Selected photos from the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League game between Adelaide Rush and Brisbane Lightning playing on 8/02/2025 at the Ice Arena, Adelaide, South Australia.  The Rush were bolstered by Anika Wegund (nickname by the announcer of “Wrecking Ball”) for some extra bite and aggression after her debut last week interstate.  The highlight of the game for the home side would be that it was Tiffany Venning’s 150th AWIHL game!  Goal tender would be Emma Moonen.  The Rush were looking to consolidate the place at the top of the 2024-2025 AWIHL ladder and have confidence going into the finals.  If the Rush won this one they would be minor premiers.  The Lightning on the other hand at the opposite end, trying to finish their year strongly and challenge in 2025-2026 season.  The Lightning had ex-Rush player Grace Kalambokas so it would be interestign how she would be received by her ex-team mates.  In goals for the Lightning was Imogen Perry.

It never ceases to amaze me at the intensity of the AWIHL games and the number of penalties and players hitting the deck that might ensue as a result.  It didn’t take long and Wegund headed back to the bench for a holding penalty.  The Rush’s penalty kill unit kept the scoreline at 0-0.  Both teams held each other well in the 1st period and it would take until the 8:19 mark when none other than Rush’s Tiffany Venning scored from a Torie Cybulski assist.  Two penalties, one each to the Lightning (Shanita Crompton for tripping) and Rush (Kaitlyn Malthaner for hooking) caused a 4-on-4 play for a while.  Rush’s Sierra Meroniuk took the opportunity of the more open space and scored the Rush’s second goal (assists from Nat Ayris and Maya Tupper).  Rush Captain Tash Farrier would give the Rush a 3-goal lead with 1:45 remaining in the period (assist Anika Mojzisek and Jordan Kulbida).  Some rough play with under a minute remainder resulted in a slashing minor to Rush’s Aspen Cooper and a roughing minor to Lightning’s Samantha Brophy).  Shots on goal for the period saw the Rush dominate with 16 to the Lightning’s 6.  The Rush were looking ominous.

A mere 25secs into the second period and Rush’s Kirsty Venus slammed in their 4th goal of the game, unassisted.  That would be the only score of the period (what?? 19mins 35secs of no scoring!).  However the penalties would continue to accumulate….Rush’s Tupper (interference at 16:03), Lightning’s Allie Fischer (tripping at 10:19), Lightning’s (Sofia Molnarova tripping 9:15), Rush’s Meroniuk (tripping at 5:48) and Rush’s Kulbida (hooking at 4:04).  Shots on goal were close with Rush 7 and Lightning tightening up the play with 6.  One stoush saw Lightning’s Kalambokas and Rush’s Lunn screaming at each other face to face, only for Kalambokas to give Lunn a hug as former team mates.  Actually nice to see.

It wasn’t a time to rest on your laurels with such a big lead as the Rush were about to find out (and the Adelaide Summer League’s Unicorns’ Div B team would find out).  Whatever the Lightnings coach had said at the break did the trick and the Lightning came out hard.  An early penalty to Rush’s Kulbida for tripping at 16:03 set the tone as the Lightning gained in confidence.  They scored the first goal of the period at 12:38 through Lindsey Kiliwnik (assists Fischer and Crompton).  Kiliwnik would add another at 10:02 as the Lightning started to haul in the Rush’s big lead.  A penalty to Rush’s Cybulski didn’t help their cause to fight the Lightning onslaught.  Molnarova’s hooking at 4:09 brought some relief for the Rush and they tried to use the player advantage but the Lightnings penalty kill unit and goal tender were up to the task.  The Rush just couldn’t find a way through.  A bewildered Jamie Lunn for the Rush was sent back to the bench for interference giving the Lightning the powerplay.  With 41secs remaining Lightning’s Madison Laplante scored their 3rd goal, with enough time to tie the game left.  The assists came from Molnarova and Katrina Rapchuk.  But the Rush hung on in a thriller to grab the minor premiership with 32 points to the Perth Inferno’s 26 points in second place, with this hard fought win.  Shots of goal for the game were in favour of the Rush 27 to 18.

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