On Tuesday, November 14, Ice Hockey Australia announced via its website that International hockey would return to O’Brien Icehouse. A three-game Trans-Tasman series between rivals Australia and New Zealand will be played between March 15-17, 2024.

Both governing bodies, Ice Hockey Australia (IHA) and the New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation (NZIHF), enjoy a good working relationship, according to IHA’s General Manager, Adam Woolnough. “There’s a real need and a want to work together on things,” Woolnough told Hockey Hype Australia.

It’s been 16 months since the last Trans-Tasman series was hosted at O’Brien Icehouse, and the timing could not be better for both nations. Australia’s senior men’s team commences its IIHF Division II-A campaign in Belgrade, Serbia, on April 21, 2024, while New Zealand kicks off its Division II-B campaign a day later in Sofia, Bulgaria.

“It’s hugely important,” Australian senior men’s captain Robert Malloy told Hockey Hype Australia. “Most of our Division II-A opponents will be entering the tournament at the end of their domestic season.

“For us the tournament comes in our off-season, so we’re not used to the speed of the game. Tournaments like this are crucial to get us up to game speed, and to adjust to the systems the coaching staff implement.”

Woolnough echoes Malloy’s comments regarding the importance of the Trans-Tasman series for the players, and added that the tournament also presents invaluable development opportunities for off-ice staff, including coaches, team managers, and chef-de-missions.

For Malloy, last year’s Trans-Tasman series was the first time he had played on home ice while wearing the green and gold. While he is no stranger to O’Brien Icehouse, having played for over 13 years in the AIHL for the Sydney Ice Dogs, Newcastle Northstars, and presently for the Central Coast Rhinos, the experience was markedly different from anything else Malloy had experienced.

“I think that was the first time I played in Melbourne where the crowd was cheering for me,” Malloy mused, having normally played for the visiting team.

The highlight of the series was being interviewed after the final game on Sunday, with the crowd still in the arena. Malloy remembers taking out his phone and skating on the ice, videoing the crowd so he would never forget the experience.

“You never know if it’s going to be your last one, so that was a special moment for sure,” Malloy observed.

The players held their first meeting last week, and both Malloy and Woolnough commented on there being some new faces in the squad this time around.

“It’s a really good group of individuals who are hungry,” Woolnough declared. “There’s depth in the squad and the players are super competitive, we’ll see the best come out of it.”

Australia and New Zealand’s relative geographic isolation make the two countries ideal opponents, and rivals, across most sporting codes. The rivalry is well and truly alive in ice hockey.

“We’ve gone over there and played them in Auckland and Queenstown, and they play that rink really well,” Malloy stated. “They handed it to us, and although I wouldn’t say there’s bad blood, there’s definitely a sense among the group that we want to avenge those defeats.”

It seems that both countries would like this Trans-Tasman series to be a regular arrangement, and, according to Woolnough, discussions focus on how to make the series bigger and better in future years.

When asked if future renditions could involve participation from each respective countries’ women’s, juniors, and para teams, Woolnough indicated that although it’s always in the back of mind, the timing needs to be right.

Scheduling is one factor, with the Australian Ice Hockey League, Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League, and International Ice Hockey Federation calendars presenting each its own complexities. Financial considerations are also front of mind, with a need for such expansions to be sustainable.

The tournament would not be possible without a venue, and O’Brien Icehouse has been a valuable supporter of the Trans-Tasman series. Adam Woolnough praised the support from Atholl Hodgetts and Lee Gordon from O’Brien, and referred to it as a “genuine three-way partnership” between O’Brien Icehouse, IHA, and NZIHF.

After hosting both the Los Angeles Kings and Arizona Coyotes for practice sessions leading up to the NHL Global Series in Melbourne back in September, the Trans-Tasman series is “a great opportunity for the venue and reinforces O’Brien Icehouse as the home of ice hockey in Australia,” O’Brien Icehouse General Manager Lee Gordon told IHA’s website.

Tickets for the event are currently available for purchase, but you will need to book quickly as IHA anticipates sell-out crowds in the wake of the increased interest in ice hockey following the NHL Global Series. You can click here to purchase tickets to the event through the O’Brien Icehouse website.