The Sydney Bears have released their roster for the 2026 Australian Ice Hockey League season. Comparing to the 2024 roster, it includes twenty returning players and nineteen new signings, while twenty players are released.
The new players include Hugo Arps, Brett Bamber, Logan Brodie (from Central Coast Rhinos), Brian Chambers, Connor Dowell, Kirill Friesen, Alexandre Gauthier (from Central Coast Rhinos), Bodie Jerome, Riley Knapp, Dexton Mozell, Ruben Nalos (from Central Coast Rhinos), Louis Olive, Hayden Plimley, Gustav Remler-Jensen (from Central Coast Rhinos), Kevin Sadovski, Nick Seitz, Alexander Wardlaw, Connor Wardlaw (from Central Coast Rhinos), and Finn Withey.
The players dropped are Jeremy Brücker, Scott Clemie, Greg Davis, Chris Eaden, Brian Funes (to Newcastle Northstars), Jeremy Granger, Joey Gunner, Adam Kadlec, Chris Kushneriuk, Brody Lindal (to Melbourne Mustangs), Kenta Matsukane, Carson Miller, Nathan Moncrieff, Samuel Poole, Max Portnov, Jake Riley (to Adelaide Adrenaline), Gabriel Robledo, Shawn Rooke, Michael Schlamp, and Samuli Vainionpää.
Last updated: 5 September 2026.
Roster
| No. | Player | Pos. | S/C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Joseph Braun | F | L |
| 9 | Gustav Remler-Jensen | F | R |
| 10 | Taegan Rippon | F | R |
| 11 | Dexton Mozell | F | L |
| 12 | Alexandre Gauthier (IM) | D | L |
| 16 | Ryan Annesley (C) | D | L |
| 18 | Kenshin Hayashi | F | L |
| 19 | Noah Moncrieff | F | L |
| 21 | Brian Chambers (IM) | F | R |
| 22 | Hugo Arps | F | L |
| 23 | Alexander Wardlaw | F | R |
| 24 | Tomas Landa | F | L |
| 25 | Geoff O’Hara | D | R |
| 28 | Anthony Kimlin | G | L |
| 29 | Logan Brodie | F | L |
| 31 | James Downie (IR) | G | L |
| 37 | Finn Withey | F | L |
| 41 | Mac Tutton | D | R |
| 43 | Connor Wardlaw | D | L |
| 49 | Eugene Ju | F | R |
| 54 | Lucas Herrmann (A) (IM) | F | L |
| 60 | Hayden Plimley | G | R |
| 67 | Nick Seitz (IM) | F | L |
| 73 | Connor Dowell | G | L |
| 76 | Kevin Sadovski (IM) | D | R |
| 82 | Louis Olive (IM) | F | L |
| 84 | Adrian Esposito | F | R |
| 88 | Tyrone Oxlade | D | L |
| 92 | Bodie Jerome | F | R |
| 93 | Colby Shumak | F | R |
| 96 | Ruben Nalos | F | R |
| 97 | Tyerell Clare (A) | D | R |
| –* | Kirill Friesen | G | L |
Inactive
- Brett Bamber (IM) – Played two games in June before being placed on reserves due to injury.
- Dane Brumm (IM) – Signed at the start of the season before being delisted without playing a game.
- Richard Crowe (IM) – Played four games between April and May before being delisted with a medical issue.
- Riley Knapp – Served as a backup goaltender in two games in May before transferring to Adelaide Adrenaline.
- Thomas Moncrieff – Played two games in April before transferring to the Sydney Ice Dogs.
- Tim Newmark – Played two games in May before being placed on reserves.
Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Christer Nylund | Head coach (until 12 May 2026) |
| Ryan Annesley | Interim head coach (from 12 May 2026) Assistant coach Director of player personnel |
| Nikolas Dimopoulos | Assistant coach |
| Rhye Kolodynski | Team manager |
| Brett Bamber | Bench staff |
| Richard Crowe | Bench staff |
| Alexandre Gauthier | Bench staff |
| Lucas Herrmann | Bench staff |
| Nathan Graham | Governor/Head of hockey operations |
| Bianca Musico | President |
| Andrew Bourne | Vice president |
| Matthew Burrell | Vice president |
| Scott Graham | Vice president |
| Marlon Dionso | Secretary |
| Nick Bellamy | Treasurer |
Updates
- 23 April 2026: Louis Olive added to the roster.
- 24 April 2026: Brian Chambers added to the roster. Team captain labels added.
- 25 April 2026: Connor Dowell added to the roster.
- 2 May 2026: Riley Knapp added to the roster.
- 12 May 2026: Ryan Annesley added to the staff list. Christer Nylund departs as head coach.
- 15 May 2026: Hayden Plimley added to the roster.
- 16 May 2026: Nikolas Dimopoulos added to the roster.
- 21 May 2026: Dexton Mozell added to the roster.
- 22 May 2026: Tim Newmark added to the roster.
- 29 May 2026: Connor Wardlaw added to the roster. Bianca Musico added to the staff list.
- 6 June 2026: Brett Bamber and Nick Seitz added to the roster.
- 26 June 2026: Kevin Sadovski added to the roster.
- 25 July 2026: Brett Bamber and Richard Crowe added to the staff list.
- 23 August 2026: Lucas Herrmann added to the staff list.
- 28 August 2026: Alexandre Gauthier added to the staff list.
- 5 September 2026: Nick Bellamy, Andrew Bourne, Matthew Burrell, Marlon Dionso, Nathan Graham, Scott Graham, and Rhye Kolodynski added to the staff list.
Notes
- *Player number differences:
- Kirill Friesen is #73 on TheAIHL.com though this number is currently worn by Connor Dowell.
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