Day 47 of the 2026 Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) regular season has finished with wins for Adelaide Adrenaline, Melbourne Mustangs, Newcastle Northstars, and the Sydney Ice Dogs. Following today’s results, the Newcastle Northstars claim the H Newman Reid Trophy as winners of the 2026 regular season. It is the Newcastle Northstars’ first regular season title since 2015 and sixth overall. The Sydney Ice Dogs meanwhile become the final team to qualify for the 2026 Goodall Cup playoffs.
Competition now moves onto the Goodall Cup playoffs at O’Brien Icehouse with the preliminary round set for 28 August, followed by the semifinals on 29 August and the grand final on 30 August. In the preliminary round, Canberra Brave will take on the Sydney Bears in the first match of the day, and Perth Thunder will play the Sydney Ice Dogs in game two. The Newcastle Northstars and Melbourne Mustangs meanwhile advance straight through to the semifinals.
Results
| Canberra Brave | 4–5 OT | Melbourne Mustangs |
| SOG: 37 | (0–3, 3–0, 1–1, 0–1) | SOG: 30 |
| Sydney Ice Dogs | 8–5 | Brisbane Lightning |
| SOG: 55 | (1–2, 3–3, 4–0) | SOG: 52 |
| Perth Thunder | 1–6 | Adelaide Adrenaline |
| SOG: 46 | (0–2, 0–3, 1–1) | SOG: 30 |
| Newcastle Northstars | 8–5 | Sydney Bears |
| SOG: 46 | (0–3, 3–2, 5–0) | SOG: 40 |
Standings
| Pos | +/– | Team | GP | W | OTW | OTL | Ta | L | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Newcastle Northstars – q | 30 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 65 |
| 2 | +1 | Melbourne Mustangs – q | 30 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 61d |
| 3 | –1 | Canberra Brave – q | 30 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 61d |
| 4 | – | Perth Thunder – q | 30 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 48 |
| 5 | +2 | Sydney Ice Dogs | 30 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 46bce |
| 6 | –1 | Sydney Bears – q | 30 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 46e |
| 7 | –1 | Melbourne Ice | 30 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 44c |
| 8 | – | Central Coast Rhinos | 30 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 30 |
| 9 | – | Brisbane Lightning | 30 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 27 |
| 10 | – | Adelaide Adrenaline | 30 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 14 |
– a The ties, worth one point each, are the result of the cancelled game from 1 August.
– b Sydney Ice Dogs deducted two points for a breach of regulations.
– c Melbourne Ice deducted two points and Sydney Ice Dogs three points for a breach of regulations.
– d Tiebreak for 2nd and 3rd: Game win percentage (Melbourne Mustangs 70%, Canberra Brave 67%).
– e Tiebreak for 5th and 6th: Game win percentage (Sydney Ice Dogs 57%, Sydney Bears 52%).
Further information
- Australian Ice Hockey League website
- Season schedule and ticket links
- Livestreaming of the season via AIHL.TV
Articles
- Justin Maylan: Back for More by Payton Gregor (Canberra Brave, 25 August 2026)
- My Journey from AIHL Journalist to Ice Dogs Commentator by Andrew Macdougall (30 August 2026)
- Newcastle Northstars claim AIHL Minor Premiership by 2HD (24 August 2026)
- Northstars crowned 2026 AIHL Minor Premiers by Lucy Proctor (Newcastle Weekly, 24 August 2026)
- Northstars crowned Minor Premiers after perfect final weekend by Layla Scott Huggins (Newcastle Northstars, 25 August 2026)
- (Subscription required): ‘Dedicated to him’: Northstars playing for one of their own as they chase first title since 2016 by Simon McCarthy, Max McKinney, and Peter Lorimer (Newcastle Herald, 27 August 2026)
- (Subscription required): Sydney Bears chasing championship glory after hiatus by the North Shore Times (25 August 2026)
Podcasts
- Episode 10 by Bears and Beers Podcast (20 August 2026)
- Hockey Night in Australia: 2026 Week 19 by Oz Hockey Media (21 August 2026)
- Hockey Night in Australia: 2026 Week 20 Finals Preview by Oz Hockey Media (26 August 2026)
Videos
- Northstars aiming to break decade long AIHL championship drought by Montanna Clare (NBN News, 26 August 2026)
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