeated the Brisbane Lightning to clinch the bronze medal. In the grand final, the regular season Premiers were defeated in an upset to the Melbourne Ice. The surprise victory for the Ice saw them hoist the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy for a record setting eighth time. After the grand final, Danielle Butler, of the Melbourne Ice, was named AWIHL Finals MVP.[18]

 
Semi-finalsJoan McKowen Final
 
      
 
9 March - Melbourne
 
 
Brisbane Lightning1
 
10 March - Melbourne
 
Perth Inferno3
 
Melbourne Ice4
 
9 March - Melbourne
 
Perth Inferno1
 
Melbourne Ice5
 
 
Adelaide Rush2
 
Third place
 
 

10 March - Melbourne
 
 
Adelaide Rush4
 
 
Brisbane Lightning2

Semi-finals
9 March 2024
14:30		Brisbane Lightning1–3
(1–0, 0–1, 0–2)		Perth InfernoO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Katie MeyerGoalies Sasha KingReferee:
Gabby Aston
Linesmen:
Beth Bowshall
Davida Paul
(Unassisted) S.Crompton1–0
1–1G.Mclellan (Unassisted)
1–2M.Lukowiak (M.Clark-Crumpton, G.Mclellan)
1–3S.Sammons (M.Clark-Crumpton, S.Irvine)
8 minPenalties14 min
48Shots27
9 March 2024
17:15		Melbourne Ice5–2
(3–0, 1–2, 1–0)		Adelaide RushO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Jenelle CarsonGoalies Madison SmithReferee:
Ainslie Gardner
Linesmen:
Sarah Kinninment
Cien Pereira
(M.Pullin) B.Arsenault-Dufour1–0
(A.Aparicio) S.Conlon2–0
(S.Godfrey) S.Conlon3–0
(S.Godfrey) D.Butler4–0
4–1K.Malthaner (N.Ayris)
4–2N.Farrier (K.Venus, R.Pietrowski)
(Unassisted) D.Butler5–2
8 minPenalties10 min
31Shots40

Third place playoff
10 March 2024
14:00		Adelaide Rush4–2
(1–0, 2–2, 1–0)		Brisbane LightningO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Madison SmithGoalies Tracey McIntoshReferee:
Gabby Aston
Linesmen:
Cien Pereira
Davida Paul
(K.Venus) R.Pietrowski1–0
(Unassisted) K.Malthaner2–0
2–1L.Kiliwnik (Unassisted)
2–2C.Mahoney (K.Rapchuk)
(Unassisted) S.Meroniuk3–2
(R.Pietrowski) K.Venus4–2
18 minPenalties18 min
34Shots36

Final
10 March 2024
17:00		Melbourne Ice4–1
(1–0, 2–0, 1–1)		Perth InfernoO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
Jenelle CarsonGoalies Sasha KingReferee:
Ainslie Gardner
Linesmen:
Beth Bowshall
Sarah Kinninment
(D.Butler) S.Conlon1–0
(B.Arsenault-Dufour) D.Butler2–0
(S.Conlon) D.Butler3–0
(T.Baker) M.Pullin4–0
4–1E.Scala (S.Sammons)
8 minPenalties6 min
39Shots30


Gold Silver Bronze
Melbourne Ice Perth Inferno Adelaide Rush

References
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  2. Collins, Lee (7 March 2023). "Melbourne Ducks apply to enter the AWIHL". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  3. Collins, Lee (8 September 2023). "2023–24 AWIHL season schedule released". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  4. Collins, Lee (23 August 2023). "AWIHL extends regular season to 40 games for 2023–24". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  5. "Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) Regulations 2023" (PDF). Ice Hockey Australia. September 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  6. Poletti, Steve (28 September 2023). "Cluch TV enters administration, sporting organisations left scrambling". theinnersanctum.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  7. Collins, Lee (24 October 2023). "AWIHL signs streaming deal with Sportscast Australia". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  8. Collins, Lee (27 October 2023). "AWIHL.TV launched ahead of 2023–24 season". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  9. Collins, Lee (26 January 2024). "AWIHL partners with Skaters Network". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  10. Collins, Lee (6 January 2024). "AWIHL makes neck laceration protection mandatory". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  11. Goodenough, Gordon (5 December 2023). "Getting the Ducks in a row - Melbourne's bid for an AWIHL team". hockeyhypeaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  12. Collins, Lee (12 October 2023). "Sydney Sirens to play Wayward Sons in exhibition game". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  13. Macdougall, Andrew (11 February 2024). "AWIHL game postponed". hockeyhypeaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  14. Keenan, Claire (12 February 2024). "At least 42 people treated after carbon monoxide leak at Adelaide Ice Arena". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  15. Alderson, Bethanie (11 February 2024). "Suspected carbon monoxide leak at Adelaide Ice Arena sees 38 people attend hospital". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  16. Goodenough, Gordon (12 February 2024). "Adelaide Rush into First, Sydney Quells Lightning". hockeyhypeaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  17. "2023-2024 Regular Season Player Stats". Elite Prospects. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  18. Collins, Lee (10 March 2024). "2023–24 AWIHL season awards". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  19. "Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) Regulations" (PDF). Ice Hockey Australia. 1 January 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  20. "Joan Mckowen Memorial Cup". Ice Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
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  23. Goodenough, Gordon (10 March 2024). "AWIHL Finals: Perth and Melbourne emerge victorious". Hockey Hype Australia. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
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