View source for New Zealand Ice Hockey League

{{Infobox sports league
|logo=NZIHL.png
|sport=Ice hockey
|founded=2005
|teams=5
|country={{Flagicon|NZL}} New Zealand
|continent = Oceania
|champion = [[Southern Stampede]]
|most_champs = [[Southern Stampede]] (8 titles)
|website=[http://www.nzihl.com NZ Ice Hockey League]
}}

The '''NZIHL''' is [[New Zealand]]’s national ice hockey league. It is an amateur league that was formed in 2005 to develop the sport in New Zealand and to give the top players regular competition against each other to improve the skill level of the game domestically and make New Zealand more competitive on the international scene. 

Because the NZIHL is held during the Northern Hemisphere's ice hockey offseason, many quality players travel to New Zealand and enjoy an off-season abroad while keeping in ice hockey shape. The competition is comparable to North America's lowest professional levels, impressive for a southern hemisphere country in the sport of ice hockey.

The New Zealand Ice Hockey Federation is made up of 3 affiliated regions, all of whom are represented in the New Zealand Ice Hockey League with 2 teams from Auckland, 2 teams from Southern and 1 team from Canterbury.

==Teams==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Team!!City!!Arena!! Joined NZIHL!!Minor Premierships!!Runner Up!!Championships
|-
| [[West Auckland Admirals]] || [[Avondale, Auckland]] || [[Paradice, Avondale]] || 2005 || - || 2 || -
|-
| [[Botany Swarm]] || [[Botany Downs, Auckland]] || [[Paradice, Botany Downs]] || 2005 || 3 || 1 || 4
|-
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]] || [[Christchurch, Canterbury]] || [[Alpine Ice Centre]] || 2005 || 4 || 2 || 4
|-
| [[Southern Stampede]] || [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown, Otago]] || [http://www.queenstownicearena.co.nz Queenstown Ice Arena] || 2005 || 2 || 3 || 2
|-
| [[Dunedin Thunder]] || [[Dunedin, Otago]] || [[Dunedin Ice Stadium]] || 2008 || 1 || 2 || -
|}

The NZIHL had four founding clubs, Canterbury Red Devils, West Auckland Admirals, Southern Stampede and South Auckland Swarm. The South Auckland Swarm changed their name to the Botany Swarm in 2007 to reflect the site of their home rink.

The Dunedin Thunder joined the competition in 2008 which saw the Southern Stampede move all its home games to Queenstown.

==Current Season Structure==
The NZIHL season has developed and lengthened over time and currently consists of a home and away structure where all teams play each other 4 times, twice at home and twice away. The two top seeded teams after the regular season then contest a 3-match Grand Final Series with the first match held at the second place finishers home rink and the remaining two matches held at the minor premiers home rink the following week.

Teams receive 3 points for an outright win, 2 points for an overtime win, 1 point for an overtime loss and no points for an outright loss.

==Old Season Structure==

;2005 & 2006 seasons.
During the first two seasons of the NZIHL there was no preliminary round. Each team played 6 games, 2 games against each team. Each team hosted one round, with one team having a bye. 

The top two teams would then play a 2-game finals series. If both teams won a game each, the winner would be decided on which team had the superior goal difference in those 2 games, followed by which team scored the most goals, followed by regular season results between the 2 teams.

;2007 season.
The 2007 season started with preliminary rounds 1 & 2 consisting of each team playing against their local rivals twice per round on a Saturday and Sunday. The Swarm playing against the Admirals while the Red Devils squaring off against the Stampede. Each win in this round was worth 2 points, while a draw was worth 1.

The next 4 rounds saw each team’s home rink hosting a round. Each round consisting of 3 teams playing 2 games each over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the 4th team having a bye. Each win in these rounds was worth 4 points and the draw was worth 2 points.

In the end each team played their local rivals 6 times and the other two teams twice.

After the regular season had been completed the top two teams in the standings compete in the final, with the winner of the regular season having home ice advantage.

;2008-2013 seasons.

With the Dunedin Thunder joining the NZIHL, the current format was established, but only a single Grand Final match was held at the minor premiers home rink.

==NZIHL Trophy==
For the 2005-2009 seasons the teams contested the NZIHL Trophy, from the 2010 season onwards they then contested a new trophy, The [[Birgel Cup]].

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Minor Premier
!Champion
!Runner up
!Score(s)
!Venue
|-
| [[2005 NZIHL season|2005]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]''' 
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| 2-1, 6-3
| [[Dunedin]]
|-
| [[2006 NZIHL season|2006]]
| [[South Auckland Swarm]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]''' 
| [[South Auckland Swarm]]
| 3-3, 5-4
| [[Botany Downs]]
|-
| [[2007 NZIHL season|2007]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| '''[[Botany Swarm]]'''
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]] 
| 7-0
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| [[2008 NZIHL season|2008]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| '''[[Botany Swarm]]'''
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]] 
| 3-2
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| [[2009 NZIHL season|2009]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| 5-4
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| [[2010 NZIHL season|2010]]
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| '''[[Botany Swarm]]'''
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| 3-1
| [[Botany Downs]]
|-
| [[2011 NZIHL season|2011]]
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| '''[[Botany Swarm]]'''
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| 5-3
| [[Botany Downs]]
|-
| [[2012 NZIHL season|2012]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| 6-5 (SO)
| [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| [[2013 NZIHL season|2013]]
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| 7-3
| [[Dunedin]]
|-
| [[2014 NZIHL season|2014]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| 4-3, 14-6
| [[Dunedin]], [[Christchurch]]
|-
| [[2015 NZIHL season|2015]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| 3-5, 4-3, 4-3
| [[Christchurch]], [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| [[2016 NZIHL season|2016]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| 6-2, 7-1
| [[Christchurch]], [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| [[2017 NZIHL season|2017]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| 5-2, 5-2
| [[Avondale, Auckland|Avondale]], [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| [[2018 NZIHL season|2018]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[West Auckland Admirals]]'''
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| 5-4(OT), 2-1
| [[Avondale, Auckland|Avondale]], [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| [[2019 NZIHL season|2019]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| 8-4, 6-2
| 
|-
| [[2022 NZIHL season|2022]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| 2-1(OT), 4-3(SO)
| 
|-
| [[2023 NZIHL season|2023]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| 6-5, 5-2
| 
|-
| [[2024 NZIHL season|2024]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| 2-1, 4-2
| 
|-
| [[2025 NZIHL season|2025]]
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| 8-0, 6-3
| 
|-
| [[2026 NZIHL season|2026]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
| 
|}

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league was divided into North and South Island competitions for the [[2020 NZIHL season|2020 season]]. The [[West Auckland Admirals]] won the North Island competition, while the [[Southern Stampede]] finished first in the south. The [[2021 NZIHL season]] was not completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

===NZIHL champions all-time record===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; width:55em"
|-
! style="background:#000000;" colspan="7"| <span style="color:white;">All-time Championships</span>
|-
! Team !! # Titles !! Years
|-
| [[Botany Swarm]] || {{align|center|4}} || 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011
|-
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]] || {{align|center|4}} || 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014
|-
| [[Skycity Stampede]] || {{align|center|11}} || 2005, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 
|-
| [[West Auckland Admirals]] || {{align|center|1}} || 2018
|-
|}

==Toa Kauhanga Riri Tio==
The Toa Kauhanga Riri Tio challenge trophy (TKRT) was introduced in the 2012 season. The Māori trophy name translates to "champions of the ice battlefield" and was designed and built by Wellington craftsman Mark Newnham. The TKRT is contested during each NZIHL regular season. The current holders of the Riri Tio must defend the trophy on home ice in the second game of each round. The Auckland Mako are not entitled to challenge for the trophy and the TKRT was not challenged in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Holder
!Challenger
!Winner
!Score
!Venue
|-
| 2012
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]] 
| '''[[West Auckland Admirals]]'''
| 7-4
| [[Dunedin]]
|-
| 2012
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]] 
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 7-6
| [[Avondale, Auckland]]
|-
| 2012
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]] 
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 7-5
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2012
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[Dunedin Thunder]] 
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 9-4
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2012
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[Southern Stampede]] 
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| 6-2
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2013
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| 6-5
| [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| 2013
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 6-5 (OT)
| [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| 2013
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 12-2
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2013
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 3-1
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2014
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 4-2
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2014
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 8-6
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2014
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| '''[[Botany Swarm]]'''
| 4-3 (SO)
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2014
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 5-1
| [[Botany Downs, Auckland]]
|-
| 2014
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 6-0
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2015
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 7-6
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2015
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 4-3 (OT)
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2015
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| '''[[Botany Swarm]]'''
| 5-4 (OT)
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2015
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| '''[[West Auckland Admirals]]'''
| 3-2 (OT)
| [[Botany Downs, Auckland]]
|-
| 2016
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| '''[[Botany Swarm]]'''
| 5-4 (OT)
| [[Avondale, Auckland]]
|-
| 2016
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| '''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
| 4-3
| [[Botany Downs, Auckland]]
|-
| 2016
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| '''[[West Auckland Admirals]]'''
| 7-3
| [[Christchurch]]
|-
| 2016
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| '''[[West Auckland Admirals]]'''
| 8-2
| [[Avondale, Auckland]]
|-
| 2016
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[West Auckland Admirals]]'''
| 5-3
| [[Avondale, Auckland]]
|-
| 2017
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| '''[[West Auckland Admirals]]'''
| 14-0
| [[Avondale, Auckland]]
|-
| 2017
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| '''[[West Auckland Admirals]]'''
| 8-2
| [[Avondale, Auckland]]
|-
| 2017
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| 5-3
| [[Avondale, Auckland]]
|-
| 2017
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| 6-2
| [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| 2017
| [[Southern Stampede]]
| [[West Auckland Admirals]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede]]'''
| 5-3
| [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| 2018
| [[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| '''[[Dunedin Thunder]]'''
| 3-4
| [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| 2018
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| [[Canterbury Red Devils]]
| '''[[Dunedin Thunder]]'''
| 6-1
| [[Dunedin, New Zealand|Dunedin]]
|-
| 2018
| [[Dunedin Thunder]]
| [[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''*
| 4-5
| [[Dunedin, New Zealand|Dunedin]]
|-
|2019
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Dunedin Thunder]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''
|6-2
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
| 2019
| [[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
| [[Botany Swarm]]
| '''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''
| 4-2
| [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2019
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[West Auckland Admirals]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''
|3-2
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2019
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Canterbury Red Devils]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]*'''
|7-2
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2020
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Canterbury Red Devils]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''
|14-0
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2020
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Dunedin Thunder]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]*'''
|3-1
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2021
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Canterbury Red Devils]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''
|10-2
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2021
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[West Auckland Admirals]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''
|4-3
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2021
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Dunedin Thunder|Phoenix Thunder]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''
|6-0
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2021
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Auckland Mako]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]*'''
|7-2
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2022
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Dunedin Thunder|Phoenix Thunder]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''
|6-2
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2022
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Botany Swarm]]
|'''[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]'''
|4-0
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2022
|[[Southern Stampede|Skycity Stampede]]
|[[Canterbury Red Devils]]
|'''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
|4-3
|[[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]]
|-
|2022
|[[Canterbury Red Devils]]
|[[Botany Swarm]]
|'''[[Canterbury Red Devils]]'''
|7-3
|[[Christchurch, New Zealand|Christchurch]]
|-
| 2023 || Canterbury Red Devils || Botany Swarm || [[Botany Swarm]] || 3–4 || Christchurch
|-
| 2023 || Botany Swarm || Canterbury Red Devils || [[Botany Swarm]] || 4–0 || Botany Downs, Auckland
|-
| 2023 || Botany Swarm || Skycity Stampede || [[Botany Swarm]] || 6–3 || Botany Downs, Auckland
|-
| 2023 || Botany Swarm || West Auckland Admirals || bgcolor="#e8e8e8"|[[Botany Swarm]] || 6–4 || Botany Downs, Auckland
|-
| 2024 || Botany Swarm || Phoenix Thunder || [[Botany Swarm]] || 6–4 || Botany Downs, Auckland
|-
|}

(*denotes end of season holder)

==Skate Of Origin==
The Glass Family Shield was awarded annually to the winner of the Skate Of Origin series between its inception in 2009 and conclusion in 2016. The shield was named after the South Island Glass family who were leaders and builder of the sport of ice hockey within New Zealand over the course of three generations. Ben Glass is a founding member of the NZIHF and patron of the Southern Ice Hockey League (SIHL). Graeme Glass is the past president of the NZIHF and inducted life member. While Simon Glass, Ben Lewis & Hamish Lewis have all previously represented New Zealand at international level with the Ice Blacks, with Simon also captaining the national team. In addition, Annabelle Lewis also represented the New Zealand women's national team, the Ice Fernz.

Skate Of Origin was introduced in 2009 and ran from 2009 to 2016. The series was used as an All-star game and often a national team selection process. The format saw the best players eligible to represent New Zealand at an international level play for the respective island on which they played their junior hockey. Players represented one of the two major islands of the New Zealand archipelago, namely the North Island or the South Island.[24] The host of the Origin alternated each season with the North Island hosting the inaugural Skate of Origin at Paradice Botany Downs. Throughout the history of the Origin, the North Island won the series and lifted the Glass Family Shield five times compared to the South Island's three times.

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Holder
!Challenger
!Winner
!Score
!Host
|-
| 2009
| N/A
| N/A
| '''[[North Island]]'''
| 6-5 (SO)
| [[Botany Downs, North Island]]
|-
| 2010
| [[North Island]]
| [[South Island]] 
| '''[[North Island]]'''
| 3-2
| [[Queenstown, South Island]]
|-
| 2011
| [[North Island]]
| [[South Island]] 
| '''[[North Island]]'''
| 8-6
| [[Botany Downs, North Island]]
|-
| 2012
| [[North Island]]
| [[South Island]] 
| '''[[South Island]]'''
| 5-3
| [[Christchurch, South Island]]
|-
| 2013
| [[South Island]]
| [[North Island]] 
| '''[[South Island]]'''
| 6-5
| [[Botany Downs, North Island]]
|-
| 2014
| [[South Island]]
| [[North Island]] 
| '''[[South Island]]'''
| 6-4
| [[Dunedin, South Island]]
|-
| 2015
| [[South Island]]
| [[North Island]] 
| '''[[North Island]]'''
| 9-7
| [[Queenstown, South Island]]
|-
| 2016
| [[North Island]]
| [[South Island]] 
| '''[[North Island]]'''
| 2-1 (SO)
| [[Avondale, North Island]]
|}

==Trans-Tasman Champions League==
The [[Trans-Tasman Champions League]] was established in 2012 to expand relations, cooperation and competition between the New Zealand Ice Hockey League and the Australian Ice Hockey League.

The format sees the grand finalists from both competitions come together to contest the Trans-Tasman Trophy over a weekend of international match-ups. The competition was set out to be held alternately by either New Zealand or Australia on an annual basis, but costs prevented Australia from sending teams in 2013. Discussions were undertaken to renew the competition in 2016 with the champions of each nation facing off in a 3-match series in New Zealand, but the event did not come to fruition.

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Winner
!Runner Up
!Other Competitors
!Host
|-
| 2012
| [[Melbourne Ice]]
| [[Newcastle North Stars]] 
| [[Botany Swarm]], [[Southern Stampede]]
| [[Melbourne, Australia]]
|}

==See also==
*[[New Zealand men's national ice hockey team]]
*[[Australian Ice Hockey League]]

==External links==
*[http://www.nzihl.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.nzicehockey.co.nz NZ Ice Hockey Federation]
{{Asian Leagues}}
{{Wikipedia}}
[[Category:Ice hockey leagues]]