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The '''2008 AIHL season''' was the ninth season of the [[Australian Ice Hockey League]], the seventh in which the [[Goodall Cup]] was awarded to the league champions.

The season opened 19 April 2008 with games in Newcastle, Adelaide and Penrith.

==Standings==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | Position
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="35%" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | SOW
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" | SOL
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | PTS
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | GF
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | GA
|- align="center"
| '''1''' || align="left" |[[AIHL Bears|Bears]] || 28 || 20 || 7 || 0 || 1 || 61 || 134 || 118
|- align="center"
| '''2''' || align="left" |[[Western Sydney Ice Dogs]] || 28 || 15 || 8 || 4 || 1 || 54 || 126 || 91
|- align="center"
| '''3''' || align="left" |[[Melbourne Ice]] || 28 || 17 || 9 || 1 || 1 || 54 || 124 || 91
|- align="center"
| '''4''' || align="left" |[[Newcastle North Stars]] || 28 || 15 || 7 || 2 || 4 || 53 || 150 || 97
|- align="center"
| '''5''' || align="left" |[[Canberra Knights]] || 28 || 10 || 15 || 1 || 2 || 34 || 91 || 107
|- align="center"
| '''6''' || align="left" |[[Adelaide A's]] || 28 || 6 || 14 || 6 || 2 || 32 || 90 || 107
|- align="center"
| '''7''' || align="left" |[[Gold Coast Blue Tongues]] || 28 || 8 || 17 || 0 || 3 || 27 || 104 || 154
|- align="center"
| '''8''' || align="left" |[[Central Coast Rhinos]] || 28 || 6 || 20 || 1 || 1 || 21 || 73 || 129
|- align="center"
|}

==Notes==
Following the event, the [[Central Coast Rhinos]] forfeited their first game (a victory) to the [[Gold Coast Blue Tongues]] after icing uncleared imports.

On June 17, financial difficulties forced the [[Adelaide Avalanche]] to withdraw from the remainder of the 2008 season, leading to the cancellation of its June 21 and 22 games in Canberra and Penrith. Following negotiations, the Thebarton Ice Arena was one week later given a license for a new Adelaide team, the Adelaide A's, to fulfil the Avalanche's remaining commitments for the season, and inheriting their 2008 season results. Two games (for single points against the Bears and for double points against Canberra) were forfeited during the weekend immediately following the Avalanche's withdrawal.

The [[AIHL Bears|Bears]] won the [[V.I.P. Cup]] after finishing atop the ladder in the regular season.

==Playoffs==
The 2008 AIHL finals were played at the [[Hunter Ice Skating Stadium]] in Newcastle. The rink was significantly upgraded for the [[2008 IIHF World Championship Division II]] in April 2008, featuring glass barriers all around the boards, along with new lighting, scoreboards and expanded seating. The other influential factor was the success both administrative and financial of the previous Finals Series in 2005 at the same rink.

In the first semi-final, the [[Newcastle North Stars]] defeated the [[Penrith Bears|Bears]] 7-5. The second semi-final was won by the [[Western Sydney Ice Dogs]], who scored 30sec into overtime to beat the [[Melbourne Ice]] 2-1, after a thrilling game exhibiting excellent goaltending from both teams.

===Championship Game===
[[Newcastle North Stars|Newcastle]] proved too strong for the [[Western Sydney Ice Dogs|Ice Dogs]] in the championship game, winning the game 4-1. AIHL leading scorer and finals MVP Mickey Gilchrist capitalising on several turnovers to score a natural hat-trick, and the Newcastle defense was strong enough to limit the Ice Dogs' scoring chances.

{{4TeamBracket
| RD1=Semifinals
| RD2=Final
| RD1-team1=[[Newcastle North Stars]]
| RD1-score1='''7'''
| RD1-team2=[[AIHL Bears|Bears]]
| RD1-score2=5
| RD1-team3=[[Western Sydney Ice Dogs]]
| RD1-score3='''2'''
| RD1-team4=[[Melbourne Ice]]
| RD1-score4=1
| RD2-team1=[[Newcastle North Stars]]
| RD2-score1='''4'''
| RD2-team2=[[Western Sydney Ice Dogs]]
| RD2-score2=1
}}

==External links==
*[http://www.theaihl.com.au Official website of the AIHL]
*[http://forums.internationalhockey.net/showthread.php?t=6745 2008 AIHL Rosters]

{{AIHL seasons}}
{{Wikipedia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2008 Aihl Season}}
[[Category:2008 in ice hockey|AIHL season]]
[[Category:Australian Ice Hockey League seasons]]

2008 AIHL season - Revision history

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