AIHL All-Star Weekend

The Australian Ice Hockey League All-Star Weekend is an annual event showcasing the best talent from the AIHL in skills tests and an exhibition 'All-Stars' match.

2015 AIHL All-Star Game
123 Total
Team Schlamp 421 7
Team Bales 111 3
Date13 September 2015
ArenaHunter Ice Skating Stadium
CityNewcastle, NSW, Australia
MVPPat O'Kane
Attendancex
2016 →

History

4 August 2015, the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) announced the formation of a new event in the Australian ice hockey calendar, the AIHL All-Stars Weekend. The event occurs two weeks following the conclusion of the AIHL Finals Weekend.[1][2]

The maiden Australian Ice Hockey League All-Star Weekend, took place between 12 and 13 September 2015 at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Newcastle, NSW.[3][4]

Cash prizes are on offer for players for the breakaway challenge during the skills tests, the winner of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the All-Stars match and the team the MVP comes from. In 2015 the winner of the Breakaway Challenge received $1000, the winner of the MVP received $5000 and the MVP club received $4000.[5]

2015 Rosters

Andrew Petrie and Joey Theriault of the Newcastle North Stars and Vlad Rubes and Ron Kuprowsky of the Sydney Bears were named as the coaching teams for the game.[1]

    * Denotes a player not originally selected in either All-Star team but played in the All-Stars match.

    Skills competition

    The skills competitions selected for presentation by the respective coaches include a number of skills events the National Hockey League showcases at their All-Stars Weekend event. Each event is sponsored by one of the league's major sponsors and are performed on the Saturday afternoon.[8][9]

    Air Canada Fastest Skater competition

    In this event, pairs of skaters raced each other simultaneously on parallel courses on the rink. The fastest two skaters then had a final race.[10]

    HeatTeam BalesVersesTeam Schlamp
    1Kieren WebstervsDaniel Pataky
    2Mitch HumphriesvsTommy Powell
    3Rob HaselhurstvsMatt Wetini
    4Brian BalesvsMatt Armstrong
    5John KennedyvsTomas Landa
    FinalRob HaselhurstvsMatt Wetini
    Event score: 3–3 Tied
    Overall score: 3–3 Tied
    • bold = Heat winner
    • Red & bold = Event winner

    APA Group Breakaway Challenge

    The breakaway challenge saw three shooters and one goalie from each team take to the ice. Each skater was given 3 shots, with full access to the offensive zone, to play out their routine and take a shot. The winner was judged on their presentation as well as scoring by a fan shout off. In goals for Team Bales was Kamil Jarina (SB) and for Team Schlamp Dayne Davis (NNS).[11]

    Team BalesTeam Schlamp
    Brian BalesBrian Funes
    Stephen BlundenMichael Schlamp
    Andrew CoxJames Byers
    Event score: 1–0 Team Bales
    Overall score: 4–3 Team Bales
    • Red & bold = Event winner

    Haigh and Hastings Shooting Accuracy competition

    In this event, competitors were positioned in front of the net, and were passed the puck from two teammates situated behind the goal line. The players had to hit targets at the four corners of the net in the fastest time.[12]

    HeatTeam BalesTime (sec)Time (sec)Team Schlamp
    1Mitch Humphries43.621.5Matt Armstrong
    2Josef Rezek17.134.8Robert Malloy
    3Luc Daigneault51.434.8Adrian Esposito
    4Stephen Blunden19.530.2Michael Schlamp
    FinalJosef Rezek20.3729.97Matt Armstrong
    Event score: 3–2 Team Bales
    Overall score: 7–5 Team Bales
    • bold = Heat winner
    • Red & bold = Event winner

    Rifle Media Stickhandling competition

    The stickhanding competition saw two skaters positioned in a head on head contest on identical obstacle courses that would test different styles of stick handling, first one to the finish line wins. There are four skaters in total selected by each team to compete.[13]

    HeatTeam BalesVersesTeam Schlamp
    1Brian BalesvsJamie Woodman
    2Shannon McGregorvsTommy Powell
    3Kai MiettinenvsDaniel Pataky
    4Mitch HumphriesvsAdrian Esposito
    FinalKai MiettinenvsTommy Powell
    Event score: 1–4 Team Schlamp
    Overall score: 8–9 Team Schlamp
    • bold = Heat winner
    • Red & bold = Event winner

    Skaters Network Hardest Shot competition

    In this competition, four players from each team skate in from the blue line one at a time, and slap a puck as hard as possible into the net with a speed camera positioned behind the net to register the impact speed. Each player gets two attempts in the heats and the top two players face off in the final and get one attempt to win the event.[14]

    HeatTeam BalesSpeed (mph)Speed (mph)Team Schlamp
    1Stephen Blunden83 & 8379 & 83Brian Funes
    2John Kennedy85 & 8596 & 85Matt Armstrong
    3Shannon McGregor85 & 7484 & 81Robert Malloy
    4Rob Haselhurst83 & 7983 & 76Michael Schlamp
    FinalJohn Kennedy8188Matt Armstrong
    Event score: 3–2 Team Bales
    Overall score: 11–11 Tied
    • bold = Heat winner
    • Red & bold = Event winner

    Ryzer Elimination Shootout

    In this competition, players attempt to score on the opposing team's goalie. Players who score earn a point for their team for each goal they score. Players are eliminated from the competition if they fail to score.[15]

    Team BalesResultResultTeam Schlamp
    Round 1
    Brian BalesSaveGoalAdrian Esposito
    Andrew CoxSaveSaveJamie Woodman
    Kai MiettinenSaveSaveBrian Funes
    Stephen BlundenSaveGoalDaniel Pataky
    John KennedySaveGoalJames Byers
    Josef RezekGoalSaveMatt Armstrong
    Luc DaigneaultGoalSaveTommy Powell
    Robert HaselhurstSaveSaveMichael Schlamp
    Mitch HumphriesSaveGoalMatt Wetini
    Kieren WebsterSaveSaveRobert Malloy
    Round 2
    Josef RezekSaveSaveAdrian Esposito
    Luc DaigneaultSaveSaveDaniel Pataky
    SaveJames Byers
    GoalMatt Wetini
    Event score: 2–5 Team Schlamp
    Final overall score: 13–16 Team Schlamp
    • bold = Goal scorer
    • Red & bold = Event winner
    Final Individual Winners Overview
    Event Winner Team
    Air Canada Fastest Skater Competition Rob Haselhurst (Perth Thunder) Team Bales
    APA Group Breakaway Challenge Brian Bales (Newcastle North Stars) Team Bales
    Haigh & Hastings Shooting Accuracy Competition Josef Rezek (Adelaide Adrenaline) Team Bales
    Rifle Media Stickhandling Competition Tommy Powell (Melbourne Ice) Team Schlamp
    Skaters Network Fastest Shot Competition Matt Armstrong (Melbourne Ice) Team Schlamp
    Ryzer Elimination Shootout Matt Wetini (Newcastle North Stars) Team Schlamp

    Game summary

    The All-Star game sees a selection of the best players from the AIHL pitted against each other under than banner of two captains. The match is played on the Sunday afternoon.

    Team Schlamp 7 – 3
    (4–1, 2–1, 1–1)    		 Team Bales Hunter Ice Skating Stadium (att)
    Newcastle
    First period
    Virjassov (Schlamp, Pataky) 11:21Referees:
    4:49 Blunden (Bales, Humphries)Jeff Scott
    Funes (Schlamp) 3:24Linesmen:
    O'Kane (Powell, Armstrong) 1:55Grainge Phillips
    O'Kane (2) (unassisted) 1:25Official scorer:
    Second periodMichelle Rutherford
    10:14 Bales (Humphries, Nadin)MVP: O'Kane (MM)
    O'Kane (3) (Armstrong, Powell) 2:13
    O'Kane (4) (Pataky) 1:49
    Third period
    Powell (O'Kane) 10:57
    10:09 Nadin (Rezek, Webster)
    • Shots on Goal:
      • Team Schlamp: 13 – 11 – 10 – Total: 34
      • Team Bales: 7 – 11 – 17 – Total: 35

    Source: AIHL[16]

    Broadcasting

    Television: Fox Sports (part of the entire AIHL TV deal with Fox Sports). The AIHL released information that Fox Sports would broadcast the All-Stars Weekend event on their pay-television platform the following Thursday (17 September 2015).[1][17]

    References
    1. "2015 All-Star Weekend". theaihl.com. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
    2. Leeson, Josh (17 August 2015). "North Stars host Ice Hockey All-Stars weekend". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
    3. "2015 AIHL All-Star Weekend". trybooking.com. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
    4. "The 2015 AIHL All Stsr Weekend Presented by APA Group". nswicehockey.com.au. 1 September 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
    5. "Cash prizes add spice to All-Star Weekend". theaihl.com. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
    6. "2015 Team Bales". theaihl.com. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
    7. "2015 Team Schlamp". theaihl.com. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
    8. "2015 Skills Competition Participants". theaihl.com. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
    9. "2015 AIHL All-Star Weekend presented by APA Group Description of Events" (PDF). theaihl.com. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
    10. Chapman, Carol (13 September 2015). "Haselhurst speeds to All-Star Fastest Skater gong". theaihl.com. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
    11. Laura, Courtney (13 September 2015). "Bales leads the way in All-Star Breakaway Challenge". theaihl.com. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
    12. Darnley, Ryan (13 September 2015). "Pinpoint Rezek dominates All-Star Shooting Accuracy". theaihl.com. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
    13. Chapman, Carol (13 September 2015). "Hot hand Powell claims All-Star Stickhandling Competition". theaihl.com. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
    14. Laura, Courtney (13 September 2015). "Armstrong rockets to claim All-Star Hardest Shot". theaihl.com. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
    15. Darnley, Ryan (13 September 2015). "Wetini snatches All-Star Elimination Shootout". theaihl.com. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
    16. "AIHL 2015 All-Star Gamebox". theaihl.com. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
    17. Brodie, Will (17 April 2013). "Ice hockey gets pay TV boost". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
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