New Zealand Ice Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The NZIHL is New Zealand’s national league. It is an amateur league that was formed in 2005 to develop the sport in the New Zealand and to give the top players regular competition against each other and to allow them to improve the skill level of the game domestically as well become more competitive on the international scene.
Because the NZIHL plays during the Northern Hemisphere countries' offseason, overseas players can travel to New Zealand and enjoy an off-season abroad while keeping them in ice hockey shape.
The 5 teams in the NZIHL represent the 3 regions affiliated to the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation, with 2 teams coming from the Auckland and Southern regions and one from the Canterbury region.
Each team is allowed an unlimited number of overseas imports (not eligible for NZ) on their roster, however each team is only allowed to play up to 5 non NZ eligible players in a game at a time.
The 2007 season started with preliminary rounds 1 & 2 consisting of each team playing against their local rivals twice per round on a Saturday and Sunday. The Swarm playing against the Admirals while the Red Devils squaring off against the Stampede. Each win in this round is worth 2 points, while a draw worth 1.
The next 4 rounds will see each team’s home rink hosting a round. Each round consists of 3 teams playing 2 games each over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the 4th team having a bye. Each win in these rounds is worth 4 points and the draw is worth 2 points.
In the end each team will play their local rivals 6 times and the other 2 teams twice.
2007 Final
After the regular season has been completed the top two teams in the standings will compete in the final, with the winner of the regular season having home ice advantage
Changes from the previous season’s structure
During the first two seasons of the NZIHL there was no preliminary round. Each team played 6 games, 2 games against each team. Each team hosted one round, with one team having a bye.
The top two teams would then play 2-game finals series. If both teams won a game each, the winner would be decided on the which team had the superior goal difference in those 2 games, then which team scored the most goals, followed by regular season results between the 2 teams.
2009
Saw the introduction of the Skate Of Origin, a match played between the North and South Island's of New Zealand. At stake the Glass Family Plate, named after the Glass Family of the South Island with three generations of contributors and builders of the sport within New Zealand. Ben Glass is a founding member of the NZIHF and Patron of the SIHL. Graeme Glass is the Past President of the NZIHF and recently inducted Life Member. While Simon Glass has previously captained the Ice Blacks, the New Zealand national side.
The inaugural match was won by the North Island on shoot outs after the game was tied 5-5 after regulation time.
2010
The NZIHL contested a new trophy, The Birgel Cup.
The North Island defeated the South Island 3-2 to retain the Glass Family Plate in the Skate Of Origin.
Because the NZIHL plays during the Northern Hemisphere countries' offseason, overseas players can travel to New Zealand and enjoy an off-season abroad while keeping them in ice hockey shape.
The 5 teams in the NZIHL represent the 3 regions affiliated to the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation, with 2 teams coming from the Auckland and Southern regions and one from the Canterbury region.
Teams
- West Auckland AdmiralsWest Auckland AdmiralsThe West Auckland Admirals is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Auckland, New Zealand and was founded in 2005.-Current roster:2010 NZIHL Season -External links:*...
- Botany SwarmBotany SwarmThe Botany Swarm is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Auckland, New Zealand and was founded in 2005 as the South Auckland Swarm. Their name was changed prior to the 2007 season due to it being similar to some of the other teams and to better reflect the area in Auckland...
- Canterbury Red DevilsCanterbury Red DevilsThe Canterbury Red Devils is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Christchurch, New Zealand and was founded in 2005. After being runners up in the two previous years, the Red Devils are the 2009 NZIHL champions...
- Southern StampedeSouthern StampedeThe Southern Stampede is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Queenstown, New Zealand and was founded in 2005.-Current roster:2007 NZIHL Season-External links:**...
- Dunedin ThunderDunedin ThunderThe Dunedin Thunder is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Dunedin, New Zealand and was founded in 2008.-Current roster:2008 NZIHL Season-Promotional Items:-External links:****...
Rosters
NZIHL team rosters must be made up of a minimum 18 players and 2 goalies. Every roster must have a least 2 players eligible for the NZ U18 team and at least 3 players eligible for the NZ U20 team. If a player is a U18 & U20 rep he can only be counted once. Hence each roster must have a minimum 5 junior players.Each team is allowed an unlimited number of overseas imports (not eligible for NZ) on their roster, however each team is only allowed to play up to 5 non NZ eligible players in a game at a time.
Season structure
In the 2007 NZIHL season each team plays 10 games over 6 rounds. The competition starts in May and teams compete in rounds every two weeks concluding with the final in September.The 2007 season started with preliminary rounds 1 & 2 consisting of each team playing against their local rivals twice per round on a Saturday and Sunday. The Swarm playing against the Admirals while the Red Devils squaring off against the Stampede. Each win in this round is worth 2 points, while a draw worth 1.
The next 4 rounds will see each team’s home rink hosting a round. Each round consists of 3 teams playing 2 games each over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the 4th team having a bye. Each win in these rounds is worth 4 points and the draw is worth 2 points.
In the end each team will play their local rivals 6 times and the other 2 teams twice.
2007 Final
After the regular season has been completed the top two teams in the standings will compete in the final, with the winner of the regular season having home ice advantage
Changes from the previous season’s structure
During the first two seasons of the NZIHL there was no preliminary round. Each team played 6 games, 2 games against each team. Each team hosted one round, with one team having a bye.
The top two teams would then play 2-game finals series. If both teams won a game each, the winner would be decided on the which team had the superior goal difference in those 2 games, then which team scored the most goals, followed by regular season results between the 2 teams.
2009
Saw the introduction of the Skate Of Origin, a match played between the North and South Island's of New Zealand. At stake the Glass Family Plate, named after the Glass Family of the South Island with three generations of contributors and builders of the sport within New Zealand. Ben Glass is a founding member of the NZIHF and Patron of the SIHL. Graeme Glass is the Past President of the NZIHF and recently inducted Life Member. While Simon Glass has previously captained the Ice Blacks, the New Zealand national side.
The inaugural match was won by the North Island on shoot outs after the game was tied 5-5 after regulation time.
2010
The NZIHL contested a new trophy, The Birgel Cup.
The North Island defeated the South Island 3-2 to retain the Glass Family Plate in the Skate Of Origin.
Champions
| Year | Champion | Runner up | Score(s) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 2005 NZIHL Season The following is the 2005 New Zealand Ice Hockey League season standings, results, leading scorers and awards.-2005 NZIHL standings:Round 1 - Botany Downs*June 3, 2005 - West Auckland Admirals 5 v Canterbury Red Devils 2... |
Southern Stampede Southern Stampede The Southern Stampede is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Queenstown, New Zealand and was founded in 2005.-Current roster:2007 NZIHL Season-External links:**... |
West Auckland Admirals West Auckland Admirals The West Auckland Admirals is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Auckland, New Zealand and was founded in 2005.-Current roster:2010 NZIHL Season -External links:*... |
2-1, 6-3 | Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... |
| 2006 2006 NZIHL Season -2006 NZIHL Standings:W = Main Round Win = 3 pointsL = Main Round LossT = Main Round Tie = 2 pointsBP = Bonus Point = 1 point-2006 Season Results:Round 1- AvondaleJune 9, 2006 - South Auckland Swarm 5 v Canterbury Red Devils 4... |
Southern Stampede Southern Stampede The Southern Stampede is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Queenstown, New Zealand and was founded in 2005.-Current roster:2007 NZIHL Season-External links:**... |
South Auckland Swarm Botany Swarm The Botany Swarm is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Auckland, New Zealand and was founded in 2005 as the South Auckland Swarm. Their name was changed prior to the 2007 season due to it being similar to some of the other teams and to better reflect the area in Auckland... |
3-3, 5-4 | Botany Downs |
| 2007 2007 NZIHL Season -2007 NZIHL Standings:PRW = Preliminary Round Win = 2 pointsPRL = Preliminary Round LossW = Main Round Win = 4 pointsL = Main Round LossT = Main Round Tie = 2 points... |
Botany Swarm Botany Swarm The Botany Swarm is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Auckland, New Zealand and was founded in 2005 as the South Auckland Swarm. Their name was changed prior to the 2007 season due to it being similar to some of the other teams and to better reflect the area in Auckland... |
Canterbury Red Devils Canterbury Red Devils The Canterbury Red Devils is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Christchurch, New Zealand and was founded in 2005. After being runners up in the two previous years, the Red Devils are the 2009 NZIHL champions... |
7-0 | Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of... |
| 2008 2008 NZIHL Season -Round robin:W = Main Round Win = 3 pointsL = Main Round LossT = Main Round Tie = 2 pointsBP = Bonus Point = 1 point-2008 NZIHL Awards:MVP of Botany Swarm - Zak NothlingMVP of Canterbury Red Devils - Janos Kaszala... |
Botany Swarm Botany Swarm The Botany Swarm is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Auckland, New Zealand and was founded in 2005 as the South Auckland Swarm. Their name was changed prior to the 2007 season due to it being similar to some of the other teams and to better reflect the area in Auckland... |
Canterbury Red Devils Canterbury Red Devils The Canterbury Red Devils is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Christchurch, New Zealand and was founded in 2005. After being runners up in the two previous years, the Red Devils are the 2009 NZIHL champions... |
3-2 | Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of... |
| 2009 2009 NZIHL season The 2009 NZIHL season was the fifth season of the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. The Canterbury Red Devils defeated the Southern Stampede in the final.-Regular season:... |
Canterbury Red Devils Canterbury Red Devils The Canterbury Red Devils is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Christchurch, New Zealand and was founded in 2005. After being runners up in the two previous years, the Red Devils are the 2009 NZIHL champions... |
Southern Stampede Southern Stampede The Southern Stampede is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Queenstown, New Zealand and was founded in 2005.-Current roster:2007 NZIHL Season-External links:**... |
5-4 | Christchurch Christchurch Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of... |
| 2010 2010 NZIHL season The 2010 NZIHL season was the sixth season of the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. The Botany Swarm defeated the West Auckland Admirals in the final.-Regular season:... |
Botany Swarm Botany Swarm The Botany Swarm is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Auckland, New Zealand and was founded in 2005 as the South Auckland Swarm. Their name was changed prior to the 2007 season due to it being similar to some of the other teams and to better reflect the area in Auckland... |
West Auckland Admirals West Auckland Admirals The West Auckland Admirals is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Auckland, New Zealand and was founded in 2005.-Current roster:2010 NZIHL Season -External links:*... |
3-1 | Botany Downs |
| 2011 2011 NZIHL season The 2011 NZIHL season was the seventh season of the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. The Botany Swarm defeated the Southern Stampede in the final.-Regular season:... |
Botany Swarm Botany Swarm The Botany Swarm is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Auckland, New Zealand and was founded in 2005 as the South Auckland Swarm. Their name was changed prior to the 2007 season due to it being similar to some of the other teams and to better reflect the area in Auckland... |
Southern Stampede Southern Stampede The Southern Stampede is a team in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League. It is based in Queenstown, New Zealand and was founded in 2005.-Current roster:2007 NZIHL Season-External links:**... |
5-3 | Botany Downs |