Ice women are tops

Docklands-based Melbourne Ice Women’s (MIW) ice hockey team has won the VicSports Award for the best sporting team for 2018.

The award was announced on February 20 at the annual VicSports Awards Night for 2018 at Marvel Stadium.

The awards recognise outstanding sporting performances at the elite, national and international levels and are presented for individual athletes, for teams, for administrators, officials and community initiatives. There were four finalists in each category, and the winners were announced at the awards night.

MIW is based at the O’Brien Group Arena and plays in the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey league against teams from Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.  

MIW is the current national champion and will finish the 2018/19 season on top of the ladder.  

There to receive the trophy were 2018 captains Christina Julien, Georgia Carson and Kylie Padjen, head coach Marcus Wong, MIW president Val Webster and Ice Hockey Australia’s womens director, Kylie Taylor.

President Val Webster said the team was thrilled to be recognised at this level. “As an amateur, volunteer-run, completely self-funded team, there is enormous  effort and time and expense required by the players and crew to be the very best in the country,” Ms Webster said.

“Currently on top of the ladder, and looking towards the finals in Adelaide in March, the team is training hard and hoping to top off a fabulous season by retaining the Championship Trophy to display alongside the VicSport Award.”