AIHL Player Milestones Round 2. Players are part of the lifeblood of hockey in Australia. It is high time we celebrate their ongoing milestone achievements as they hit the ice week in week out in the Australian Ice Hockey League.

In week two of the 2024 season, there were many headlines, goals and talking points including six important player milestones which will now enter into the league’s history books, chants and fables.

Bert Malloy: 250 AIHL Games

The Rhinos talisman, Robert ‘Bert’ Malloy celebrated his 250th AIHL game last weekend. American born, Malloy began his AIHL career in 2011 with the Sydney Ice Dogs. During his time in the league, Bert has won three Goodall Cups with two teams. He has represent and captained three NSW AIHL teams including the Ice Dogs, Northstars and Rhinos. Malloy has also captained the Australian national team. He is a leader at heart and synonymous with the local game here in Oz.

Kai Miettinen: 250 AIHL Games

Canberra through and through, Kai Miettinen has clocked up his impressive 250th AIHL game against the Thunder in Perth. Kai has been apart of the Brave story since the beginning. He is the only foundation player of the team to have played every single season of Brave hockey. Known affectionately as ‘Mittens’, Kai started his career in the AI with the Canberra Knights. He progressed to the Brave where he has won two championships, taken the captains armband and represented his country.

Adrian Nash: 100 AIHL Games

Adrian Nash reached his 100 AIHL game milestone at home at the Icehouse over the weekend. The Mustangs forward, is a one team player in the AIHL. Nash first played for the ‘Stangs’ in the 2011 AIHL season. A former youth international, Nash’s AI career has been broken into two parts with a large gap in between. Originally Adrian returned to the AIHL in 2022, after the COVID-19 break and has stayed on since then. Nash has tasted championship success with the Mustangs in his time with the team. He will be hoping for more this season no doubt.

Ben Breault: 100 AIHL Goals

Perth’s adopted son, Ben Breault became the 18th player to officially break the 100 AIHL goals milestone. The current player/head coach of the Perth Thunder, Ben landed in Australia in 2016 to play for the Thunder from the big leagues in France. There must be something in the water over on the west coast, because since arriving Breault has just effortlessly settled into the Perth lifestyle. It must be a good lifestyle too, because he’s still hunting for his first championship with the Western Australians.

Daniel Berno: 100 AIHL Points

The Newcastle Northstars import, Daniel Berno, has just started his third season in Australia and has already racked up 100 AIHL points in just 48 games. Still only 24, if he keeps this pace up he could be a contender for the league’s all-time record in the future. Daniel is yet to taste championship success in Australia but he will do his best to fire the Northstars to the title this season.

Tyrell Clare: 400 AIHL PIM

I can hear the Bears fans already “Free Tyrell”. I can’t believe it but Tyrell Clare has notched up his 400th AIHL minute in the penalty box (PIM). The 26 year old Bears defenceman and one time Australian international, has carved out a name for himself in the league as a no nonsense hard-hitting D-man who is ever too pleased to spend a bit of time in the box each game. Clare made his AIHL debut in 2015 for the Bears and was apart of the team that hoisted the Goodall Cup in 2019.

There is honorable mentions to Lliam Webster for reaching 200 AIHL goals and Rob Haselhurst for reaching 50 AIHL goals last weekend too.

That’s all for the AIHL player milestones Round 2. Keep an eye out on who will reach key milestones next week and every week to come until the end of the season. To view last week’s milestones, please see our week one article. To view more articles about the AIHL please visit our AIHL news page.