Round Two of the AIHL season delivered nail-biting finishes across multiple matchups with four of the six games going to overtime.
The Newcastle Northstars secured their first four points, battling the Central Coast Rhinos in back-to-back overtime victories during a split weekend of home and away games.
Brisbane Lightning and Melbourne Ice pushed each other to OT, splitting their series in Melbourne, while Perth Thunder continued their dominance, securing two strong regulation wins over Canberra Brave.
With four overtime battles in one round, it’s clear that teams are growing in strength and 2025 is going to be full of excitement.
Results
Newcastle Northstars vs. Central Coast Rhinos
- Saturday, April 12: Northstars defeated Rhinos 2-1 (OT)
- Sunday, April 13: Northstars defeated Rhinos 6-5 (OT)
Brisbane Lightning vs. Melbourne Ice & Melbourne Mustangs
- Saturday, April 12: Lightning defeated Ice 2-1 (OT)
- Sunday, April 13: Lightning fell to Mustangs 4-3 (OT)
Perth Thunder vs. Canberra Brave
- Saturday, April 12: Thunder defeated Brave 6-4
- Sunday, April 13: Thunder defeated Brave 7-2
Highlights
Northstars Secure First Wins in Overtime Thrillers
Newcastle kicked off their home opener in front of a sold-out crowd, where rookie Arki Hearn debuted alongside veteran Ryan Annesley, settling into his first AIHL games with confidence.
The Rhinos struck early, holding a 1-0 lead for most of the night before Wehebe Darge equalized on a powerplay goal in the third period. Overtime drama followed, where Beau Taylor redirected a strong shot from Ethan Hawes to seal Newcastle’s first win of the season.
The goalie matchup stood out, with Ben Kleineschay (Northstars) and Anand Oberoi (Rhinos) showcasing incredible resilience. The victory marked Kleineschay’s first AIHL win as he stepped up to fill the net for Newcastle.
Sunday Delivers Another Nail-Biter
Fans didn’t have long to recover from Saturday’s tension as Newcastle and Central Coast battled again in Erina. Despite Rhinos taking an early lead, Francis Drolet, Liam Manwarring, and Patrick Nadin’s second-period goals flipped the script, putting Northstars ahead.
The third period turned chaotic, with Casey Kubara and Nadin adding to Newcastle’s tally, only for Rhinos to equalise once again, forcing another OT game. This time, Drolet wasted no time, scoring seconds into overtime to clinch the win—an extra special moment in his 100th game with the team.
Perth Thunder Continue Their Commanding Start
While other matchups needed extra time, Thunder wasted no opportunities against Brave, securing two regulation victories. Perth’s 6-4 win on Saturday and 7-2 domination on Sunday solidified their early-season strength.
Melbourne Delivers Overtime Battles Against Lightning
Brisbane Lightning’s weekend in Melbourne was nothing short of intense, with both games needing extra time to determine a winner. Lightning secured an OT victory against Ice on Saturday, but Sunday saw the Mustangs edge them out in a 4-3 overtime loss, showcasing the depth of competition across the league.
Reflections on the Weekend
Four overtime games in one round: This proves how evenly matched teams are this season, with tight contests from start to finish.
Northstars’ resilience: Two OT wins were crucial in getting their first four points, despite a short bench waiting for players to arrive from overseas, they fought to the final whistle.
Thunder maintaining control: Perth once again showed dominance, proving they’ll be tough to beat as the season continues.
