What a month for Melbourne Ice

What a month the Melbourne Ice have had.

Wins against Gold Coast Bluetongues, Newcastle North Stars and the Sydney Bears have helped the Ice win their second minor premiership (and the Reid Trophy) in the AIHL.

Off the ice the team has launched their own online store and in July held its most successful gala dinner so far at the Olympic room in the MCG.

Sell out crowds at the Medibank Icehouse have seen some of the best ice hockey in the country from one of the best teams in the league.

The season started slowly for Melbourne Ice. While the wins kept coming, there seemed to be a lack of real cohesion within the team. A number of new players for the Ice did their job but the spark that was so evident last season just did not seem to be there.

However as the season continued, the signs began to get better and better. The two new imports, Jacques Perreault and Obi Aduba, have gelled perfectly with the team and some players from last year have adjusted to slightly different roles within the team and as the last game of the season drew near and top spot was safely sewn up, fans can look forward to the upcoming finals.

For the second year in a row the AIHL finals will be held at Docklands in the Icehouse, held over the weekend of September 3 and 4.

Melbourne Ice must surely be considered the favourite to take out their second Goodall Cup.

But the format of the finals has been a trap door for every team who has won the minor premiership. With two knockout semi finals and the grand final, there is no second chance for any team in the playoffs. In fact, no team has won the grand final after finishing on top of the ladder, so history beckons for Melbourne Ice.

While the season is coming to an end for the men, the women’s team has been building up to the start of their season.

Last season the women followed the success of the men perfectly and won the McKowen Cup, so this year the pressure will be on the women.

A membership for Melbourne Ice means entry not just for the men’s team, but also for the women’s team. so everyone is hoping for big crowds throughout summer.

What more perfect way could there be to beat the heat than watching the best hockey the country can offer?