As the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) exits its early season break, Hockey Hype Australia checks in with each of the five teams, highlighting a handful of players making an early impact. Today we continue our series with the Perth Inferno.

The Perth Inferno split its opening weekend in Melbourne against the Ice with an impressive 5-4 victory in the Saturday game. It was the first time the Inferno had ever beaten the Ice in Melbourne.

While it’s a miniscule sample size – the Perth Inferno having played just two games while every other team has played between four and six – we will do our best to pick a handful of players making an early impact for the club.

Sasha King

Sasha King was kept busy in the Inferno’s season opener – an away game to Ice HQ against the Melbourne Ice. According to esportsdesk, King recorded 53 saves on 57 shots in that contest, helping the Inferno win.

Importantly, the Inferno never trailed in that contest and forced the Ice to chase the game. The Melbourne Ice have an intimidating roster, but King was up to the challenge, getting to the top of the paint, covering up rebounds, and being in good position in net.

The 20-year-old netminder represented the Australian Senior Women’s Team earlier this year and is a big piece of a team that sees itself as a championship contender.

Georgia McLellan

Georgia McLellan is one of the most underrated players in the league. She may not be amongst the scoring leaders or appear on the highlight packages every week, but the blueliner is an immensely smart player.

For example, check out this clip from the season-opening game against the Melbourne Ice, with the scores tied at 0-0. Keep an eye on 14 for the Inferno; that’s Georgia McLellan.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxtjfgYA2M-au5MsMoPKYRWGRaLmkVAgvH?si=EGgTPel3FfZ1vK0x

McLellan gains the zone, but her centring pass to Sammons doesn’t connect, so she cycles back up high to the RD position on the blue line.

McLellan sees Julien with the puck in the corner and recognises Godfrey presents an easy outlet option at the half-wall for the breakout, so she pinches to disrupt the play, wins possession and cycles the puck back down low.

Melbourne retrieves possession, and McLellan follows the play, swapping to the LD position. Julien receives the puck in the neutral zone with speed, but check out McLellan’s gap control as she prevents a two-on-one from developing and forces a low-percentage shot from distance.

It’s a sequence that can be easily missed in games, but McLellan makes dozens of similarly smart plays each game, resulting in either Inferno scoring opportunities or preventing opposition A-Grade scoring chances.

Chrystina-Blair Acker

Acker averaged just under a point per game last season and, with two points in two games, looks to be continuing the trend.

Acker played on a line with Isla Malcolm and Sara Sammons, and played a vital role in forcing a turnover from Georgia Moore, which led to Sammons’ first goal in the AWIHL since her departure in 2019.

It was a play that typified the type of player that Acker is, and a big part of why she wears the ‘C’. “She is a grinder,” Perth Inferno Head Coach Graham Hyde told Hockey Hype Australia.

“[She] wants to be first to the puck,” Hyde continued before describing her as a high-energy player.

Elizabeth Scala

Scala, last season’s points leader, has scored two goals in two games thus far. Scala’s first goal demonstrated her awareness that the goaltender was screened, and she threw a shot on the net from distance that found its mark.

The second goal was a typical Scala goal. First, Scala chipped the puck up the boards in the defensive zone and barrelled after the puck, sealing off the wall to prevent Pullin’s attempt to keep the puck in the zone.

A two-on-one developed and Malcolm crashed the net, drawing the defender, Moore, to her. Scala kept her cool and picked her spot – high-glove – for the game winning goal with just 12 seconds left.

Sara Sammons

Sammons scored 17 points (9G, 8A) in 8 games in 2019, her debut season, before leaving to hone her game in North America. There was much anticipation for her return to the league, and it is clear after two games, such excitement is warranted.

Initially, it looked like Sammons recorded a hat trick in her first game back in the AWIHL, but the third goal was tipped in front by Acker on the powerplay.

The second goal in particular showcased Sammons’ speed where she was a few strides behind the last Melbourne defender at her own blue line before making up those strides and more to generate a breakaway.

Defenders on opposing teams will no doubt be aware of the threat Sammons’ poses with her excellent speed.

Stay tuned as we conclude our series tomorrow with a look at the defending champion Sydney Sirens.