Selected photos from the 2026 Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) games between the Adelaide Rush and the ladder leading Perth Inferno played at the Ice Arena, Adelaide on 7/02/2026 and 8/02/2026. Aspen Cooper had left the Adelaide Rush team for a change of scenery over in the west, joining the Inferno for the 2025/2026 season. It would be interesting how she would be received by her former teammates. After managing to beat the top team, the Melbourne Ice in game 2 of their last weekend, the Rush were looking to do the same to the Inferno, and at home this time. Starting goaltenders were Emma Moonen for the Rush and Sasha King for the Inferno.
The Inferno got off to an early start, posting the 1st two goals of the game when Georgia Mclellan (assists Sara Sammons, Michelle Clark-Crumpton) and Elizabeth Scala (assists Sammons, Clark-Crumpton) scored before the halfway mark of the period. Rush’s Jordan Kulbida took the powerplay opportunity to put the Rush on the board at the 4:47 mark (assist Rylee Martin). Penalty was Mclellan for roughing. Rylee Martin would receive a holding penaly with 3secs left in the period to give the powerplay to the Inferno for the start of the 2nd period. Shots on goal for the 1st period were: Inferno dominating with 14 shots to the Rush’s 4 shots.
An early penalty to Rush’s Kate Tihema really put the Rush on the back foot facing a 3-on-5 player disadvantage, but the penalty kill unit was up to the task. Inferno’s Molly Lukowiak headed to the penalty box for a body-check minor at the 15:13 mark and Rush’s Anika Wegund for a boarding penalty at 8:44. The Rush had really fired up in the second period, outgunning the Inferno 12 shots to 7 but were unable to find the back of the net. Instead, Inferno’s Sara Sammons put he team 3-1 up at the 9:54 mark.
Early in the 3rd Inferno’s Aspen Cooper would put her team up by 3 goals (assists Clark-Crumpton, Sammons). As often happens the 3rd period often gets quite spicy and this one was no different as the Rush’s Rylee Martin (slashing), Inferno’s Sophie Reader (high-sticking), Rush’s Kirsty Venus (roughing), Inferno (too many players) and Inferno’s Cooper (body-checking) completed the list. Late in the period Rush’s captain Kate Tihema would restore some respectability to the score with the Rush’s 2nd goal to end the game at 4-2. Shots on goal for the period: Inferno 12, Rush 10.
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7/02/2026 – Inferno 4, Rush 2
Selected photos from game 2 of the weekend of the 2026 Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League (AWIHL) games between the Adelaide Rush and the ladder leading Perth Inferno played at the Ice Arena, Adelaide on 8/02/2026. The Rush had put in a sold performance against the league leaders the night before. Starting goaltenders were Emma Moonen for the Rush and Sasha King for the Inferno.
The Rush had done some homework and were matching the Inferno. An early penaty to Inferno’s Isla Malcolm for a body check did not result in the 0-all deadlock. Jamie Lunn would also receive a body-check penalty at 12:55 but the Rush’s penalty kill unit saw off the penalty. Jordan Kulbida would excite the home crowd when she scored the first goal of the game at the 7min mark (assists Nat Ayris, Tiffany Venning). However, Inferno’s Sara Sammons would even the score at 1-all a minute later (assists Elizabeth Scala, Katherine Bailey). Shots on goal for the period: 8-all.
One of Inferno’s Webbs sisters, Zoey would head to the bench for a roughing minor at 18:49 following by Rush’s Tiffany Venning for hooking at 15:41. In the latter penalty, Inferno’s Aspen Cooper would use the powerplay to put the Inferno one up (assists Katherine Bailey, Elizabeth Scala). At 10:47 Inferno’s Jaymie Mackenzie would out her team 2-up (assists Georgia Mclellan, Michelle Clark-Crumpton). After Inferno’s Mclellan headed to the penalty box for interference at 6:19, Rush’s Kaitlyn Malthaner wasted no time and scored the Rush’s 2nd goal 8secs later. Both teams were making use of powerplay situations as Inferno’s Elizabeth Scala and Rush’s Malthaner (her 2nd for the game) would score so the scoreline at the end of the period was 4-3. The Rush had pummelled Sasha King with 15 shots, to the Inferno’s 8 shots in the period.
In the 3rd period the Inferno regrouped as the period once again got rather aggressive as both teams desperate for the points. The Inferno would come out on top with Sammons and Scala scoring 2 more goals for the Inferno. Shots on goal for the period: Inferno 12 shots, Rush 9 shots.
8/02/2026 – Inferno 6, Rush 3
