It All Comes Down to This
Two powerhouses took the ice in the AWIHL semi-finals as Perth Inferno battled Melbourne Ice for a spot in the championship game. Liz Scala (Perth) entered the weekend with an impressive 18 goals in 16 games, while Christina Julien (Melbourne Ice) stood as Ice’s top scorer with 12 goals in 15 games. The stage was set for an intense finals showdown.
Finals Day One
Melbourne Ducks vs. Sydney Sirens: Sirens secured a 4-3 victory in the opening exhibition matchup.
Semi-Final One
Brisbane Lightning 2-1 Adelaide Rush (OT) In a shocking upset, Brisbane Lightning triumphed over Adelaide Rush in overtime to claim a spot in the grand final. Despite finishing first in the regular season and being expected to contend for gold, Rush found themselves in the bronze medal match.
Goal scorers: Adelaide Rush: Nat Ayris opened the scoring in the first period and Brisbane Lightning’s Lindsey Kiliwnik would equalize the game in the third. The Game-winner: Sharnita Crompton sealed the victory with a dramatic overtime goal, coming through with just 28 seconds left in overtime.
Semi-Final Two
Melbourne Ice 3-1 Perth Inferno Melbourne Ice secured their ticket to the grand final in a well-executed performance. Their seasoned goal scorers led the way, ensuring Perth would have to battle for bronze instead.
Goal scorers: Emily Davis-Tope, Stephenie Cochrane, and Christina Julien each found the net for Melbourne Ice.
Finals Day Two
Sydney Sirens 4-1 Melbourne Ducks. The Sirens completed their finals weekend exhibition series with another commanding win over the Ducks.
Bronze Medal Match
Perth Inferno 3-2 Adelaide Rush Inferno claimed the bronze medal, holding off a late push from Rush. Perth built a 3-0 lead before Rush fought back, but time ran out on their comeback attempt.
Goal scorers: Perth Inferno’s top scorers Michelle Clark-Crumpton, Sara Sammons, and Alivia Del Basso all got on the board. Adelaide Rush’s Elana Holub and Kate Tihema responded late, but it wasn’t enough.
Grand Final: Melbourne Ice Crowned Champions
Melbourne Ice 4-1 Brisbane Lightning Melbourne Ice secured their second consecutive championship, lifting the Joan McKeown Trophy for a record ninth time. Lightning, despite their strong playoff showing, couldn’t match Ice’s firepower.
Goal scorers: Brisbane Lightning: Lindsey Kiliwnik netted Lightning’s only goal. Melbourne Ice: Christina Julien led the charge with two goals, while Stephenie Cochrane and Danielle Butler added the final touches to the dominant win.
Looking Ahead
With Melbourne Ice claiming back-to-back championships and Perth Inferno securing bronze, the 2025/2026 season promises even more excitement. The Melbourne Ducks officially join the league, expanding the AWIHL to six teams. As the league grows, competition is bound to intensify, setting the stage for an even bigger and better season ahead.
Feature image by Phil Taylor
