Eight games across three days of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) season gave us plenty of talking points after the completion of week three.

A Sydney derby under the bright lights of Friday night hockey, one team stands undefeated in regulation, a weekend sweep in Canberra, and more standout performances.

Hockey Hype Australia looks at five things which caught the eye in this weeks Five for Writing.

Dogs are Barking

It was 302 days since the Sydney Ice Dogs picked up a win on home ice, ironically against the Adelaide Adrenaline back on June 24, 2023, a 5-2 victory.

This time around the Ice Dogs would come out on top 4-1 to kick start their 2024 season as they wait for imports to arrive and players to return from Australian national team duties.

The Ice Dogs fought back from a 1-0 deficit to take the lead in the third period, lead by Canadian forward Alex Macdonald who would score back-to-back goals, giving the Ice Dogs the lead and one they wouldn’t relinquish.

As cool as Ice

Melbourne Ice have started the 2024 AIHL season in electric form, remaining the only undefeated team in regulation.

It was their firmest test after three weeks of competition, a traveling Perth Thunder fresh off a 5-2 win over the Melbourne Mustangs the night before, and a team tipped to go deep into the AIHL Finals.

A four goal opening period broke the game open and going three for five on the powerplay, the Ice were tested early in the third period, however, showed resilience to fight their way through for a 7-3 win.

Lightning Strikes

They don’t say how, they say how many. That was the conversation I had with Brisbane Lightning people across their recent trip to Canberra to face the Brave – who are waiting for troops to arrive.

Sweeping the weekend, only giving up four goals and scoring 10, it was just what the doctor ordered as the Lightning continue to build into their season.

A six point weekend for Anthony Barnes, including three goals, helped the Lightning pick up two important wins as they return to home ice for week four.

Five of the Best

With a five goal weekend, including a Sydney derby hat-trick in the first Friday night game of the season, it wasn’t hard to include Noah Moncrieff in this weeks Five for Writing.

Early in the week Sydney Bears head coach Tyler Huberty spoke glowingly of Moncrieff, and the 21-year-old rising star lived up to the billing. Scoring the derbies first in one minute twenty seconds of the opening period to set the tone as the Bears never looked troubled.

Moncrieff has seven points (six goals, one assist) from four games and is set for a massive breakout season in the AIHL.

More like Three-nosalmi

Tipped as a contender in 2024 the Perth Thunder have had a strong start to the season, sitting with a 4-2 record after six games and splitting a tough road trip to Melbourne where they faced the Mustangs and Ice.

Ville Tenosalmi has exploded out of the blocks for the Thunder, continuing that impressive form with a hat-trick against the defending Goodall Cup champion Mustangs.

The 30-year-old Finnish born player has been enjoying being on a line with Jeremiah Addison and Zane Jones, with strong early chemistry on display with Tenosalmi putting up points in five of the six games played this season sitting with nine points (five goals, four assists).