The Australian Ice Hockey League’s Melbourne Ice set an impressive historical record by winning Ice Hockey Australia’s prestigious J.E. Goodall Cup for a third consecutive season after an exciting third period contest against the Newcastle Northstars. The final game between the Melbourne Ice and the Newcastle Northstars was rated as a “classic” game of hockey with both teams exhibiting a level of play and skills not readily seen in previous finals. Northstars scored the first two goals of the first period and looking like the period would end 2 – 0 when the Ice found the net with a 01:44 remaining to close the gap 2 – 1. Both teams went end-to-end in the second with the Ice tying it up 2 – 2 and scoring their third with 00:51 seconds remaining to end the second period 3 – 2 in favour of the Ice. The third had the Ice scoring their fourth at 09:39. The Northstars mounted a momentous attack scoring their third with 05:44 remaining and pulled out all stops to tie the game for an overtime sudden death. The Ice countered with a tremendous defensive effort against rush after rush to hold on to the 4 – 3 win and their third historical consecutive League Championship. AIHL Award Winners:

MVP: Tie between Newcastle’s Jeremy Boyer and Sydney Bears’ Tomas Landa
Both on 58 points, (Boyer 25 goals, 33 assists. Landa 19 goals, 39 assists.)

Top goaltender: Anthony Kimlin, Gold Coast Blue Tongues (GAA 2.25, Save percentage 93.5)

Top Defenceman: Rob Lawrance, Newcastle North Stars (33 points, 5 goals, 28 assists)

Rookie of the Year: Tied between the Adelaide Adrenaline’s Charlie Huber (10 points, 4 goals, 6 assists) and Blue Tongues Greg Bay (11 points, 5 goals, 6 assists).

Playoff MVP: Todd Graham, Melbourne Ice.