The men have had their turn; now the women of Australia are set to show off their skating skills, as the new Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) season kicks off tomorrow afternoon in Adelaide & Penrith respectively.
With the season running through until February 2011, things then turn towards finals action as the Icehouse in Melbourne play host to this seasons finals series and will crown the new champions of Australian hockey.
After long pre seasons and team reshuffles all the girls are ready to step onto the ice and show Australia what they have to offer, while in the process hoping to impress enough to earn a spot for the 2011 World Women’s Division III Championship, which will be hosted in Newcastle in the early stages of 2011.
The opening round of play will see the Adelaide Assassins take on the Brisbane Goannas, at the Adelaide Ice Arena. While the Sydney Sirens will play host to the new Melbourne Ice, down at the Penrith Ice Palace.
Natasha Farrier of the Adelaide Assassins will be hoping to continue her form from the 2009/10 season, where she lead all players in points and helped the Assassins finish comfortably on top of the AWIHL ladder.
Adelaide dominated all areas of the 2009/10 season, points, goals and assists as they march they way through the league leaving a destructive path.
While it is no secret that both Melbourne and Adelaide use some imports throughout the season, Sydney and Brisbane are willing to back their own talent, as they search for finals action.
Sydney goal tender Sera Dogramaci was extremely confident that the Sirens could push hard this season & with local talent on the roster, again compete in another finals series for 2011.
Speaking to local paper Penrith City Star, Sera was rather buoyed by the changes which had come about at the Sydney team
“As a team, we know what were capable of this year and we’re definitely hungry for the championship. We made the Grand Final last season but couldn’t go all the way, Adelaide has won five years in a row but we’re hoping to change that.”
Adelaide is definitely the benchmark team, winning the league five seasons in a row is testament to that. But as each season passes, a new challenge always awaits the champion.
This season seems no different, as both Melbourne & Sydney stake their claim for being the number one club in the AWIHL, for season 2010/11.
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