Ice Hockey Australia
Encyclopedia
The Australian Ice Hockey Federation, currently trading as Ice Hockey Australia (IHA), is the official national governing body of ice hockey
in Australia
and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation
.
It was first established in 1908, making it one of the oldest national ice hockey associations in the world.
The purpose of Ice Hockey Australia is to encourage, promote, control and administer all forms of ice hockey in and throughout Australia through and by various Member States for the mutual and collective benefit of the members and sport itself.
IHA also governs an eight-team, semi-professional league, known as the Australian Ice Hockey League
.
Ice Hockey was much slower off the mark after the First World War. The Sydney rink had closed throughout the war and did not re-open until 1920. There had been some hockey in Melbourne in 1919 but was not on a really organised basis, in that year the Melbourne team made its first appearance. In 1921 interstate games resumed, the few pre-war players who made it home safely and were capable of playing, were drafted into teams.
However the story was different in 1922, club teams in Victoria were stronger than ever before, there several players of high standard available for the representative side which played New South Wales in Melbourne, and they astonished New South Wales by winning the series and the now famous Goodall Cup. Although they did not know it at the time, Victoria's win that year was a memorable one, it was not to be repeated for 25 years.
The next year (1923) saw a big step forward on the national level. While the Victorian team was visiting Sydney for the Goodall Cup series, a central body was formed to control the game on an Australia wide basis. Players were now receiving equipment from Canada and some were beginning to wear production and homemade protective padding and gloves. The twenties drew to a close with New South Wales still dominating the interstate scene. The tragic economic depression was sweeping the world and entertainment was something people listed very low on their budgets.
The early thirties were remarkable for the development in the strength and character of Australian Ice Hockey. Inter state growth was on the rise and new faces joined the sport, whose names are still known to this day. With the outbreak of war in the later part of the decade, as was the case in the First World War, hockey players were quick to join up and several were decorated for their devoted and heroic service to their country.
The next year 1951, the association became the strongest it has ever been. The association took steps to have only four teams in each rink brought about ability to concentrate the quality of the teams, and have a better quality of game.
In addition to the above, there are three organisations affiliated to IHA, with responsibility for the control of ice hockey within their own organisations but remaining under the rules and regulations of IHA. The affiliated bodies are:
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation
International Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
.
It was first established in 1908, making it one of the oldest national ice hockey associations in the world.
The purpose of Ice Hockey Australia is to encourage, promote, control and administer all forms of ice hockey in and throughout Australia through and by various Member States for the mutual and collective benefit of the members and sport itself.
IHA also governs an eight-team, semi-professional league, known as the Australian Ice Hockey League
Australian Ice Hockey League
The Australian Ice Hockey League is Australia's top-level ice hockey league. It is sanctioned by Ice Hockey Australia and is run by its own Board of Directors....
.
Early years
The birth of Ice hockey occurred in Adelaide with ghundi in the construction of the first rink in Australia in the early years of the 20th Century. Since then, the "Hockey Bug" has spread all over the country. The prosperous growth of Ice Hockey in Adelaide, Melbourne and later Sydney was abandoned as soon as the First World War broke out in 1914.Ice Hockey was much slower off the mark after the First World War. The Sydney rink had closed throughout the war and did not re-open until 1920. There had been some hockey in Melbourne in 1919 but was not on a really organised basis, in that year the Melbourne team made its first appearance. In 1921 interstate games resumed, the few pre-war players who made it home safely and were capable of playing, were drafted into teams.
However the story was different in 1922, club teams in Victoria were stronger than ever before, there several players of high standard available for the representative side which played New South Wales in Melbourne, and they astonished New South Wales by winning the series and the now famous Goodall Cup. Although they did not know it at the time, Victoria's win that year was a memorable one, it was not to be repeated for 25 years.
The next year (1923) saw a big step forward on the national level. While the Victorian team was visiting Sydney for the Goodall Cup series, a central body was formed to control the game on an Australia wide basis. Players were now receiving equipment from Canada and some were beginning to wear production and homemade protective padding and gloves. The twenties drew to a close with New South Wales still dominating the interstate scene. The tragic economic depression was sweeping the world and entertainment was something people listed very low on their budgets.
The early thirties were remarkable for the development in the strength and character of Australian Ice Hockey. Inter state growth was on the rise and new faces joined the sport, whose names are still known to this day. With the outbreak of war in the later part of the decade, as was the case in the First World War, hockey players were quick to join up and several were decorated for their devoted and heroic service to their country.
Middle years
When Ice Hockey was ready to be resumed after World War II, the position regarding players was the best it had ever been. A ready made pool of youngsters was waiting to join the returning servicemen in what were to become the boom years of the game. In 1947, Victoria won the Goodall Cup after 25 years of being in the wilderness.The next year 1951, the association became the strongest it has ever been. The association took steps to have only four teams in each rink brought about ability to concentrate the quality of the teams, and have a better quality of game.
Affiliated organizations
Ice Hockey Australia has many state branches across the country:- Australian Capital Territory Ice Hockey AssociationAustralian Capital Territory Ice Hockey AssociationThe Australian Capital Territory Ice Hockey Association, currently trading as Ice Hockey ACT is the governing body of ice hockey in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia...
- New South Wales Ice Hockey Association
- Ice Hockey Queensland
- South Australia Ice Hockey AssociationSouth Australia Ice Hockey AssociationThe South Australia Ice Hockey Association, currently trading as Ice Hockey South Australia is the governing body of ice hockey in South Australia, Australia. The South Australia Ice Hockey Association is a branch of Ice Hockey Australia.-Background:...
- Victorian Ice Hockey AssociationVictorian Ice Hockey AssociationThe Victorian Ice Hockey Association, currently trading as Ice Hockey Victoria is the governing body of ice hockey in Victoria, Australia. The Victorian Ice Hockey Association is a branch of Ice Hockey Australia.-Background:...
- Western Australian Ice Hockey AssociationWestern Australian Ice Hockey AssociationThe Western Australian Ice Hockey Association, currently trading as Ice Hockey WA is the governing body of ice hockey in Western Australia, Australia. The Western Australian Ice Hockey Association is a branch of Ice Hockey Australia.-Background:...
In addition to the above, there are three organisations affiliated to IHA, with responsibility for the control of ice hockey within their own organisations but remaining under the rules and regulations of IHA. The affiliated bodies are:
- Ice Hockey TasmaniaIce Hockey TasmaniaThe Ice Hockey Tasmania Incorporated, currently trading as Ice Hockey Tasmania is the governing body of ice hockey in Tasmania, Australia. The Ice Hockey Tasmania is a branch of Ice Hockey Australia....
- Old-timers Ice Hockey Australia Network
- Australian Ice Hockey LeagueAustralian Ice Hockey LeagueThe Australian Ice Hockey League is Australia's top-level ice hockey league. It is sanctioned by Ice Hockey Australia and is run by its own Board of Directors....
- Australian Women's Ice Hockey League
National teams
Each year Ice Hockey Australia participates in a number of international championships that are held by the International Ice Hockey FederationInternational Ice Hockey Federation
The International Ice Hockey Federation is the worldwide governing body for ice hockey and in-line hockey. It is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and has 70 members...
.
- Men's senior team competes at the Ice Hockey World ChampionshipsIce Hockey World ChampionshipsThe Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
. - Women's senior teamAustralia women's national ice hockey teamThe Australian women's national ice hockey team represents Australia at the International Ice Hockey Federation's IIHF World Women's Championships. The women's national team is controlled by Ice Hockey Australia. As of 2011, Australia has 313 female players...
competes at the IIHF World Women's Championships. - Men's under-20 teamAustralia men's national junior ice hockey teamThe Australian men's national under 20 ice hockey team is the national under-20 ice hockey team of Australia. The team represents Australia at the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Junior Hockey Championship Division III.-History:...
competes at the IIHF World U20 Championship. - Men's under-18 teamAustralia men's national U-18 ice hockey teamThe Australia men's national under-18 ice hockey team is controlled by Ice Hockey Australia and represents Australia in international under-18 ice hockey competitions. Australia plays in Division III of the IIHF World U18 Championships.-History:...
competes at the IIHF World U18 ChampionshipsIIHF World U18 ChampionshipsThe IIHF World U18 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-18 ice hockey teams from around the world. The tournament is usually played in April and is organized according to a system similar to Ice Hockey World Championships and World...
. - Men's senior inline hockey teamAustralia men's national inline hockey teamThe Australia men's national inline hockey team represents Australia in international inline hockey competitions. They are controlled by Ice Hockey Australia for events organised by the International Ice Hockey Federation and by Skate Australia for events organised by the International Roller...
competes at the IIHF InLine Hockey World ChampionshipIIHF InLine Hockey World ChampionshipThe IIHF InLine Hockey World Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The 15th championship was held between June 28 and July 4, 2010 in Karlstad, Sweden.-History:...
.