As the 2024 AIHL season approaches, the Sydney Bears announced several new additions to the lineup to aid in the quest for the Goodall Cup. Included in the additions is the team’s first import signing of the season.

Earlier this month, the team announced it had secured the services of six new local players. Defensemen Tyrone Oxlade and Mac Tutton, both with the Australian U18 Men’s team earlier this month, and forward Eugene Ju were the first announcements.

A few days later, the club revealed defenseman Jeremy Granger and forwards Max Portnov and Joseph Braun had also been signed.

Often AIHL teams experience depleted rosters to start the season as incoming imports finish seasons overseas, and players fulfil national team commitments. Additionally, some of these signings have likely been made with an eye on the future.

However, one of these players is likely to play a role throughout the season, defenseman Mac Tutton. Tutton, at 17-years-old, already has AIHL experience, suiting up for the Central Coast Rhinos six times last season.

Tutton played a key role for the Mighty Jacks, Australia’s U18 Men’s team, at the IIHF Division II B tournament in Spain earlier this month. In the tournament’s final game, Tutton scored a goal and added an assist in a 3-1 win against Bulgaria.

The Bears have plenty of experienced blueliners who can mentor Tutton, including captain Ryan Annesley, Brian Funes, and Geoff O’Hara, to name a few.

Captain Ryan Annesley is excited about the signings and said, “The Bears wanted to add some depth and some youth to the organisation this off-season. We were able to do so while also adding some skill and six character guys. We are very excited to see them progress throughout this year and beyond”, Annesley concluded.

Another new addition to the team, announced earlier this week, is skilled forward Jake Riley. The 23-year-old forward has represented the Australian national team at junior levels, and has already played in 84 AIHL games.

With more opportunities to showcase his electrifying play and scoring touch, look for Riley to have a breakout season offensively with the Bears.

Earlier today, the Sydney Bears also announced that 18-year-old Brody Lindal would be swapping the Melbourne Ice jersey for a Sydney Bears jersey. The forward played 24 games last season for the Ice and has been playing in Canada in the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

Lindal’s team, the Fort Frances Lakers, lost its playoff series earlier today, so there is a possibility Lindal is available to play in the Bears’ season opener next weekend.

Finally, the Bears announced yesterday the team’s first import signing of the 2024 season, Samuli Vainionpää. Vainionpää is a Finnish born forward who has played for Finland’s U20 national team.

So far Vainionpää has played in Finland and France and has a reputation as an excellent two-way centreman. Vainionpää will be arriving in Australia in the next week, and, all going well, should be available for the season opener against the Ice Dogs at Macquarie Ice Rink on Saturday, April 6.

This article has been adjusted and republished with permission from the Sydney Bears (You can view that article on the Bears’ website by clicking here). The author of both articles is the same.