Melbourne Mustangs

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Melbourne Mustangs
Mustangs IHC Logo.png
City Melbourne, Victoria
League Australian Ice Hockey League
Founded 2010
Home arena Medibank Icehouse
Franchise history
2010–2012 Mustangs IHC
2012–present Melbourne Mustangs

main

The Melbourne Mustangs (formally Mustangs IHC) is an Australian semi-professional ice hockey team from Melbourne, Victoria. Formed in 2010, the Mustangs have been a member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) since 2011. The Mustangs are based at the O'Brien Icehouse in the Docklands district of Melbourne. The Mustangs are two time Goodall Cup and one time H Newman Reid Trophy winners.

History

Pre AIHL

The Melbourne Mustangs was founded in 2010 as the Mustangs Ice Hockey Club (Mustangs IHC).[1] The club looked to join the Australian Ice Hockey League in 2011. In preparation foundation club president John Belic held a number of try-out sessions and organised a number of exhibition matches for the Mustangs during the 2010 AIHL season. In May, the Mustangs finalised their first ever roster and selected Shane Hardy to captain the team for the six planned exhibition matches around Australia.[2]

The first match occurred on 5 June 2010 at the Melbourne Icehouse against the visiting Western Thunder. Michael McDowell scored the first ever Mustangs goal in any match, with a blistering top-shelfer from the point for a 1–0 lead in the first period. The match was high scoring, the Thunder led 3–6 at the halfway point but the match ended 7–6 in favour of the Mustangs to give the club their first ever victory.[2]

In the second match on 13 June, the Mustangs proved too good for the young Victorian Tange representative team, defeating them 9–0.[2]

The Mustangs third match at the Icehouse was an international exhibition against Canada's Kelowna. The Mustangs iced 12 players over two lines. Kelowna brought with them 28 players. Unsurprisingly the Mustangs registered their first defeat with Kelowna beating them 7–4 after taking an early 4–0 lead.[2]

The Mustangs then travelled to the Gold Coast to take on their first AIHL opposition, the Gold Coast Blue Tongues at Iceland ice Rink.[3] In another high scoring affair, the Mustangs defeated the Gold Coast Blue Tongues 9–6. The result provided team management belief in the team's abilities to compete at the highest level in the AIHL. In the second match of the day the Mustangs overcame local side, Gold Coast Grizzlys, 16–2.[2]

Following the conclusion of the 2010 season, The Mustangs applied for and were granted an AIHL licence to join the league in 2011.[4] The AIHL imposed a condition of entry on the Mustangs that prevented them from incorporating 'Melbourne' into their name. The purpose of this condition was to protect the existing Melbourne Ice brand.[5]

AIHL era

The Mustangs appointed Steve Laforet as their inaugural head coach for the 2011 AIHL season.[6] Shane Hardy was named the club's first AIHL team captain.[7] In the lead-up to the 2011 season, the Mustangs took on their new local rivals, the Melbourne Ice, in a warm-up match at Docklands.[8] 14 April 2011, the Mustangs took part in the AIHL season opener at the Melbourne Icehouse against the Ice in the first ever AIHL Melbourne derby. The Ice won the match 8–4, condemning the Mustangs to their first ever AIHL defeat.[9] The Mustangs registered their first ever AIHL victory on 16 April 2011, overcoming the Sydney Bears 6–2 at the Penrith Ice Palace.[10] On 23 June 2011, Laforet announced his resignation as head coach for personal reasons. It was later revealed Laforet was temporarily stood down by the club as a result of an altercation at a game against the Gold Coast Blue Tongues.[11] Assistant coach, Doug Stevenson, stepped in and took over for the rest of the season.[12] At the end of the regular season, the Mustangs finished sixth in the league standings, ahead of the Canberra Knights and Sydney Bears.[13]

In 2012, during the off-season before the new season started, the annual AIHL general meeting (AGM) sat and a decision was made to lift the restrictions on the Mustangs from using the geographical word 'Melbourne' from their brand with immediate effect.[5] Four days later the Mustangs announced they had officially changed their brand and name to the Melbourne Mustangs.[14] The Mustangs also appointed experienced Canadian Bill Wilkinson new head coach.[15] Ontario-born Wilkinson was a long time NCAA head coach in the US and former Spanish national team head coach.[16] The performances on the ice did not translate with Wilkinson's experience and by mid-season Wilkinson was replaced by the Mustangs assist coach and former head coach, Laforet.[11] Under Laforet, the Mustangs registered five wins from eight matches but it was not enough to lift the team off the bottom of the Easton Conference at season's end.[17]

Ahead of the 2013 season it was revealed the Mustangs and Laforet had parted company by mutual termination of Laforet's contract.[11] The Mustangs would have to appoint a new head coach for the third season running. On 12 December 2012 the Melbourne Mustangs announced Brad Vigon as the new head coach of the team for 2013. Brad would be assisted by Ice Hockey Victoria stalwart Mark "Chuck" Connolly, providing the Mustangs a blend of youth and experience on the bench.[18] On 7 February 2013 Mustangs CEO Rod Johns revealed the Mustangs had selected a new logo for the team. The Mustangs had completed a comprehensive consultation period with stakeholders, including fans, and selected a logo featuring a redesigned mustang horse, holding an ice hockey stick.[19] Under the guidance of Vigon and Connolly, the Mustangs enjoyed their best AIHL season yet. The team finished fifth in the league standings, just missing out on finals. It was the Mustangs' highest ever regular season ranking at the time. It was also the first time the Mustangs had won more than ten matches and won more matches than they had lost.[20]

2014 proved to be a breakout season for the Mustangs in the AIHL. It was the first season the Mustangs started without a new coach as Brad Vigon stayed on in charge. The 8–3 pre-season exhibition loss to the Melbourne Ice proved to be a poor indicator for the season ahead. The 2014 season ended up a very close season with a number of teams competing for top spot and the H Newman Reid Trophy. The Mustangs for the first time were challenging for the regular season title along with the Ice, CBR Brave and Sydney Ice Dogs. In the end the Mustangs proved too good and clinched the title and H Newman Reid Trophy by finishing three points ahead of the Ice in first place.[21] It was the Mustangs' very first title and trophy and it qualified them for their first appearance at the AIHL finals weekend the following week. On 30 August 2014, the Mustangs faced the Sydney Ice Dogs at a packed Icehouse for semi-final one. In a hard-fought match that swung one way and then the other, the Mustangs prevailed, 6–4, to clinch a maiden Goodall Cup final birth. Gibbs-Sjödin and Bourke both scored twice and set up two other goals with Gibbs-Sjödin named first star of the match.[22] The Ice won semi-final two, which set up a derby for the final. Both head coaches agreed the derby final would have a significant positive effect on the sport and the league in Australia.[23] Derby form leading into the Goodal Cup final was with the Ice, who despite finishing behind the Mustangs in the final standings in the regular season, had continued to dominate the derby head-to-head, winning three of four matches in 2014.[24] The Mustangs showed why form guides don't tell the final story in the final. In front of 2,000 people, the Mustangs put on a master-class display to run out 6–1 victors over the Ice.[25] Viktor Gibbs-Sjodin led the way for the Mustangs with a hat trick of goals to his name, while goaltender Fraser Carson made 29 saves in the match. Gibbs-Sjodin was named finals MVP after the match and the Mustangs claimed their maiden AIHL championship and Goodall Cup.[26][27]

In 2015, the Mustangs could not repeat their previous season's successes and the team finished sixth in the league and missed out on finals.[28] In November, Brad Vigon announced his resignation from the head coaching role at the Mustangs with immediate effect as he felt the competing commitments between the team and his family was too great. He expressed his gratitude to the Mustangs organisation and advised he would still be seen around the rink in the future.[29] A couple of weeks later, Vigon was named new head coach of the Australian national team (The Mightyroos) by Ice Hockey Australia.[30]

For season 2016, the Melbourne Mustangs announced Vigon's replacement on 21 December 2015. Former assistant coach, Michael Flaherty, was appointed the Mustangs new head coach. Flaherty had been Vigon's assistant in 2015 and had previously held roles in state teams and in the AJIHL.[31] The Mustangs finished the 2016 season in fifth place. In 2017, the team improved their overall position and finished fourth, qualifying for finals for the second time in franchise history. The Mustangs faced familiar opponents in the semi-finals, with the team drawn against the Melbourne Ice. The Ice had set a new league record for most points in the regular season so the Mustangs headed into the match as underdogs. The Ice took an early lead and by the end of the second period the Mustangs trailed by two goals. Mitch Humphries and Finnish import Anton Kokkonen led the Mustangs resurgence in the third period, both getting on the score sheet, but Ice forward Sebastian Ottosson scored an empty netter near the end of the match to claim the victory for the Ice. The Mustangs were eliminated.[32]

In 2018, the Mustangs welcomed a new head coach after Flaherty stepped-down from the position.[33] French Canadian, Maxime Langelier-Parent took over the role in addition to his playing commitments with the team.[34] The Mustangs backed up their 2017 performance and again finished fourth in the league standings and qualified for the AIHL finals.[35] It was the first time the Mustangs had qualified for finals two seasons in a row. The Mustangs came up against the CBR Brave in the semi-finals in 2018. Brett Ferguson scored for the Mustangs in the second period but that was the only highlight for the team in a match otherwise dominated by the Brave. The Mustangs ended up going down to the eventual champions, Brave, 1–5 to again repeat 2017 and get eliminated at the same semi-final stage.[36]

In 2019, the Mustangs reached an agreement and signed a memoriam of understanding (MOU) with tier 2 women's team, Melbourne Chargers. The agreement sees resources and knowledge shared across the two organisations in the effort to grow the sport of ice hockey for both men and women.[37] One of the goals of the partnership is to help develop the Chargers into a position to apply for a licence to the top level of women's hockey in Australia, the Australian Women's Ice Hockey League (AWIHL).[38]

Season-by-season results

Melbourne Mustangs all-time record
Season Regular season Finals Top points scorer
P W T L OW OL GF GA GD Pts Finish P W L GF GA Result Play-in Final Semi Final PF Goodall Cup Final Name Points
2010 Played 6 exhibition games as part of their AIHL licence application in preparation for joining the league in 20111
2011 28 8 – 17 2 1 107 132 -25 29 6th Flag of Canada Scott Corbett 43
2012 24 5 – 16 1 2 54 107 -53 19 5th, Easton Flag of Canada Jake Ebner 17
2013 28 12 – 10 4 2 118 103 +15 46 5th Flag of United States Patrick O'Kane 51
2014 28 17 – 8 – 3 108 88 +20 54 1st 2 2 – 12 5 Champion – Won 6-4 (Ice Dogs) – Won 6-1 (Ice) Flag of United States Patrick O'Kane 44
2015 28 11 – 12 3 2 139 105 +34 41 6th Flag of United States Patrick O'Kane 48
2016 28 11 – 15 2 – 89 102 -13 37 5th Flag of Australia Jamie Bourke 32
2017 28 11 – 12 2 3 104 113 -9 40 4th 1 – 1 2 4 Semi-finalist – Lost 2-4 (Ice) – – Flag of Australia Jamie Bourke 47
2018 28 12 – 12 2 2 106 97 +9 42 4th 1 – 1 1 5 Semi-finalist – Lost 1-5 (Brave) – – Flag of the United Kingdom Benjamin Davies 42
2019 28 12 – 11 1 4 108 99 +9 42 5th Flag of United States Christian Isackson 41
2020 2020 and 2021 AIHL seasons were cancelled and not contested
2021
2022 18 8 – 9 – 1 89 83 +6 28 4th 1 – 1 3 7 Semi-finalist – Lost 3-7 (Bears) – – Flag of Canada Scott Timmins 45
2023 26 17 – 7 2 – 147 94 +53 55 4th 3 3 – 13 3 Champion Won 8-3 (Lightning) Won 4-0 (Bears) – Won 1-0 (Brave) Flag of Canada Scott Timmins 82
2024 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Totals 292 124 – 129 19 20 1169 1123 +46 8 5 3 31 24
1 2010 exhibition record: 6 games, 4 wins, 1 loss, 45 goals scored, 21 goals conceded. Details of one game is unknown.
Champions Runners-up Third place

Championships

1 :Champions (2): 2014, 2023
1 :Premiers (1): 2014

References

  1. ↑ "Chowder Down Under: Introducing...the Melbourne Mustangs". stanleycupofchowder.com. 15 April 2016. https://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2016/4/15/11439626/chowder-down-under-introducing-the-melbourne-mustangs-aihl. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Melbourne Mustangs News". Melbourne Musttangs. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110221223438/http://www.melbournemustangs.com.au/news.html. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  3. ↑ "Blue Tongues Playing For 2011". Southern Stars Ice Hockey. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110218191622/http://starsicehockey.com.au/index.php?view=newsfeed&catid=66%3Aaihlteams&id=26-bluetongues&option=com_newsfeeds&Itemid=49. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  4. ↑ "History of the Australian Ice Hockey League". Australian Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 1 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120401163807/http://www.theaihl.com/leagues/custom_page.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&pageid=10074#history. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hewitt, Andrew. "Changes aplenty at AIHL AGM". Hewitt Sports Network. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140102191532/http://hewittsports.com/?p=658. Retrieved 2012-04-14. 
  6. ↑ "Steve Laforst Staff Profile". eliteprospects.com. https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/4362/steve-laforet. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  7. ↑ "Melbourne Mustangs - Team Captaincy History". eliteprospects.com. https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/9137/mustangs-ice-hockey/captaincy-history. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  8. ↑ "Mustangs v Melbourne Ice". Victorian Ice Hockey Association. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110218235626/http://www.icehockeyvictoria.org.au/. Retrieved 2011-04-15. 
  9. ↑ "Ice vs Mustangs AIHL boxscore". Australian Ice Hockey League. 14 April 2011. https://theaihl.com/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=3856&leagueID=11464&gameID=938169. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  10. ↑ "Mustangs vs Bears AIHL boxscore". Australian Ice Hockey League. 16 April 2011. https://theaihl.com/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientID=3856&leagueID=11464&gameID=938171. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Laforet and Mustangs sever ties". Hewitt Sports Network. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140106113609/http://hewittsports.com/breaking-laforet-coach-mustangs-2013/. Retrieved 2012-12-24. 
  12. ↑ Carpenter, Ross. "Stevenson, Douglas (1962 - )". Legends of Australian Ice. https://icelegendsaustralia.com/legends-2/bio_stevenson-d.html. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  13. ↑ "2011 AIHL season Standings". Australian Ice Hockey League. https://theaihl.com/leagues/standings.cfm?leagueID=11464&clientID=3856. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  14. ↑ Meister, Chris (8 November 2011). "Mustangs now Melbourne Mustangs". Australian Ice Hockey League. https://theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?leagueID=11464&clientID=3856. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  15. ↑ Tyler, Christopher (2 May 2012). "Q & A with Mustangs Coach Wilkinson". Australian Ice Hockey League. https://theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?leagueID=11464&clientID=3856&page=61287&newsFrom=04/19/2012&newsTo=05/03/2012. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  16. ↑ "Bill Wilkinson Staff Profile". eliteprospects.com. https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/5518/bill-wilkinson. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  17. ↑ "2011-2012 AIHL Standings". eliteprospects.com. https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/aihl/2011-2012. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  18. ↑ McDowell, Andy (23 December 2012). "New Coach for Mustangs". Australian Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140106113143/http://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=3856&leagueID=11464&page=66812. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  19. ↑ Jones, Hamish (2013-02-07). "Mustangs New Logo". Australian Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130308064652/http://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=67966. Retrieved 2013-02-10. 
  20. ↑ "2012-2013 AIHL Standings". eliteprospects.com. https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/aihl/2012-2013. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  21. ↑ "2014 AIHL Season: Round 20". Ice Hockey News Australia. 24 August 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141021232313/http://icehockeynewsaustralia.com/2014/08/24/2014-aihl-season-round-20/. Retrieved 6 September 2014. 
  22. ↑ Pavlovich, Ellanor (30 August 2014). "Mustangs claim first Grand Final spot". Australian Ice Hockey League. https://theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?leagueID=11464&clientID=3856. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  23. ↑ Girdler, Tina (30 August 2014). "Ice-Mustangs rivalry to go to the next level in Grand Final clash". Australian Ice Hockey League. https://theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?leagueID=11464&clientID=3856. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  24. ↑ Brodie, Will (31 August 2014). "Australian Ice Hockey League grand final to feature Melbourne Mustangs and Melbourne Ice". Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/australian-ice-hockey-league-grand-final-to-feature-melbourne-mustangs-and-melbourne-ice-20140831-10aj5h.html. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  25. ↑ Cameron, Tyler (31 August 2014). "Ruthless Mustangs snatch maiden Goodall Cup". Australian Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141009072744/http://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=81756. Retrieved 6 September 2014. 
  26. ↑ Allen, Trevor (1 September 2014). "Mustangs stampede to title". International Ice Hockey Federation. http://webarchive.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=9087&cHash=de9bcb76ebc4fbf1a2448614707eb8ba. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  27. ↑ Girdler, Tina (1 September 2014). "Gibbs Sjödin MVP of AIHL Finals". Australian Ice Hockey League. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141009065358/http://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=81757. Retrieved 6 September 2014. 
  28. ↑ "2014-2015 AIHL Standings". eliteprospects.com. https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/aihl/2014-2015. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  29. ↑ "Brad Vigon Resigns as Mustangs Head Coach". Melbourne Mustangs. 10 November 2015. http://mustangs.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=6099&leagueid=25386&page=91544. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  30. ↑ "Vigon named coach of senior Mighty Roos". Ice Hockey Australia. 30 November 2015. http://www.iha.org.au/vigon-named-coach-of-senior-mighty-roos/. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  31. ↑ "MOAT: Melbourne Mustangs Make Changes for 2016". Melbourne Mustangs. 21 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160408031904/http://mustangs.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientID=6099&leagueID=25386&page=92630. Retrieved 27 March 2016. 
  32. ↑ McNamara, Bernard (2 September 2017). "Melbourne Ice first through to AIHL Grand Final". Australian Ice Hockey League. https://theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?leagueID=11464&clientID=3856. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  33. ↑ "Mustangs Take New Direction for 2018". Melbourne Mustangs. 2017-11-14. Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20180202142223/http://mustangs.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=6099&leagueid=25386&page=102106. Retrieved 2018-02-02. 
  34. ↑ "New Coach Announced". Melbourne Mustangs. 2017-11-28. Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20180202141726/http://mustangs.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=6099&leagueid=25386&page=102312. Retrieved 2018-02-02. 
  35. ↑ Miles, Lucas (26 August 2018). "Thunder Complete Classic Comeback Win". Australian Ice Hockey League. https://theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?leagueID=11464&clientID=3856. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  36. ↑ Allen, Trevor (3 September 2018). "First Goodall Cup for Brave". International Ice Hockey Federation. https://www.iihf.com/en/news/4592/first-goodall-cup-for-brave. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  37. ↑ "Mustang Annual General Meeting". Melbourne Mustangs. 5 February 2019. http://mustangs.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientid=6099&leagueid=25386. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 
  38. ↑ "Breaking the Ice". Government of Victoria. http://changeourgame.vic.gov.au/leadership-centre/breaking-the-ice2. Retrieved 1 March 2020. 

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