2022–23 AWIHL season

The 2022–23 AWIHL season is the 14th season of the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL). It runs from 5 November 2022 until 19 March 2023. Five teams compete in 30 regular season games followed by 4 playoff games, making up the AWIHL Finals weekend. The Sydney Sirens claimed the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy championship title by winning the grand final. The Melbourne Ice claimed the Stephanie Boxall Trophy premiership title for finishing top of the regular season standings. The Sirens finished runner-up in the regular season and the Adelaide Rush claimed the wooden spoon.

2022–23 AWIHL season
LeagueAustralian Women's Ice Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Duration5 November 2022 – 19 March 2023
Regular season
PremiersMelbourne Ice
Top scorerElizabeth Scala (28 points)
(Perth Inferno)
Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy
ChampionsSydney Sirens
(3rd title)
  Runners-upMelbourne Ice
AWIHL seasons

Teams

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In 2022–23 the AWIHL had five teams from five Australian state capital cities competing, stretching east to west of the continent.[1]

2022–23 AWIHL teams
Team City Arena Head coach Captain
Adelaide Rush   Adelaide IceArenA   Joey MacDougall   Natalie Ayris
Brisbane Lightning   Brisbane Boondall Iceworld   Tom Harkness   Kelly Costa
Melbourne Ice   Melbourne O'Brien Icehouse   Rod Johns & Andrew Marshall   Sarah Dash
Perth Inferno   Perth Cockburn Ice Arena   Graham Hyde   Marina Nottle
Sydney Sirens   Sydney Macquarie Ice Rink   Jayden Ryan   Sarah Edney

League Business

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The official AWIHL gameday schedule was released at the beginning of October 2022. The season structure remained unchanged from 2019-20, with each team playing two of the four opponents in a four game series with the other two teams being played twice during the season.[2] Ahead of the new season, after a two year absence due to COVID-19 outbreaks and subsequent lockdown and travel restrictions, AWIHL Commissioner, Melissa Rulli, stepped down from her role. She held the position for almost five years, having secured the position in December 2017.[3] The Brisbane Goannas announced they had signed and agreement with the Brisbane Lightning organisation to merge their organisations. The Goannas would re-brand themselves as the Lightning for the season ahead.[4] At the end of October, the league and Cluch signed a broadcasting deal for every game of the season to be broadcast live and free on Cluch's streaming platform. The streams would be available worldwide, with no region locking.[5] In January, Perth Inferno released a special one-off Cancer Awareness jersey that will be worn in a game on 4 February 2023 and then auctioned off post-game to support Cancer Council Western Australia.[6]

Staffing changes for 2022-23 included Brisbane naming Tom Harkness as their new head coach, with Matt Meyer and Ben Stadtmiller to assist him.[7] Adelaide appointed Joey MacDougall as their new head coach and the vastly experienced Jim Fuyarchuk as assistant coach.[8] Melbourne Ice changed their coaching lineup for 2022-23. Rod Johns, Bryan Mackenzie and Andrew Marshall were appointed team coaches, replacing Marcus Wong, Mark Smith and Laurie Piggot.[9]

Regular season

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Fixtures & results

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Running between 5 November 2022 and 5 March 2023, the AWIHL regular season consisted of 30 games in total, with teams playing 12 games each.[2]

November

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November
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
1 5 November 2022 16:30 Brisbane Lightning 3–8 Sydney Sirens Macquarie Ice Rink [1]
2 6 November 2022 08:15 Brisbane Lightning 4–5 Sydney Sirens Macquarie Ice Rink [2]
3 12 November 2022 16:00 Melbourne Ice 7–2 Adelaide Rush IceArenA [3]
4 12 November 2022 17:00 Perth Inferno 2–3 Brisbane Lightning Boondall Iceworld [4]
5 13 November 2022 10:00 Melbourne Ice 7–0 Adelaide Rush IceArenA [5]
6 13 November 2022 16:30 Perth Inferno 4–2 Brisbane Lightning Boondall Iceworld [6]
7 19 November 2022 16:30 Sydney Sirens 9–6 Perth Inferno Cockburn Ice Arena [7]
8 20 November 2022 10:00 Sydney Sirens 6–5 (OT) Perth Inferno Cockburn Ice Arena [8]
9 26 November 2022 16:30 Adelaide Rush 0–9 Sydney Sirens Macquarie Ice Rink [9]
10 27 November 2022 08:15 Adelaide Rush 1–3 Sydney Sirens Macquarie Ice Rink [10]

December

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December
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
11 3 December 2022 17:00 Adelaide Rush 1–4 Melbourne Ice O'Brien Icehouse [11]
12 4 December 2022 13:30 Adelaide Rush 3–4 Melbourne Ice O'Brien Icehouse [12]
13 17 December 2022 17:00 Brisbane Lightning 0–2 Melbourne Ice O'Brien Icehouse [13]
14 18 December 2022 13:30 Brisbane Lightning 1–7 Melbourne Ice O'Brien Icehouse [14]

January

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January
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
15 7 January 2002 16:00 Perth Inferno 3–5 Adelaide Rush IceArenA [15]
16 7 January 2002 17:00 Sydney Sirens 3–7 Brisbane Lightning Boondall Iceworld [16]
17 8 January 2002 07:00 Sydney Sirens 4–3 (OT) Brisbane Lightning Boondall Iceworld [17]
18 8 January 2002 10:00 Perth Inferno 10–7 Adelaide Rush IceArenA [18]
19 14 January 2002 17:00 Sydney Sirens 2–3 Melbourne Ice O'Brien Icehouse [19]
20 15 January 2002 13:30 Sydney Sirens 4–3 (OT) Melbourne Ice O'Brien Icehouse [20]

February

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February
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
21 4 February 2022 16:30 Adelaide Rush 1–4 Perth Inferno Cockburn Ice Arena [21]
22 5 February 2022 10:00 Adelaide Rush 5–3 Perth Inferno Cockburn Ice Arena [22]
23 11 February 2022 16:30 Perth Inferno 0–6 Sydney Sirens Macquarie Ice Rink [23]
24 11 February 2022 17:00 Melbourne Ice 1–2 Brisbane Lightning Boondall Iceworld [24]
25 12 February 2022 07:00 Melbourne Ice 4–3 (SO) Brisbane Lightning Boondall Iceworld [25]
26 12 February 2022 08:15 Perth Inferno 5–7 Sydney Sirens Macquarie Ice Rink [26]

March

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March
Game # Date Time Away Score Home Location Recap
27 4 March 2022 16:00 Brisbane Lightning 5–4 Adelaide Rush IceArenA [27]
28 4 March 2022 16:30 Melbourne Ice 1–3 Perth Inferno Cockburn Ice Arena [28]
29 5 March 2022 10:00 Brisbane Lightning 6–2 Adelaide Rush IceArenA [29]
30 5 March 2022 10:00 Melbourne Ice 4–3 Perth Inferno Cockburn Ice Arena [30]

Key:

Winner Draw

Standings

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Pos Team Pld W OTW D OTL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Melbourne Ice 12 8 1 0 1 2 47 24 +23 27 2023 Joan McKowen Finals
2 Sydney Sirens 12 6 3 0 0 3 63 43 +20 24
3 Brisbane Lightning 12 5 0 0 2 5 39 46 −7 17
4 Perth Inferno 12 5 0 0 1 6 51 53 −2 16
5 Adelaide Rush 12 2 0 0 0 10 31 65 −34 6
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

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The season's league leader statistics for skaters and goaltenders.[10][11]

Goals
No. Name Pos G
1   Elizabeth Scala Forward 15
2   Danielle Butler Forward 15
3   Sarah Edney Forward 13
4   Michelle Clark-Crumpton Forward 12
5   Linda Bjorling Forward 10
Assists
No. Name Pos A
1   Elizabeth Scala Forward 13
2   Michelle Clark-Crumpton Forward 13
3   Sharna Godfrey Forward 12
4   Linda Bjorling Forward 11
5   Chrystina Acker Forward 9
Points
No. Name Pos P
1   Elizabeth Scala Forward 28
2   Michelle Clark-Crumpton Forward 25
3   Danielle Butler Forward 23
4   Sharna Godfrey Forward 21
5   Linda Bjorling Forward 21
Penalty minutes
No. Name Pos PIM
1   Sharna Godfrey Forward 39
2   Chrystina Acker Forward 34
3   Kristelle Van Der Wolf Forward 33
4   Katrina Rapchuk Forward 31
5   Sharnita Crompton Forward 26
Save percentage
No. Name Pos SV%
1   Makayla Peers Goaltender .936
2   Jenelle Carson Goaltender .930
3   Sera Dogramaci Goaltender .915
4   Imogen Perry Goaltender .907
5   Sasha King Goaltender .882
Goals against average
No. Name Pos GAA
1   Makayla Peers Goaltender 1.56
2   Jenelle Carson Goaltender 2.13
3   Imogen Perry Goaltender 2.81
4   Sera Dogramaci Goaltender 2.87
5   Tina Girdler Goaltender 3.50

Season awards

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Below lists the 2022–23 AWIHL regular season award winners.[12]

Award Name Team
Best Forward   Danielle Butler Melbourne Ice
Best Defence   Sarah Edney Sydney Sirens
Best Goaltender   Makayla Peers Melbourne Ice
Nellie Gee Rookie of the Year   Katrina Rapchuk Brisbane Lightning

Joan McKowen playoffs

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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.[13] The prize for being crowned AWIHL Champions for winning the grand final is the Joan McKowen Memorial Trophy.[14]

In 2022–23, the Ice, Sirens, Lightning and Inferno qualified for the finals weekend.[15] The event was held on 18-19 in host city Melbourne at O’Brien Icehouse.[15]

 
Semi-finalsJoan McKowen Final
 
      
 
18 March - Melbourne
 
 
Perth Inferno2
 
19 March - Melbourne
 
Melbourne Ice5
 
Melbourne Ice2
 
18 March - Melbourne
 
Sydney Sirens5
 
Brisbane Lightning1
 
 
Sydney Sirens4
 
Third place
 
 

19 March - Melbourne
 
 
Perth Inferno3
 
 
Brisbane Lightning2

Semi-finals

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18 March 2023
14:30
Perth Inferno2–5
(1–1, 1–2, 0–2)
Melbourne IceO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
  Sasha KingGoalies  Makayla PeersReferee:
Davida Paul
Linesmen:
Ainsley Gardner
Sarah Kinninment
0–1Butler (P.Cameron)
(Clark-Crumpton) Scala1–1
1–2van der Wolf (Unassisted)
1–3Butler (Newman, G.Carson)
(Unassisted) Malcolm2–3
2–4Butler (van der Wolf)
2–5Butler (van der Wolf)
22 minPenalties6 min
24Shots46
18 March 2023
17:00
Brisbane Lightning1–4
(0–0, 0–1, 1–3)
Sydney SirensO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
  Imogen PerryGoalies  Sera DogramaciReferee:
Cien Pereira
Linesmen:
Gabby Aston
Beth Bowshall
0–1Clarke (Brunt)
0–2Edney (McOnie, Tarasenko)
(Unassisted) Brown1–2
1–3Godfrey (Bjorling, Edney)
1–4Edney (McOnie)
10 minPenalties2 min
25Shots24

Third place playoff

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19 March 2023
14:00
Perth Inferno3–2
(2–0, 0–0, 1–2)
Brisbane LightningO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
  Sasha KingGoalies  Imogen PerryReferee:
Davida Paul
Linesmen:
Gabby Aston
Sarah Kinninment
(Clark-Crumpton) Scala1–0
(Kilgallon, Scala) Acker2–0
2–1Crompton (Roberts)
2–2Crompton (Roberts)
(Unassisted) Scala3–2
12 minPenalties8 min
24Shots30

Final

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19 March 2023
17:00
Melbourne Ice2–5
(1–4, 0–1, 1–0)
Sydney SirensO’Brien Icehouse
Game reference
  Jenelle CARSONGoalies  Sera DogramaciReferee:
Cien Pereira
Linesmen:
Ainsley Gardner
Beth Bowshall
0–1Godfrey (Bjorling, Payne)
0–2Edney (Roberts)
0–3Bjorling (Newmark, Payne)
(Butler, P.Cameron) Ellis1–3
1–4Wilder (Unassisted)
1–5Bjorling (Brunt)
(Cochrane, Conlon) Aparicio2–5
10 minPenalties8 min
37Shots17


Gold Silver Bronze
  Sydney Sirens   Melbourne Ice   Perth Inferno

References

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  1. ^ "AWIHL (W) - 2022-2023". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b Collins, Lee (4 October 2022). "2022–23 AWIHL schedule released". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Melissa Rulli steps down as AWIHL Commissioner". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Brisbane Goannas become the Brisbane Lightning". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. 3 October 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  5. ^ Collins, Lee (28 October 2022). "AWIHL signs streaming deal with Cluch". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  6. ^ Collins, Lee (20 January 2023). "Perth Inferno reveal Cancer Awareness jersey". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  7. ^ Collins, Lee (21 March 2022). "Brisbane Goannas announce 2022-23 coaching staff". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  8. ^ Collins, Lee (18 February 2022). "Adelaide Rush 2022 coaches". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  9. ^ Collins, Lee (25 October 2022). "Melbourne Ice Women 2022–23 roster". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Skater Leaders". Ice Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Goalie Leaders". Ice Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  12. ^ Collins, Lee (19 March 2023). "2022–23 AWIHL player awards". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Joan Mckowen Memorial Cup". Ice Hockey Australia. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  15. ^ a b Collins, Lee (5 March 2023). "2022–23 AWIHL season: 5 March 2023 results and standings". icehockeynewsaustralia.com. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
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