Those needing a Hockey fix

[AussiePenguin]

With the NHL heading for another unfortunate lockout, for those of you who are hockey starved, check out these from hockey in Australia and New Zealand

The Melbourne Ice of the Australian Ice Hockey league has produced a 24/7, In the Room like look at their whole season, here are the teasers.

http://www.ice3peat.com/

Episode 3 is centered around my local team, The Gold Coast Bluetongues, big hit to start, then from the 3:15 mark, game was abandoned due to the ridiculas condition of the ice and rink, players stick went thru the boards and snapped, Bluetongues coach confronted the Ice in their change rooms Team had to relocate to another facility halfway thru the season, and only ice available was for a 10:30pm puckdrop

and the New Zealand League Final from last weekend, controversial finish still being discussed.

http://new.livestream.com/nzihl/grandfinal

the Australian league final should be available soon.

[profpolisci]

Thanks for this. The 2nd link doesn't work for me though.

[AussiePenguin]

try this one....

http://new.livestream.com/nzihl/grandfinal

[profpolisci]

try this one....

http://new.livestream.com/nzihl/grandfinal

works thanks

[JeffDFD]

How many teams around the league have a Koala Bear, Kanagaroo, or other indigenous animal as their mascot/logo? haha

[AussiePenguin]

Ha ha, surprisingly none

teams are Gold Coast Bluetongues, Newcastle Northstars, Canberra Knights, Sydney Bears, West Sydney Icedogs, Melbourne Ice, Melbourne Mustangs, Adelaide Adrenaline and Perth Thunder.

Nothing to original cept for maybe the Bluetongues

[Tico Rick]

I'm surprised the Sydney team doesn't call themselves the Crosbies.

[JeffDFD]

Sydney Bears???

[profpolisci]

I'm surprised the Sydney team doesn't call themselves the Crosbies.

Too obvious but nevertheless irresistible:
The Sydney Kidneys

[columbia]

Newcastle Neck Meat.

[Lt. Dish]

Sydney Subbans...the most hated team in the league.

[ulf]

Ha ha, surprisingly none :shock:

teams are Gold Coast Bluetongues, Newcastle Northstars, Canberra Knights, Sydney Bears, West Sydney Icedogs, Melbourne Ice, Melbourne Mustangs, Adelaide Adrenaline and Perth Thunder.

Nothing to original cept for maybe the Bluetongues :thumb:

Bris doesn't have a team? Guess I'll have to go for gold coast.

[AussiePenguin]

The Gold Coast Bluetongues originally played out of Brisbane, but relocated to the Gold Coast 4 years ago, leaving behind unpaid bills and a soured relationship with the rink. However after they got kicked out of the Coast rink, came back to play in Brisbane halfway through the just completed season at the only other rink that would accommodate them, with start times of 10:30pm Friday and Saturday nights. Bad situation all round.

There was however the very short lived Brisbane Pandas

[Tomas]

Interview with the MVP:
http://translate.google.com/translate?s ... evropa_rou

[ulf]

What's the attendance like? When I was there, if I mentioned hockey, they assumed I was talking about field hockey, I had to clarify with "ice."

[AussiePenguin]

Oh yeah, "hockey" here definitely relates to field hockey Australia always top 3 in the world there. Feels weird calling it Ice Hockey all the time though.

Attendance goes anywhere from 200 at Bluetongues, less at the 10:30pm starts strangely enough up to the 3 times champs Melbourne Ice who regularly (always actually) sell out their 1200 odd seats/standing room venue.

Average would be around the 300-400 league wide. Its a semi pro league, teams incurs travel costs etc, import players typically receive flights, accomodation, car maybe, job opportunities. Some may also receive small amounts of cash. 24 game regular season, 2 semi finals and the Grand Final on Finals weekend.