20 years behind the lens: Frank Kutsche looks back on his AIHL journey

With an AIHL involvement spanning 20 years, Adelaide photographer Frank Kutsche has seen a lot of changes through the history of the league. 

AIHL head photographer Phil Taylor sat down with Frank to get his perspective from capturing two decades behind the lens.

What is your photography background and how did you get started in ice hockey?   

"I started with photos going camping, and then in early 1980’s car rallies, jet boats and occasional car racing at Mallala. Then in 1981 I took a handful of ice hockey photos at the National Ice Hockey League at South Australian Ice Centre at Payneham featuring the Adelaide/Payneham Flyers including the Camel Cup. 

I only had a basic camera, no zoom lens even! I got interested in ice hockey watching the NHL games on Channel 9 late at night and then found out we had a national ice hockey league here in Australia, and I was hooked. I went to pretty much every Flyers game, travelling across town by bus as a 17yo. There was a long break until about the mid 2000s, but I took a handful of photos through the glass from the Ice Arena grandstand. One day I ventured downstairs and saw a team photographer there, Ray Penny.  I asked if it was OK to take photos too and that I would donate anything good to the club to use. So, it would be for a period or two and then watch the rest of the game with the missus. 

My wife and I decided we would travel to the AIHL finals in Newcastle in 2005 where we were made very welcome by the team owners, the Oddys and the Thilthorpes and the coach John Botterill. Back then hardly any of the supporters would travel to interstate finals. When the Avalanche folded (sad day) and the Adrenaline started I asked John Botterill if I could become the team photographer as Ray had moved on." 

What are your memories of your first game?

"The skill of the NIHL players, the control of the puck, the passion of the supporters. It was a National Ice Hockey League game at South Australian Ice Centre at Payneham featuring the Adelaide/Payneham Flyers in 1981. If that’s the first AIHL game, then I think it would have been around 2000. 

After first shooting it over 40 years ago, what was it like shooting the sport on film and how was the transition from film to digital for you?

Waiting to see what you got was always a dilemma with film, and the cost involved as I had to buy tickets to watch the games. After I realised my gear (pretty basic Kodak camera realistically) back in 1982 was not going to give me good photos I packed the camera away and just watched the game until 2005! Just watching was enjoyable in itself and I introduced a few people to the sport. 

Lighting has changed a LOT at the Ice Arena in the last few years (sadly still some dark patches at the moment). That was a real gamechanger, pardon the pun, as well as upgrading from the 7D to the 7D MKII, and the 70-200mm F2.8 lenses (both Mk1 and now MkII although the latter is now well worn from the car rally stuff as well) for a bit extra light capability. Settings I currently use (don’t laugh) are 3200 ISO, 1/500 (for the scoreboard half of the rink or 1/400 (for the darker far end) and F4.0 (that high as I want more than one person in focus in a group. I’m rubbish at panning so don’t even try!"

What's the biggest change you've noticed over your journey in the AIHL?

"Much more teams, faster pace of the game, a heavy reliance on imports. The local team’s progression from a family run as the Avalanche and earlier Adrenaline days as a more casual affair to a business-like venture under Don Rurak. Dominance of certain teams, eg Melbourne Ice (3-peatr) and the Newcastle Northstars. Not just the AIHL, but also in the photographic equipment so that you end up taking far more photos and compared to the earlier years, way more “keepers” (earliest years a handful per game, then around 120 keepers…and now more like 300-400!"

Do you have a favourite game that you've captured? One that really sticks in the memory banks?

"With 20 years there are far too many individual games to remember. I enjoyed any 2005 Adelaide Avalanche game that had NHL’s 6ft 8in Steve McKenna in it (NHL lockout season), but sadly only photographed only 3 of those AIHL games. He brought so much to Adelaide as well as the Australian ice hockey community. 

There was one particular Adrenaline game just a few years ago where the team was really struggling and it was their last home game and that day every Adrenaline player gave 100%. The atmosphere was electric, the crowd was very, very loud and I’m sure it helped lift the team that day and finally had a big win (sorry can’t remember who it was between, just remember coming away from that one absolutely buzzing!"     

Who are/were the best players to watch/capture?

"Again, a lot of players have come and gone in 20 years (plus I’m getting older, so memory is fading a bit haha). Just quickly off the top of my head, John Oddy (I have his No. 9 jersey, when he came back for one season), Greg Oddy, Josh Harding (I also wear a No.22 jersey number!), David Huxley, Wehebe Darge, Vlad Rubes, Ray Sheffield, Marcus Wong. More recently Jamie Woodman (Perth) and I think Daniel Chen is such an explosive player and love Daniel Koudelka’s commitment. 

As far as imports: Steve McKenna, Ales Kratoska (what a crowd favourite!), Kaden Elder, Shaun Dosanjh (just love his defensive game) and the Phillips brothers."

Do you have any favourite photographers you follow or inspire you?

"Not really, I’ll only be disappointed with my own photos if I look at others! Most photographers have much more expensive, newer equipment than mine, but I am amazed at what we are all capturing." 

20 years is a significant milestone; how do you keep yourself fresh and engaged in capturing the sport?

"Keep young in the head! Oh, playing ice hockey still at 60, especially alongside my 16yo kid, Jordan. I only started playing at 55, should have started much earlier! The game itself just seems to be getting more and more exciting and being rink side at the coal face of the action keeps you engaged, and you appreciate the game so much more. Also banter with players and officials and recognition by the team makes you feel appreciated. There is always the reward of capturing the intensity of game play or that one or more shots that sell the sport to the public. 

I struggle to just watch a game; I must photograph it!"

You mentioned that you took up playing ice hockey a few years ago.  Do you think that shooting ice hockey helped you play the game, or has playing helped you shoot the sport?

"Yes and no, because I had already been shooting way, way prior to starting to play (only started at age 55!). Understanding the game, years of watching the sport, and guessing the ebbs and flows of the game, prediction of the action and learning from mistakes is what really helps. Playing came about for a number of reasons, which is probably worth mentioned, as part of it due to the photography. 

A near death experience in 2015 avoiding being run over by a garbage truck made me realise life is too short, i.e. don’t be scared of doing what you really want to. So, with having photographed the game for so long and getting my kid playing the sport for numerous years I thought “I better not forget to play!” 

In my first lesson with Corey Smith, I fell backwards and cut my head open (beginners weren’t wearing helmets), but I didn’t give in, and the following year myself and another hockey dad accidentally signed up for Adelaide Summer League. Scored 3 goals and 5 assists in first year on right wing, but all went downhill from there haha and now playing D. Last year had my 16yo son as my D partner…priceless!"

What are your photography interests outside of ice hockey?

"I photograph under the entity of “Sticks and Stones”….the “sticks” being ice hockey sticks (or the big white sticks for an occasional SANFL game), and “stones” for the gravel car rallies, tarmac rallies, circuit racing and Adelaide Motorsport Festival I photograph. I also photograph a fair bit of Inline Hockey (which I also play) and love taking holidays snaps in other countries, like Vietnam, Europe, Reunion Island etc."