 | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Tasmania |
| Founded | 23 August 1950 |
| Affiliation | Ice Hockey Australia |
| Location | 327 Main Rd, Glenorchy Tasmania 7010 |
| Official website | |
| www | |
 | |
 | |
Ice Hockey Tasmania Incorporated, currently trading asIce Hockey Tasmania, is the governing body ofice hockey inTasmania, Australia. Ice Hockey Tasmania is a branch ofIce Hockey Australia.
The first ice hockey rink was built inMoonah, an inner suburb ofHobart, at 7 Main Road, Moonah.[1] The surface was a standard international size of 16000sq ft, measuring 85 ft x 185 ft and contained suitable plant to enable the production of block ice for public consumption and provide cool storage lockers to store fruit and other perishable goods. The formation ofTasmanian Glaciarium Ltd. into a public company occurred on 6 July 1950.[2] The Rink differed from any other rinks built in Australia as it was the only open air rink at the time.[3]The rink was opened on 23 October 1950 by the Premier of Tasmania,Robert Cosgrove after being introduced by the Managing director ofTasmanian Glaciarium Ltd. Mr. R.L. Worsley to the thousands in attendance.[4]
The firstice hockey association inTasmania formed on the evening of 23 August 1950 in a special meeting convened by the Nation Fitness Council. The chairman of the council, Max Lyall Moore, said the committee would help further the promotion ofice hockey in the state ofTasmania. Two provisional committees were formed rather than a unified committee, at the advice of Ted Moloney fromMelbourne, one for ice skating and the other for ice hockey. Within the meeting the directors ofTasmanian Glaciarium Pty Ltd said theMoonah Glaciarium would be ready to use with a few weeks from this meeting. The first committee for Ice Hockey in Tasmania were: F. J. Ellis, R.W. O'Toole, T. Hope, A.W. Kelly and Alfred Chwalczyk.[5][6]
The first ice hockey team formed in Tasmania were theMustangs. They played the first game ofice hockey in Tasmania in front of 3000 people at the first ice carnival held in theMoonah Glaciarium. The first game of ice hockey held in Tasmania was on 29 December 1950 and was between the Mustangs and a team composed ofHobart ice skaters, calling themselves theRed Devils. The Mustangs defeated the Red Devils by a score of 4 – 3.[7]
8 August 1951 while the Mustangs played the Comets during a snowstorm, the match was held up while snow was cleared away due to interfering with play.[8]
Ice Hockey Tasmania operates a single senior league out of the Glenorchy Ice Skating Rink along with a development program.[9]
The Van Diemen's League represents the highest level of senior competition in Tasmania.
The League consists of 5 teams:
On 4 April 2016 the Van Diemen's League expanded to 5 teams with the addition of theMighty Ducks, who began as a group of All Star players fromLaunceston. The debut game for the Mighty Ducks was scheduled for 5 April 2016 at 6:30 pm against theCougars.[10][non-primary source needed]
On 6 March 2017 the Van Diemen's League introduced a new team calledIce Breakers, as theMighty Ducks were not returning. The debut game for theIce Breakers is scheduled for 4 April 2017 at 7:45 pm against theBarons.[11][non-primary source needed]
