Ice Hockey Australia to leverage opportunities around NHL exhibition matches

Ice Hockey Australia has welcomed the announcement that the North American National Hockey League teams Arizona Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings will face off in two exhibition matches at Rod Laver Arena on 23rd and 24th September.

Presenting a significant moment for both Melbourne and Australia as the first ever NHL hosts in the Southern Hemisphere, Ice Hockey Australia will be looking to leverage the opportunities in and around the games that allows the sport to achieve its long term objectives of growing participation.

The NHL is the top ranked professional ice hockey league in the world and features seven teams from Canada and twenty-five teams from the United States of America.

Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) General Manager, Adam Woolnough, said the announcement presents a huge opportunity for the sport that will provide legacy opportunities from the grassroots through to elite.

Woolnough notes "the announcement that the North American National Hockey League (NHL) will be coming to Australia will present a once in a lifetime opportunity for our sport.

“A huge spotlight will be shone on ice hockey across Australia but also globally, allowing Ice Hockey Australia to leverage this marquee event to grow our game at all levels of the sport, and connect to new fans.

“Not since 1908 when ice hockey arrived in Australia, has there been such an opportunity to celebrate the sport on the international stage, and the NHL coming to Australia will offer that platform.

“Our board has strategic objectives to grow our participation base through ‘Learn to Play’ programs across our winter and summer leagues.

“The 2023 NHL Global Series will provide a great platform for us to do that as well as upskilling our coaches and officials and providing introduction into schools programs. Additionally it will open the door for commercial and government funding opportunities that can create lasting legacy for the sport in Australia.”

Australia boasts strong national teams that compete annually on the international stage at the IIHF World Championships.

Woolnough adds “Our goal needs to be increasing our representation at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the future.

“Australia’s U18 Women recently won Division Two internationally, to advance to Division One which is a huge result for IHA.  But to stay at that level and advance other teams, we need to be working collaboratively with the Australian high performance network. We want to see the sport thrive long term by working collaboratively at all levels within the high-performance sector in Australia as well as those wanting to support ice hockey in Australia financially.”

Tickets starting at $79 for children and $99 for adults, or corporate packages also on offer.
Register HERE for access to the pre-sale waitlist 17th April, or GA tickets go on sale 18th April at 1pm.