Top 5 storylines going into the opening weekend

Burnie Mac, co-host of the weekly AIHL Podcast gives you his top 5 storylines for the AIHL’s opening weekend (and we couldn't stop him at 5 so fans are in for a bonus already).

Records are made to be broken

In 2015, Sydney Ice Dogs’ forward Geordie Wudrick set the all-time AIHL regular season scoring record with 91 points in just 28 games (44 goals, 47 assists) while playing for the Newcastle Northstars.

Geordie Wudrick (left) did a lot of high-fiving for the Brave in 2017. Photo: Tania Chalmers.

The 2008 NHL Draft pick by the LA Kings shattered the former AIHL record by 6 points, previously held the Canberra Knights forward Addison DeBoer who recorded 85 points (32 goals, 53 assists) in 2011.

This season at the Ice Dogs, the Canadian sharpshooter has been reunited with his former Newcastle Head Coach Andrew Petrie, with whom he enjoyed record-breaking success in 2015.

Can lighting strike twice? Ice Dogs fans are certainly hoping so.

Fresh walls of ice

Speaking of records, the Melbourne Ice enjoyed some of the best goal-tending the league has ever seen in 2017. Dayne Davis set a new regular season record for the most wins by a goal keeper with 22 on his way to a third consecutive Goodall Cup.

However with Davis moving back to his hometown team of Newcastle, all eyes will be on Melbourne veteran Jayden Pine-Murphy and off-season signing James Downie from the Sydney Bears.

Pine-Murphy has appeared in 49 games for the Melbourne Ice since his debut in 2013 and Downie is consider one the rising stars of Australian Ice hockey – big shoes/skates to fill in the Melbourne Ice goal crease, but I think these guys are up to the job.

Home of the Brave

The CBR Brave call the Phillip Swimming & Ice Skating rink home and the venue has always been considered an intimidating road trip for visiting teams. The smaller ice surface can limit faster skaters and create more puck battles in the corners, which leads to a dump-and-chase style game.

The Brave’s record at home last season was 7 wins and 7 losses, including shootouts. Yet for a team that finished in the top three, you could expect the Brave to have a much higher winning record at home.

So heads up visiting teams – the Brave have gotten bigger – and by bigger I’m specifically referring to the addition of Hayden Dawes who stands 6’5 tall and tips the scales at 109 kg. The Canberra road trip just got a little more intimidating and I’m expecting the club to finish with home record well above the 50% mark.

Adelaide Adrenaline - Road Ready

The Adrenaline are back, yes back, at the O’Brien Group Arena for the second week in row. The Adelaide club took part in the inaugural AIHL pre-season Hockey Festival last weekend and they’re back to face off against the Melbourne Ice and Mustangs at OBGA in round one.

While the Adrenaline fielded a relatively junior team for the Hockey Festival, the side finished a respectable third, defeating the CBR Brave 4-2 in the bronze playoff. Young goalie Jeremy Friederich was named tournament MVP after recording a pair of wins, so don’t be surprised if the Adrenaline steal a few points this weekend.

The Adrenaline's fresh faced goalie Jeremy Friederich impressed at the pre-season Hockey Festiva in Melbourne. Photo: Andrew McNamara.

Familiar faces – just in new places

During the off-season the Melbourne Mustangs announced that import forward Maxime Langelier-Parent will be staying with club as the Head Coach in 2018. Unfortunately for Langelier-Parent, his 2017 season was cut short by injuries: the Canadian national appeared in just 17 games for the Melbourne club scoring 35 points (15 goal, 20 assists).

Langelier-Parent has made a number of key signings for the Mustangs in 2018, none more so than French-Canadian defenseman Charles-Olivier Roussel who was drafted 42nd overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. The Preds have a knack of drafting top defenseman and at 42nd overall, he’s the highest ever NHL Draft pick to play in the AIHL.

Turning heads in new threads

The Sydney Bears and Ice Dogs graphic design teams have been hard at work revamping their team logos and jerseys for the 2018 season!

The Sydney Bears have total redesigned and updated their logo. The signature polar bear is now sleeker and more aggressive looking, I’m really looking forward to the new jersey, it should be mint!

The Sydney Ice Dogs made minor tweaks, dropping their 15 year anniversary “IX” from their main logo and replacing it with shield which sits behind a seriously mean looking Bull Dog; and both the Kodiak Melbourne Mustangs and Tempur Melbourne Ice teams announced new naming rights sponsors.