The West Auckland Admirals won their first championship since the league and the club were founded in 2005.
The West Auckland Admirals is an ice hockey team based in Auckland, New Zealand and are members of the New Zealand Ice Hockey League.The club plays their home games at Paradice Avondale.
The South Auckland Swarm changed their name to the Botany Swarm in 2007 to reflect the site of their home rink.The teams contest the Glass Family Shield, named after the Glass Family of the South Island with three generations of contributors and builders of the sport within New Zealand. The trophy was designed and built by Wellington craftsman Mark Newnham.The 2018 season introduced a semi-final match between the second-place and third-place season teams. The West Auckland Admirals are one of two teams from the more populous (but less wintery) North Island and the Auckland region in the five-team league and play at Paradice Avondale in the West Auckland suburb of Avondale. 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.The next 4 rounds saw each team’s home rink hosting a round. Annabelle Lewis also played for the New Zealand women's side, the Ice Fernz.In the end each team played their local rivals 6 times and the other two teams twice. Follow West Auckland Admirals live scores, final results, fixtures and match details! Each win in this round was worth 2 points, while a draw was worth 1.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.Skate Of Origin was introduced in the 2009 season. Each team hosted one round, with one team having a bye.The top two teams would then play a 2-game finals series.
The match is held alternately on either the North or South Island.There is always discussion of ice facilities being built in a variety of centres around the country and if any of these come to fruition further expansion of the NZIHL is likely.With the Dunedin Thunder joining the NZIHL as its fifth team, the format of playing each side 4 times was established, but only a single Grand Final match was held at the minor premiers home rink between the top two seeds after the regular season.Each team is allowed an unlimited number of overseas imports on their roster, however there are limits to how many of these players can take the ice.The NZIHL had four foundation clubs, Canterbury Red Devils, West Auckland Admirals, Southern Stampede and South Auckland Swarm. The wait is over – NZIHL action is BACK! TEAM MVP – WEST AUCKLAND ADMIRALS 2019: AJ Spiller 2018: Frazer Ellis 2017: Henric Andersen 2016: Nick Henderson 2015: Tom Tracy 2014: Justin Daigle 2013: Nick Henderson 2012: Bradey Fox 2011: Blake Jackson 2010: Travis McMaster 2009: Jeff Bonazzo 2008: Alex Gafvert 2007: Rick Parry 2006: Jeff Bonazzo 2005: Jeff Bonazzo. The winner going on to play the first-place team in the finals.
We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes and are proud to announce the launch of the NZIHL Showdown Series, an action packed 4 game series between cross-town ice hockey rivals, the Botany Swarm and West Auckland Admirals! The West Auckland Admirals won their first championship since the league and the club were founded in 2005. Each round consisting of 3 teams playing 2 games each over a Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the 4th team having a bye. Since their foundation in 2005 the team's best result has come in the 2018 season where they won the NZIHL championships.
The second and third place finishers play a single match for the right to face the top seed in a 3-match Grand Final Series with the first match held at the semi-final winner's home rink and the remaining two matches held at the minor premier's 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.During the first two seasons of the NZIHL there was no preliminary round. West Auckland Admirals: 2020-05-23: NZIHL Botany Swarm: West Auckland Admirals: 2019-08-03: Nzihl Botany Swarm: 2-5 West Auckland Admirals: 2019-07-14: Nzihl West Auckland Admirals: 1-4 Botany Swarm: 2019-07-13 The format sees the best players eligible to represent New Zealand at an international level play for the respective island on which they played their junior hockey.