Australia Hockey

[BigDipper 0]

Figured I might a couple hits on this one. I'm moving to Aus in September, anyone here live there now? Wondering about the hockey in Brisbane.

[Deerok 3]

Here's something to get you started:

http://www.brisbanebluetongues.com.au

[Aussie Joe 0]

Good up and coming team, an ex NHLer and rumor has it an ex Finnish tendy on board as well. Plus Queensland weather and women. ;)

[Muzza_77 0]

There's a good rink there I think, sorry I only know of one. The sport in Sydney is nearly dead. I play at the last club in sydney and the last rink in NSW, it's nearly gone..we need more people! haha

[fatwabbit 93]

Let me know if you need some contacts... I've got a bunch of colleagues there who are raving that its the best office around (crap!).

Brisbane's great, been there a few times. And btw, bring LOTS of gear. its pretty expensive here.

for me, perth is pretty good, and you can find hockey almost every day of the week.

[jww83 0]

There's a good rink there I think, sorry I only know of one. The sport in Sydney is nearly dead. I play at the last club in sydney and the last rink in NSW, it's nearly gone..we need more people! haha

Are you talking roller or ice?

[Trudy14 0]

Good up and coming team, an ex NHLer and rumor has it an ex Finnish tendy on board as well. Plus Queensland weather and women. ;)

I believe Rob Zamuner plays or played in that league (AIHL).

[Aussie Joe 0]

Correct.

[BigDipper 0]

thanks fellas. I already touched base with the Blue Tongues. Im there in september so I wouldn't jump on the squad until the following season but I'm looking for ice during the rest of the time. I've had a couple buddies skate in that league before. Work's good with a work schedule too. But also I did hear the gear is stupidly expensive down there too. Really that bad?

[Muzza_77 0]

Sorry, yes I was talking about roller.

Yeah the gear is really expensive here, today I am going to buy wheels ($180), a helmet ($250) and a wood stick ($100)...

[Hazard14 0]

how much... ?

thats insanely expensive

[mrciv 0]

why dont u just buy off of ebay????

[Aussie Joe 0]

Gear is expensive to buy here at a LHS. But if you know what you want etc just order over the net or Ebay it. Most online shops are beginning to ban shipping of certain brands internationally but if you know a LHS in the US/Canada keep their details and get them to send the gear over.

[Deerok 3]

That's one hell of a markup for equipment!!!

For any enterprising Aussie out there with a girlfriend who works at Quantas...watch the movie "Blow" and substitute hockey gear for the coke and you may be on to something.

[BigDipper 0]

Sorry, yes I was talking about roller.

Yeah the gear is really expensive here, today I am going to buy wheels ($180), a helmet ($250) and a wood stick ($100)...

hahaha are you fisting me? That's absolutely terrible. That stick better me making a pot of coffee too.

[Muzza_77 0]

haha sorry guys its the truth. I bought a set of Mr.Stickies 74A, a 6K RBK helmet and a CCM V50 stick, total $488. So yeah, bring some gear that'll last you when you come over.

[fatwabbit 93]

Muzza, you should have checked my sale thread, I could have sold you some wheels, and thrown in some Mr Stickies for you for free.

[Aussie Joe 0]

That's one hell of a markup for equipment!!!

For any enterprising Aussie out there with a girlfriend who works at Quantas...watch the movie "Blow" and substitute hockey gear for the coke and you may be on to something.

You would be onto something, except that there are sweet F all people actually playing either form of the game here. Its all Aussie Rules, Rugby and Cricket in summer.

[Trudy14 0]

I was also looking into going down for a summer and would be interested in playing in AIHL, is it tough to make a team? I've played college hockey and have been told by some people to check out some more competive hockey. I noticed there aren't too many Americans on the rosters, mostly Canadian and European players. Do a lot of junior players go there to play in the off season considering Australia's winter is our summer?

[BigDipper 0]

I was also looking into going down for a summer and would be interested in playing in AIHL, is it tough to make a team? I've played college hockey and have been told by some people to check out some more competive hockey. I noticed there aren't too many Americans on the rosters, mostly Canadian and European players. Do a lot of junior players go there to play in the off season considering Australia's winter is our summer?

I had a buddy of mine play for a year down there on a complete fluke. He's played major junior, university in Canada and semi-pro in the US. A lot of guys there have played in the ECHL, and other semi-pro leagues in the states. And he said some of the Aussie boys have good talent too. More or less he said its comparable to a high calibre Junior "a" level. They don't pay guys. But the travel is compensated and they throw you bit here and there. That was his squad anyway. But the fans eat it up, they get a modest amount. 1-2 games a week and one practice a week. And it works well with a day-time work schedule too.

[Aussie Joe 0]

Plus you get to see the country for free when you travel with your team. In Melbourne we have seen one or two Canadian guys actually stay in Melb and apply for citizenship because they enjoyed the AIHL experience.

Beware but, teams like Melbourne are highly competitive but suffer from a really crap rink.

[Trudy14 0]

I noticed that the rinks don't have glass, just boards and netting. You must have to be much more careful with your dump-in's/out's. Do the rules differ at all from North American hockey? I wouldn't mind working there and not being payed by a team, I'm sure the experience is well worth it. I have a contact down there, an old professor of mine, in the sports industry to could probably help me out finding work in that field.

[Aussie Joe 0]

Yes, allot of rinks don't have boards as they are built as rec rinks for gen skating when hockey comes along and decides to play they just put netting in place. We play IIHF rules here, so things like Offsides and penalty calls vary in comparison to "NHL like" rules.

[Trudy14 0]

Very interesting. Any chance the sport will grow there and teams will begin to play at nicer rinks or get the funding for glass etc.? I also notice that there are a lot of sponsors involved, for exmaple on players uniforms. Do the players or teams get any perks from the sponsors? Sorry to bother you with so many questions, I'm just trying to get a good idea of what the hockey is like if I do make it down there. Thanks for the help.

[BigDipper 0]

The boys get help with employment through the sponsor. Which for some can be extremely beneficial. You definitely don't play to pay by any mean, but don't expect a paycheck. Thier is gear is taken care of...but to an extent. Thier definitely not getting pro patterns done or custom skates either that's for sure. The league is growing in popularity from I hear, and they're getting a lot of North Americans in there helping to develop the programs.