AIHL All-Star Weekend

4 August 2015, the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) announced the formation of a new event in the Australian ice hockey calendar, the AIHL All-Stars Weekend. The event occurs two weeks following the conclusion of the AIHL Finals Weekend.{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=89395 | title=2015 All-Star Weekend | publisher=theaihl.com | date=13 September 2015 | accessdate=13 September 2015}}{{cite web | url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/3285594/north-stars-host-all-stars-weekend/ | title=North Stars host Ice Hockey All-Stars weekend | work=Newcastle Herald |first=Josh |last=Leeson | date=17 August 2015 | access-date=13 September 2015}}

The maiden Australian Ice Hockey League All-Star Weekend, took place between 12 and 13 September 2015 at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium in Newcastle, NSW.{{cite web | url=http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=147732&p=7e9bd802-5176-43d4-ab30-e53c0a1346f3 | title=2015 AIHL All-Star Weekend | publisher=trybooking.com | accessdate=13 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nswicehockey.com.au/news.aspx |title=The 2015 AIHL All Star Weekend Presented by APA Group |publisher=nswicehockey.com.au |date=1 September 2015 |accessdate=13 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006082951/http://www.nswicehockey.com.au/news.aspx |archivedate=6 October 2014 }}

Cash prizes are on offer for players for the breakaway challenge during the skills tests, the winner of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the All-Stars match and the team the MVP comes from. In 2015 the winner of the Breakaway Challenge received $1000, the winner of the MVP received $5000 and the MVP club received $4000.{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=90011 | title=Cash prizes add spice to All-Star Weekend | publisher=theaihl.com | date=10 September 2015 | accessdate=13 September 2015}}

Andrew Petrie and Joey Theriault of the Newcastle North Stars and Vlad Rubes and Ron Kuprowsky of the Sydney Bears were named as the coaching teams for the game.

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|5 ||D||{{sortname|Daniel|Pataki|nolink=1}}||Sydney Ice Dogs||{{flagicon|AUS}}

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|6 ||D||{{sortname|Brian|Funes}}||Sydney Ice Dogs||{{flagicon|AUS}}

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|7 ||D||{{sortname|James|Byers|James_Byers_(ice_hockey)}}||CBR Brave||{{flagicon|AUS}}

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|8 ||F||{{sortname|David|Dunwoodie}}||CBR Brave||{{flagicon|NZL}}

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|9 ||F||{{sortname|Matt|Armstrong|nolink=1}}||Melbourne Ice||{{flagicon|CAN}}

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|10 ||F||{{sortname|Tommy|Powell|Thomas_Powell_(ice_hockey)}}||Melbourne Ice||{{flagicon|AUS}}

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|11 ||F||{{sortname|Michael|Schlamp}}||Sydney Bears||{{flagicon|AUS}}

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|12 ||F||{{sortname|Pat|O'Kane|nolink=1}}||Melbourne Mustangs||{{flagicon|USA}}

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|13 ||F||{{sortname|Tomas|Landa|nolink=1}}||Sydney Bears||{{flagicon|CZE}}

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|14 ||F||{{sortname|Joey|Hughes|nolink=1}}||Melbourne Mustangs||{{flagicon|AUS}}

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|15 ||F||{{sortname|Adrian|Esposito}}||Sydney Bears||{{flagicon|AUS}}

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|21 ||F||{{sortname|Matt|Wetini|nolink=1}}||Newcastle North Stars||{{flagicon|AUS}}

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|22 ||F||{{sortname|Vadim|Virjassov|nolink=1}}*||Melbourne Mustangs||{{flagicon|EST}}

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* Denotes a player not originally selected in either All-Star team but played in the All-Stars match.

The skills competitions selected for presentation by the respective coaches include a number of skills events the National Hockey League showcases at their All-Stars Weekend event. Each event is sponsored by one of the league's major sponsors and are performed on the Saturday afternoon.{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=89832 | title=2015 Skills Competition Participants | publisher=theaihl.com | date=12 September 2015 | accessdate=13 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theaihl.com/media/leagues/3856/graphics/description_of_events_22_july_2015.pdf |title=2015 AIHL All-Star Weekend presented by APA Group Description of Events |publisher=theaihl.com |date=22 July 2015 |accessdate=14 September 2015 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In this event, pairs of skaters raced each other simultaneously on parallel courses on the rink. The fastest two skaters then had a final race.{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=90080 | title=Haselhurst speeds to All-Star Fastest Skater gong | publisher=theaihl.com |first=Carol |last=Chapman | date=13 September 2015 | accessdate=14 September 2015}}

• bold = Heat winner
• {{font colour|red|Red & bold}} = Event winner

The breakaway challenge saw three shooters and one goalie from each team take to the ice. Each skater was given 3 shots, with full access to the offensive zone, to play out their routine and take a shot. The winner was judged on their presentation as well as scoring by a fan shout off. In goals for Team Bales was Kamil Jarina (SB) and for Team Schlamp Dayne Davis (NNS).{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=90081 | title=Bales leads the way in All-Star Breakaway Challenge | publisher=theaihl.com |first=Courtney |last=Laura | date=13 September 2015 | accessdate=14 September 2015}}

• {{font colour|red|Red & bold}} = Event winner

In this event, competitors were positioned in front of the net, and were passed the puck from two teammates situated behind the goal line. The players had to hit targets at the four corners of the net in the fastest time.{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=90082 | title=Pinpoint Rezek dominates All-Star Shooting Accuracy | publisher=theaihl.com |first=Ryan |last=Darnley | date=13 September 2015 | accessdate=14 September 2015}}

• bold = Heat winner
• {{font colour|red|Red & bold}} = Event winner

The stickhanding competition saw two skaters positioned in a head on head contest on identical obstacle courses that would test different styles of stick handling, first one to the finish line wins. There are four skaters in total selected by each team to compete.{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=90083 | title=Hot hand Powell claims All-Star Stickhandling Competition | publisher=theaihl.com |first=Carol |last=Chapman | date=13 September 2015 | accessdate=14 September 2015}}

• bold = Heat winner
• {{font colour|red|Red & bold}} = Event winner

In this competition, four players from each team skate in from the blue line one at a time, and slap a puck as hard as possible into the net with a speed camera positioned behind the net to register the impact speed. Each player gets two attempts in the heats and the top two players face off in the final and get one attempt to win the event.{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=90084 | title=Armstrong rockets to claim All-Star Hardest Shot | publisher=theaihl.com |first=Courtney |last=Laura | date=13 September 2015 | accessdate=14 September 2015}}

• bold = Heat winner
• {{font colour|red|Red & bold}} = Event winner

In this competition, players attempt to score on the opposing team's goalie. Players who score earn a point for their team for each goal they score. Players are eliminated from the competition if they fail to score.{{cite web | url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&page=90085 | title=Wetini snatches All-Star Elimination Shootout | publisher=theaihl.com |first=Ryan |last=Darnley | date=13 September 2015 | accessdate=14 September 2015}}

• bold = Goal scorer
• {{font colour|red|Red & bold}} = Event winner

The All-Star game sees a selection of the best players from the AIHL pitted against each other under than banner of two captains. The match is played on the Sunday afternoon.

• Shots on Goal:
• Team Schlamp: 13 – 11 – 10 – Total: 34
• Team Bales: 7 – 11 – 17 – Total: 35

Source: AIHL{{cite web |title=AIHL 2015 All-Star Gamebox |url=https://www.theaihl.com/leagues/hockey_boxscores.cfm?clientid=3856&leagueid=11464&gameid=1495384 | publisher=theaihl.com |date=13 September 2015 |accessdate=14 September 2015}}

Television: Fox Sports (part of the entire AIHL TV deal with Fox Sports). The AIHL released information that Fox Sports would broadcast the All-Stars Weekend event on their pay-television platform the following Thursday (17 September 2015).{{cite web | url = https://www.smh.com.au/sport/ice-hockey-gets-pay-tv-boost-20130417-2hze1.html | title = Ice hockey gets pay TV boost | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | first=Will | last=Brodie | date=17 April 2013 | accessdate = 13 September 2015 }}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://www.theaihl.com AIHL official site]
• [https://www.iha.org.au Ice Hockey Australia]
• [http://hewittsports.com/hockey/aihl/ Hewitt Sports – AIHL]

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Category:Australian Ice Hockey League

Category:2015 establishments in Australia

Category:2015 in ice hockey

Category:2015 in Australian sport

Category:Ice hockey all-star games

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2015

Category:Sport in Newcastle, New South Wales