16/05/2026 AIHL Adelaide Adrenaline v Central Coast Rhinos 1-4

Some of the photos from the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) game between the bottom of the table Adelaide Adrenaline and top of the table Central Coast Rhinos Bears played on 16/05/2026 at the Ice Arena, Adelaide, South Australia. The surprise of the early 2026 AIHL season was the Rhinos sitting on top of the ladder (they have been more at the opposite end over the years), but have acquired some pretty decent imports. For example Quebec born Dannick Bouchard who had played for 14 years in France’s top league Ligue Magnus. Other notables included Raphael Bastille (playing in France and Italy’s 2^nd tier leagues), and Alexandre Boivin (French Ligue Magnus and Asia League for Tohoku Free Blades and Polish GKS Tychy). AIHL journeyman Robert “Bert” Malloy (Central Coast Rhinos, Newcastle Northstars, Sydney Ice Dogs) was the Rhinos captain and Anand Oberoi as goaltender. Cale Dolan was between the pipes at the opposite end of the ice. For the Adrenaline it would be the debut game for Damon von Einem (son of Ice Hockey Australia Hall of Famer, Adrian von Einem).

Early into the 1st period at the 17:34 mark a hard check into the boards had Rhinos Stuart Cole-Clark go back to the bench a little sore only to find he had received an illegible player penalty! A short time later Rhinos Mackenzie Bolger collided with goaltender Dolan that earned himself a goaltender interference penalty. Adrenaline’s Julian Friederich headed to the penalty box at 9:26 for a tripping penalty followed by Rhinos Tanner Hamilton at 6:37 for hooking. None of the penalties resulted in goals as the penalty kill units were up to the task. The gallant young Adrenaline team kept the Rhinos at bay until the 2min mark of the 1st period and had put up more shots on goal, but it was Rhinos Alexandre Boivin that would score the first goal of the game (assists Danick Bouchard, Raphael Bastille). Shots on goal for the period: Adrenaline 13, Rhinos 7.

The second period was similar to the first, but saw two penalties dished out to Adrenaline’s darcy Flanagan (unsportsmanlike conduct) and Josh Adkins (holding) around the 15min mark but the Adrenaline’s penalty kill unit saw off the 3-on-5 disadvantage. However, at 11:44 Rhinos Boivin would add his 2^nd goal for the game, scoring unassisted. Late in the period at the 1:32 mark the sellout home crowd went bunta as import Viacheslav “Slava” Sarkisyants opened the scoring for the Adrenaline (assist Daniel O’Handley and Darcy Flanagan). Shots on goal for the period again saw the Adrenaline outshoot the Rhinos 14 to 9.

Early in the period the Rhinos would stamp their authority on the game with their 3^rd goal through Tanner Hamilton (assist Sam Sywak) and then at the 14min mark Boivin would score his hat trick goal to give the Rhinos a healthy 3 goal lead (assists Bastille, Saxon Air). The 3^rd period got rather feisty with plenty of penalties handed out: Rhinos Tyler Kubara (tripping), Rhinos team penalty (delay of game), Timothy Rye (hooking), and Adrenaline’s Darcy Flanagan (roughing), Nathaniel Benson (roughing), Julian Friederich (high-sticking), Flanagan again (unsportsmanlike conduct). With 33secs left Adrenaline’s Luka Loria took offence to Rhinos Henri Kohvakka with both receiving roughing minors. Adrenaline’s import Austin Pickford had stepped into the equation and received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Then the game ended but not the excitement for the crowd. After the handshakes there was plenty of agro, and Adrenaline’s Zach Boyle received a 5min spearing major and a game misconduct penalty. The two feisty teams are due to meet soon again in the Rhino’s Erina barn. Shots on goal for the period: Adrenaline 17, Rhinos 13. The 4-1 scoreline was a credit to the Adrenaline’s young team facing a much fancier opposition, and importantly with the Adrenaline sadly being in the lower end of the ladder for a few years now, managing to have a very passionate, supporting fan base, selling out each game.