The New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation and Ice Hockey Australia announced earlier this year that the senior women’s teams will be added to the Trans-Tasman series. Now, the two-game series is set to begin in Newcastle at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium this weekend.

Hockey Hype Australia will be at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium covering the event.

If you’re looking for tickets, here is the link to purchase for Game One (Saturday, October 19 at 5 pm), and here is the link to purchase for Game Two (Sunday, October 20 at 2 pm).

Australia and New Zealand maintain fierce rivalries across multiple sporting codes and collaborate off the playing field. This Trans-Tasman series is no different.

Both ice hockey governing bodies have successfully collaborated in the past to organize competitions between the senior men’s teams. The games have proved to be useful tune-ups for each country heading into international tournaments and have aided in the selection process.

This tournament will likewise be valuable for both countries’ senior women’s teams. The Aussie Flyers and Ice Fernz are familiar foes and compete in the same division next year at the annual International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in Dunedin in April.

Therefore, the series will not only aid with selection and provide each Head Coach with opportunities to teach systems, etc., but it will also give both teams an opportunity to test themselves against a divisional opponent.

Rosters

Players to Watch – Aussie Flyers

A number of players are expected to make their senior team debut for the Aussie Flyers in Newcastle: Ebony Brunt, Christina Julien, Emily Davis-Tope, Alison Carlisle, and Makayla Peers. Additionally, Tash Farrier returns to the squad for the first time since winning Gold in Iceland in 2020.

All 22 players selected will play in the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) this season, so there will be plenty of opportunities for hockey aficionados to keep tabs on the players following the Trans-Tasman series.

Our five players to watch are all either making their debuts or returning to the national team after a hiatus. You could argue that all 22 players are players to watch, and there would be no disagreement here.

Nevertheless, here are five players Australians haven’t seen in previous international tournaments for a while.

Christina Julien – Melbourne Ice (Forward)

Last season, Christina Julien lit the league on fire in the season’s first month. In six games Julien added 11 goals and six assists, averaging just shy of three points per game.

Julien has represented Canada in soccer and earned a place in the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame. Now, the dynamic forward is eligible to play for Australia, and this weekend will be the first chance for fans to see how she performs in the green and gold.

Watch for Julien’s elite skating, playmaking, and finishing to be on full display. Julien has featured prominently in nightmares of local goaltenders, now it’s time to unleash her elite skills on international netminders.

Tash Farrier – Adelaide Rush (Forward)

Tash Farrier is a familiar name for ice hockey fans in Australia, and first represented her country in 2005. Farrier’s last appearance for the national team was in 2020 in Akureyri, Iceland.

With 11 points in five games (four goals, seven assists) Farrier played a key role in Australia’s gold-medal performance. In the tournament’s final game against New Zealand, Farrier tallied a goal and an assist.

Farrier’s elite hockey IQ makes her a menace for the opposition in all facets of the game, but her ability in the 2020 tournament to make shorthanded shifts look like powerplay opportunities was impressive.

Along with Julien and Sharna Godfrey, Farrier provides Aussie Flyers Head Coach Marcus Wong with enviable options shorthanded.

Alison Carlisle – Brisbane Lightning (Defender)

Last season, Alison Carlisle entered the league on the top pairing at Boondall, alongside fellow Aussie Flyer Katrina Rapchuk. The Canadian-born blueliner was an unmissable presence, using her frame to good effect as the net-front presence on the powerplay, and her booming shot to tally seven goals and seven assists in 12 games.

Now, the blueliner from Langley, British Columbia, will join a talented group of defenders and stake her claim for a spot at the World Championships in Dunedin in April 2025. Opposing forwards will need to earn every inch in the blue paint when Carlisle is on the ice.

Makayla Peers – Melbourne Ice (Goaltender)

Since Makayla Peers made her AWIHL debut in the 2019/20 season, it became immediately apparent that the netminder had a bright future. A shoulder injury prevented Peers from getting the start at Finals last season, but Peers has an excellent opportunity to grab a hold of the Ice starting spot for the foreseeable future.

With last season’s Joan Mckeown Memorial Cup-winning goalie Jenelle Carson joining up with her sister Georgia at the Melbourne Ducks, Peers and Kayla Best will patrol the paint in 2024/25. It’s going to take a lot to dethrone Sasha King and Olivia Last as the national team’s starting netminder, and the work continues this weekend.

Keep an eye out for Peers’ ability to go post-to-post in a heartbeat and her elite athleticism to make some eye-popping saves.

Ebony Brunt – Sydney Sirens (Forward)

The Sydney Sirens began a rebuild last season, and with Ice Hockey New South Wales exerting its roster control to limit the use of imports, young local players stepped up into key roles. One of those players was Ebony Brunt, who, at the age of 19, was given an “A” as an alternate captain.

Brunt was also tasked with driving a line, and she showed flashes of brilliance in games, at times taking over shifts against elite competition. The offensive numbers don’t fully reflect the value that Brunt brought to the line-up, although she still put up six points (three goals, three assists) in 16 games.

Now, with the Sirens adding a slew of veterans to the line-up with proven production for the 2024/25 season, Brunt should get some support. With the Aussie Flyers roster, Brunt is guaranteed to be paired with elite offensive players.

It will be fascinating to see what role Brunt plays on her line, whether she continues to dictate play, or takes up a complementary role.

Players to Watch – Ice Fernz

The Ice Fernz Facebook page has been putting out player profiles all week leading up to the Trans-Tasman series. Make sure you give them a follow for more outstanding content.

All of the New Zealand Women’s Ice Hockey League games were streamed on YouTube, so make sure you follow their channel as well to keep up with all of the happenings across the ditch.

Jasmine Horner-Pascoe – Auckland Steel (Forward)

New Zealand ice hockey fans are well aware of Jasmine Horner-Pascoe. The dynamic forward owns the all-time league record for goals (120) and points (193) in just 64 games played. That works out to over three points per game. Ludicrous.

The 31-year-old led the league in points again last season in the New Zealand Women’s Ice Hockey League (NZWIHL). Born in Subiaco, Western Australia, Horner-Pascoe began her international career with New Zealand in style in 2011, securing gold and promotion.

Like Australia’s Tash Farrier, if Horner-Pascoe represents New Zealand in Dunedin next year, it would be her first tournament since the 2020 tournament in Akureyri, Iceland. A strong showing from Horner-Pascoe will significantly increase the Ice Fernz gold medal aspirations next year.

Anjali Mulari – Auckland Steel (Forward)

Anjali Mulari has been lighting up the NZWIHL for years. On the all-time league charts, the 31-year-old forward is fourth in goals (76), second in assists (89), and third in points (165).

However, when sorted by points per game, Mulari sits first among players who have played 11 games or more with 3.59 points per game in her 46 appearances. Mulari is a player who can change the momentum of a game in a single shift. The Aussie Flyers will need to be aware of her at all times on the ice to come out on top.

Nerhys Gordon – Canterbury Inferno (Forward)

Nerhys Gordon has a bright future ahead of her. At the under-18 Women’s World Championships earlier this year, Gordon dominated the tournament. Her 12 points (nine goals, three assists) in five games earned her Best Player for New Zealand, most goals, most points, and, most importantly, a gold medal.

Just 16 years of age, Gordon has the opportunity to be a big part of the Ice Fernz setup for a decade or more. Ice Fernz fans will be looking forward to seeing the phenom debut for the national team this weekend in Newcastle.

Gracie Hellmrich – Wakatipu Wild (Defender)

Gracie Hellmrich is another player making her Ice Fernz debut. The talented blueliner captained the New Zealand under 18 team to a gold medal earlier this year, and will be aiming to win gold with the senior team on home ice in April.

At just 18 years old, Hellmrich has already played five seasons in the NZWIHL. Like Australia’s Alison Carlisle, Hellmrich’s height makes her stand out on the ice, and she is an imposing presence in the paint.

Lochlyn Hyde – Auckland Steel (Goaltender)

With the immense talent in the Aussie Flyers’ line-up, goalies Grace Harrison and Lochlyn Hyde will likely be kept busy this weekend. During the NZWIHL season, Hyde posted a sparkling 2.00 GAA and a .913 save percentage.

In fact, in 55 games played over the course of her NZWIHL career, Hyde has a 2.69 GAA and a .909 save percentage. Hyde will snaffle up the majority of chances with clean looks and can use her frame well to control rebounds. There’s a reason some fans call her “Blocklyn”.

If you’re able to get down to Hunter Ice Skating Stadium for the two-game Trans-Tasman series you’re in for a treat. Australians don’t get many opportunities to see the Aussie Flyers, this will certainly be the first time since COVID that fans will get that opportunity on Australian ice.

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