With the New Zealand Ice Black’s 2015 IIHF Division 2 Group B World Championships campaign kicking off in Cape Town, South Africa on April 13, the Ice Blacks brushed off the cobwebs after a long off-season in a physical tri-series against the Perth Thunder in Perth.

Following a pair of Thunder wins in the first two games of the weekend, the Ice Blacks were able to take the honours in Game three with a 6-2 victory to build some much needed momentum for the New Zealanders.

While the three-game series at the Perth Ice Arena had plenty of feeling, it was especially meaningful for the two AIHL players in the Ice Blacks squad- Melbourne Ice’s Jaden Pine-Murphy and Perth’s own alternate captain Andrew Cox lining up in black jerseys. It was an unfamiliar feeling for Cox especially.

Cox commented on the electric atmosphere inside the arena with which he is so familiar, having played for the Thunder since the club entered the competition three seasons ago. In fact, Cox has played in the third most games for the club (77), is fourth in all-time points (51) and second in all-time goals (27).

As one of the club's favourite sons, facing the Thunder faithful as an opponent was an oddly intimidating experience for the speedy forward.

“The Thunder fans are as ruthless as hell,” Cox said. “You don’t realise just how much until you play for the opposition. Playing for them is great.”

In a game littered with hard hitting penalties and several glove dropping showdowns, Cox and Pine-Murphy enjoyed the physical nature of the match up and indeed the entire weekend.

“The physicality of the series has been great preparation for us for the World Championships,” Pine-Murphy commented. 

Cox agreed and added that “any match up between Australian and New Zealand sides was bound to be a physical one."

With both players returning from the Ice Blacks’ bronze medal in the 2014 Division II Group B campaign, they offer a great amount of international experience for players in their mid-twenties.

While 25-year old Pine-Murphy only came onto the AIHL radar in 2013 with some striking performances before snatching the starting goalkeeper position in 2014 for the runners-up, the Melbourne Ice. The talented goaltender has already played seven games for the Ice Blacks in World Championships, having finished second on save percentage in the 2014 Division 2 Group B World Championships campaign.

24-year old Cox has already tallied 19 games for the Ice Blacks and is already fourth in all-time goals for the Kiwis, having claimed 16, which is only five behind Brett Speirs, the all-time leader for the country. He claimed a New Zealand record with nine last year on his way to being voted the Ice Blacks best player by coaches.

With these backgrounds, the Ice Blacks’ AIHL representatives are gunning for Gold in South Africa in 2015.

“If there’s a New Zealand team that can do anything, this is it,” Pine-Murphy said. ‘We’ve got character in the team and the boys have been working hard. We really want it."

Cox and Pine-Murphy are preparing to give their all for their country as they tackle the likes of Bulgaria, China, Israel, Mexico and hosts South Africa in the Division 2 Group B World Championships, between April 13-19 before returning to their AIHL duties in Melbourne and Perth as the race for the 2015 Goodall Cup kicks off.