It’s the biggest sporting secret in Melbourne, the Australian Ice Hockey League’s (AIHL) Melbourne Derby between the Ice and Mustangs. It divides ice hockey fans and is the most intense rivalry in the league.
Since 2011 it has captured a hardcore fanbase of ice hockey fans and built into a real sporting rivalry that can challenge many sports leagues across the country.
O’Brien Icehouse might only hold 1500-2000 fans on derby night; but the packed rink of rowdy spectators makes it feel like you are in an arena only seen on ESPN.
As we head into the third instalment for 2025, I look back on how far the rivalry has come and what parts of the derby resonate with me.
In the air tonight
The pre-game atmosphere throughout Docklands District is hard to compare to other sports, when it’s derby night you can feel it in air as soon as you step off tram 86.
Jerseys as far as the eye can see disembark and head towards Urban Alley, a pub within the precinct and big supporter of ice hockey in Melbourne.
One-dollar wings are a fan favourite, as both teams banter between one another before the doors open.
Urban Alley really sets the scene for what is to come once you step inside the doors of the rink, passionate, loud and dedicated support for their teams.
Built for contention
One of the biggest drawcards in the derby is the on-ice quality, when the two teams are Goodall Cup contenders the level rises further.
The 2025 AIHL season has seen the derby with more quality than ever before, former NHL players, mixed with imports from across Europe and Australian locals.
Scott Timmins, Ty Wishart, David Booth are the stars many come to see, trying to get a glimpse of that NHL experience.
Tape to tape passes, deking moves through neutral ice, and top shelf finishes. The Melbourne Derby has it all.
In many respects the derby is the benchmark for what Australian ice hockey can produce.
Hottest ticket in town
If you want a ticket to a Melbourne Derby, get in early, each one is a sell-out, and tickets get snapped up instantly.
Ice hockey is unique in that fans are right on top of the players, O’Brien Icehouse has this in spades.
Its setup allows for a stunning visual of colour for whatever side of the derby you fall on.
This really raises the question, have the two Melbourne teams outgrown the Icehouse?
When I look at the two clubs I think they have, while O’Brien has been a great building block for ice hockey in Melbourne, we need to see a bigger venue.
AIS Arena has shown what can be accomplished with vision and taking a chance, maybe it’s time to do the same in Melbourne, if not just for the derby.
Showcasing community
As a minority sport in Australia ice hockey has to scrape and crawl to gain any relevance in mainstream media, it’s where the Melbourne Derby really becomes important.
It highlights the Melbourne ice hockey community as a whole, putting forward a product that can’t be matched in a broadcast and live sense.
Recently members of 3AW were in the VIP area – shoutout to the party pies, so established networks are sniffing around.
For the AIHL to continue to grow and expand it’s reach, capacity and visibility a lot will come down to the community it was built on.
The Melbourne ice hockey community should be proud of the derby they have helped build.
High drama, high stakes
To quote Fred Durst from Limp Bizkit “drama makes the world go around”, and the derby is no exception.
It’s one thing I love each time a Friday night blockbuster rolls into town; it will be drama filled.
Whether that is a fight, late winners, epic equalisers or overtime heroics. The Melbourne Derby is filled with storylines.
Literally a corridor separating the two teams, players and coaches have swapped sides throughout the years, adding to the storylines that evolve.
If we have learned anything from the past 14-years, it’s to expect the unexpected under the O’Brien Icehouse Friday night lights.
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