Melbourne Ice are 2025 AIHL Champions

It may have taken eight years and six seasons, but the Melbourne Ice have returned to the summit of Australian men’s ice hockey. The Melbourne Ice are the 2025 AIHL champions and Goodall Cup winners.

But hoisting the Goodall Cup high into the air did not happen by accident or chance. The Melbourne Ice had a plan to return to this moment that lives long in the memory.

The Plan

Kerry Goulet proclaimed back in 2023 upon his appointment as Melbourne Ice head coach that he was implementing a 3-year plan to bring the Ice back to the top of the league and competing for titles.

In his first season (2023), the Ice had the firepower up front but lacked the defensive ability to win consistently. Their game-plan was to outscore their opponents. It led to some big results and lots of fun for the fans in the stands. But ultimately, the Ice missed out on Finals.

In his second season (2024), the Ice improved. Their defensive blue line became tough as nails, going from conceding 165 goals in the 2023 regular season to 99 in 2024. The team remained lethal in front of net, but they remained susceptible to boiling over and losing their way. This reduced their consistency and they were pipped to both the Premiership and Championship titles at the final hurdles.

In the third and final season (2025), the Ice were unstoppable. After a wobbly start they hit their groove and started making winning a habit. It looked like, for much of the season, that they would not lose in regulation time at all. However, the Canberra Brave did manage to defeat the Ice twice in one solitary weekend. Despite this, the Ice made sure it was a blip and not a turning point in their season. The greatest attribute I observed over the season was the ability of this Ice team not to give up. The number of times they would fall behind in a game but fight their way back was unbelievable. I remarked multiple times, “this is what champions do”.

The Outcome

Tatsunoshin Ishida hoists the Goodall Cup up high after the Melbourne Ice win the AIHL Championship in 2025.
Photo credit: Verity Griffin / @veritykg.photos

In the grand final this fighting spirit was on full display. The Ice took an early three goal lead in the first, all going honky-dory. But the game took a turn in the second period. The Brave fought back from three goals down to level and the game’s momentum was hanging on a knifes edge. The Ice of the past may have buckled and lost the day, but this was the 2026 Ice team, they had been building to this moment. Things were going to be different. The Ice tapped into their reserves, remained focused and fought back. They ran away with the third period with precision in front of goal that the Brave could not contain. The final buzzer sounded and the Ice bench emptied. They had done it, they had won, they had accomplished their goals in emphatic fashion.

The Ice are now Australian champions once again and have successfully executed a 3-year plan to a tee. The team should be proud of their accomplishments. So many multi-year plans don’t end in this style of triumph.