There is a big wheel at Docklands in Melbourne, it was once a tourist attraction and is now a modern-day eye sore.

Hidden away in the far corner of the Docklands precinct is the city’s best kept secret. The Australian Ice Hockey Leagues (AIHL) Melbourne Derby. The main attraction.

An ice rink packed to the rafters when the Melbourne Ice and Melbourne Mustangs face each other for bragging rights and city supremacy.

Since the first derby in 2011, it has changed the sporting landscape in Melbourne, brought in new supporters, and created a rivalry not many sports can emulate.

A family affair

“If you love sport, you know there’s nothing quite like a derby,” long-time Ice fan Andrew John Egan told Hockey Hype Australia.

“There’s ultimate glory in lifting cups and unfurling banners at the end of a season, but until you get there, there’s nothing quite like the smug satisfaction of coming up against your neighbour and getting the better of them. The stakes are higher. 

“It’s a contest where you can look down the hallway, or across the rink and know there’s another set of colours there you need to get the better of. Bragging rights. The right to know that every time you enter the rink, it’s your rink. And the other mob are just visitors.”

Melbourne is widely regarded as the sporting capital of Australia, the city swamped with sports options.

Fighting every inch to gain notoriety and space in a saturated sports city is difficult. However, the derby plays to the fabric of Melburnians, who have embraced it.

“We’re a sporting city here,” continued Egan.

“The game has had a few peaks and troughs in getting broader attention in Melbourne, but I think the derby presents a real focal point for folk to jump on and have a really authentic sporting experience.

“You can have 30,000 fans at Marvel Stadium down the road for an AFL game where a Victorian team is up against Fremantle and the tension, the atmosphere, will pale in comparison to a jam-packed Icehouse riding every check and shot on goal.

“Anecdotally, we’ll bring friends and first-timers to the derby because we know that beyond the novelty of seeing a hockey game in town, they’ll see what it means to the rusted-on fans and the passion out there on the rink and know this is 100% legit.

“They’re always welcome to come back again with us, so long as they pick the right colours. It’s like they’ve discovered one of the great sporting secrets in town.”

When you are a four-time Goodall Cup winner, like the Melbourne Ice, there are a plethora of options when it comes to favourite derby moments.

Even though the Ice has 28 wins and plenty of derby moments to look back on, the 2014 AIHL Grand Final loss still leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

“Let’s start with the biggest moment, which unfortunately our boys were on the wrong end of. The 2014 Grand Final,” said Egan.

“A derby for all the chocolates and despite having the measure of the Stangs during the regular season, it was all for nought and the rink forever blemished with an inaugural orange banner to mark the occasion.

“Until we see that scenario come around again and the Ice square the ledger, it’ll remain a sore and sorry point for me!

“Favourites? 6-1 to wrap up the derbies in 2012. It was a really dominant win by an Ice team marching towards the Threepeat.

“We’d been pushed hard in an earlier derby so it was nice to smack them a few times over knowing that over time things would tighten up.

“Semi-final 2017 is the closest to some closure on the Grand Final loss we’ve had.

“Was a great side that year and after a few hiccups and heartaches in the season’s prior, this one had me sweating a bit. A particularly sweet win on the way to lifting the Cup.”

Hooked from first puck drop

It doesn’t take long before people are hooked on ice hockey, usually it takes one game and people come back for more.

There aren’t many leagues in the world that can compare to the passion of the AIHL fan. Fans travel far and wide, and in the case of Jessica Kolder, it’s a five hour round trip from country Victoria each weekend.

Watching their first game at O’Brien Icehouse quickly turned into a sporting obsession.

“The atmosphere! The crowd really gets into the game and just adds to the excitement in the leadup,” Kolder told Hockey Hype Australia.

The theme is the same across most hockey fans, recent and old. Derbies are a common denominator when it comes to appealing to the Melbourne sporting fan.

Furthermore, the Melbourne Derby is what helps drive the AIHL, putting the sport of ice hockey on the map in the city.

“It helps to bring ice hockey to more people,” continued Kolder.

“Having only discovered the sport myself last year, the derby is a great match to go to when introducing new fans to the sport, especially to show how diverse and passionate the AIHL fan base is.”

When asked which derby moment was a favourite, Kolder didn’t have many to choose from after only finding the Ice in 2023.

However, the first derby of 2024 stands out, a measuring stick moment against the reigning champions and cross-corridor rivals.

“Having only seen two derbies’ so far I would have to say from derby one this year,” continued Kolder.

“My favourite moment would be seeing the Ice win, beating the reigning Goodall Cup winners and showing they are a force to be reckoned with this year.”

Stay tuned for more in a series looking at the Melbourne Derby in the Australian Ice Hockey League.