The 2021 AIHL season was going to be the 21st season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL), following the cancellation of the 2020 season. However, on 2 February 2021, the AIHL announced the season would not go ahead, citing ongoing border restriction issues between different Australian states as the reason for the cancellation. For the second year in a row, the Goodall Cup would not be contested.
League Business
In 2021 the AIHL experienced change of leadership and the cancellation of a second consecutive season. On 28 January 2021, David Turik resigned as AIHL Commissioner by mutual consent with immediate effect. No reason was provided publicly for his resignation. On 2 February 2021, the AIHL announced the cancellation of the 2021 AIHL season due to domestic and international border restriction issues. The AIHL did also indicate in the announcement that there would be some form of domestic hockey played in 2021, with further details expected on 10 February 2021. On 10 February, the AIHL released initial information about the formation of regionalised super series' between different AIHL teams in NSW, ACT and Victoria. There was no mention about Adelaide or Perth and little further detail about the super series' themselves.
News
On 21 November 2020, former AIHL Chairman, Tim Frampton, died. Tim had been AIHL chairman for four years between 2006 and 2010. Tim led the modernisation of the league's governance with the introduction of the licensing system for the league's clubs and the launch of the league's website and social media program. On 11 March 2021, CBR Brave forward, Lachlan Seary, died. Seary made his debut for the Brave in 2019, appearing in seven matches. In addition to playing in the AIHL, Seary represented the Australian Capital Territory on multiple occasions in the 2016 and 2018 DeFris and Tange tournaments. On 18 March 2021, former Melbourne Ice president, Bernie O’Brien, died. O’Brien served as Ice president for three years. In addition to his activities for the Ice, Bernie was an active volunteer for Ice Hockey Victoria, serving on several committees and special projects.
Personnel changes
AIHL teams made had three major personnel changes in 2021. On 22 April 2021, the Melbourne Ice announced the appointment of ex-player Chris Yule as their new head coach. Yule replaced Canadian Michael Marshall, who was never involved in a single AIHL match due to the 2020 season cancellation. On 4 May 2021, the Melbourne Mustangs announced the signing of American head coach Steve Zanlunghi. Zanlunghi comes from a hockey family and is the former head of Jeep Asia Pacific. On 23 November 2021, Sydney Ice Dogs head coach, Andrew Petrie, announced his resignation due to family reasons. Petrie ended his second stint as head coach with the Ice Dogs after four years with the team, having re-joined in 2017. In his two seasons in charge of the Ice Dogs, he led the team to consecutive sixth-place finishes, missing out on finals. The Ice Dogs did not immediately announce a replacement head coach.
Player transfers
With no season planned for 2021, there is not a complete list of inclusions and departures for the league. There was however two major player departures announced or reported by AIHL clubs throughout 2021. On 10 April 2021, Melbourne Ice and Australia forward, Jason Baclig, left the club to return home to his native Canada. Baclig arrived in Australia in 2010 as an import for the Ice. Baclig played in 205 AIHL games, recorded 362 points and won four Goodall Cups. After becoming an Australian citizen, Baclig made his debut for Australia at the 2019 IIHF World Championship Division II Group A tournament, recording three points from his five games.
Matt Harvey, of the CBR Brave, announced he would be leaving the Brave and Canberra and returning to his native homeland of Canada with his young family. Harvey moved to Canberra in 2014 and joined the newly formed Brave team after the collapse of the Canberra Knights. Harvey quickly established himself as a versatile forward or defenseman for the capital team. In April 2018 he became the Brave's captain, the third player to be named to the role, succeeding Mark Rummukainen. Harvey played in 124 AIHL matches and notched 103 points in his career in Australia. Matt advised he would be returning to Canada to show his family where he grew up, meet family and participate in a beer league with his friends. Harvey said he would be returning to Canberra in the future.