Melbourne Ice are the 2025 Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) H Newman Reid trophy champions after defeating Brisbane Lightning 10-6 on Sunday.
It’s the first time since 2017 that the Ice have been crowned minor premiers of the AIHL.
Ice have been the standout team this season, under Kerry Goulet they have shifted their game and become a more well-rounded unit.
Sitting top of the AIHL standings with 61 points from 25 games played, only losing two in regulation.
How have they done this? Here are some things that have caught my eye.
Japanese star backing it up
Tatsu Ishida, the Japanese star has been one of the best goaltenders in the AIHL across the past two seasons.
Heading into 2025 the big question was, can Ishida back up again for another stellar season?
To put it simply, yes.
For a second consecutive season Ishida is sitting with an above .900 save percentage, and is set to eclipse the 17 wins in 2024, currently sitting on 16 from 21 games played.
Despite not showing the complete dominance we saw in 2024, teams figure you out, Ishida has been able to rack up the wins.
Continuing to make the big saves and back stop a much-improved Ice defence, Ishida has been terrific once again.
Lighting the lamp
If you didn’t know after 25 games this season, Ice love to score, and they can score heavy.
Already with seven more goals scored throughout the AIHL regular season compared to 2024, it highlights their firepower.
Four players have hit the 50-point mark – Kolton Shindle (56), Joakim Erdugan (55), Mac Caruana (53) and David Booth (50), with the latter hitting it in just 11 games played.
This strong offensive ability keeps Ice in games no matter the scoreline, being able to score quick and in bunches.
However, the AIHL is a scoring league which we see it on a weekly basis with high scores across all games, Ice fit the mould.
As a result, the Ice are number one in the competition for goals and sit +28 on their nearest competitor Perth Thunder.
Ice was a big scoring team in 2024, and it’s gone up another notch in 2025.
Coaches evolution to be better
There is much that can be said about time, time creates opportunity and ability to adapt.
Kerry Goulet has improved out of sight as the Melbourne Ice bench boss during the 2025 AIHL season.
Disappointment after losing the 2024 Goodall Cup Final, Goulet spent time back in his homeland Canada fine tuning his craft.
Returning to the Ice Goulet has been able to assemble and inspire the 2025 Ice roster to minor premiership success.
When we look at all the on-ice accomplishments, improvements that the Ice have built this season, Goulet cannot be missed.
Furthermore, Goulet has now found a comfortability within the Ice, AIHL and is starting to shine.
A people’s person, no doubt Goulet has found a connection with this current Ice squad that have bought into a vision.
Goulet has contributed a lot to ice hockey in Australia, Ice fans will be hoping his biggest is winning the clubs fifth Goodall Cup.
However, only time will tell.
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