Adelaide AWIHL Players – Sticks and Stones Photography

Adelaide has hosted a team in the AWIHL since it was formed in 2006. First they were the highly successful Assassins (red jerseys) and then later as the Adrenaline (first blue, and then and unusual shade of red jerseys), when they merged with the men’s Adrenaline team. In 2016-2017 along came the Rush….as in Adrenaline Rush! Many of the Adrenaline women players also play in the local league in the B and C grades. The Adelaide teams have been the dominant force winning the first 5 years (2006-2010) of the women’s competition as the Assassins and then again as the Adrenaline in 2012, but the Melbourne Ice has been making some inroads on that score. This page represents the players that have played for the Adelaide Assassins, Adrenaline and Rush teams. The Women’s season is played in the latter part of the year and extends to February of the following year. Each ‘year group’ below represents the last year the player played for the Assassins, Adrenaline and Rush teams as well as the current lineup. ‘I’ stands for import player, and ‘G’ stands for goal tender.

2018/2019 Adelaide Rush

The Adelaide Rush had a major change to the roster, losing Tonii Larpent, Marina nottle, Katrina Dobo and Keesha Atkins to the Perth Inferno. Plenty of new faces, but also boltered with the return of Kelly Harris and Candice Mitchell filling the shoes of captain again.

2. Jamie Lunn 6. Tiffany Venning 7. Cherie Reid 8 Kelly Harris 9 Kaitlyn Malthaner (I)

10. Meggie Ayris 11. Josephine Otto 12 Natalie Ayris 17. Shania Chenoweth 18. Candice Mitchell

19. Lily-Mae Edwards 21. Gail Painter 33. Jasmine Lister 37. Sally Wilson 39. Melissa Tyson

44. Sarah Wise 50. Courtney Semmler 59. Kirsty Venus 87. Tess Reynolds

30. Jo Phillis (G) 35. Jayde Hodge (G)

2017/2018 Adelaide Rush

The Adelaide Rush have released their roster for the upcoming 2017-18 AWIHL season. After sitting out the 2016/2017 season Candace Mitchell and Tess Reynolds returned. Also into the team are Keesha Atkins, Shania Chenoweth, Candice Mitchell (ex-Captain), Ashley Pelkey (US import), Madeleine Prescott, Tiffany Venning (from Goannas), Sally Wilson and Hannah Wright (US Import). While dropped from the roster are Katrina Dobo, Tina Girdler (to Goannas), Kelly Harris (maternity leave), Sari Lehmann, Sara-Anne Lemanski and Samara Mihal. The team coach is Adrenaline’s Joseph Rezek and Assistant Coach is Corey Smith with Nicki Brammer as Team Manager.

2 Ashey Pelkey (I) 4 Sarah Christensen 6 Tiffany Venning 7 Hannah Wright (I) 12 Natalie Ayris

17 Shania Chenoweth 18 Candice Mitchell 19 Lily-Mae Edwards 22 Toni Larpent 44 Sarah Wise

59 Kirsty Venus 66 Madeleine Prescott 71 Sally Wilson 89 Tess Reynolds 91 Marina Nottle

30 Jo Phillis (G) 33 Keesha Atkins (G)

2016/2017 Adelaide Rush (formerly Adelaide Adrenaline)

The 2016/2017 AWIHL season saw a major change in women’s ice hockey in Adelaide. Many of the experienced players chose not to play again. These included long-time captain Candace Mitchell, Claudia Tom, Bethanie Kavanagh, Taylor Botterill, Tess Reynolds, Kate Tihema, Diana Glass, and more recent 2015/2016 players Sarah Teed, Ruby Gibson, Angie-Lee Mitchell, Natalie Lowes and rookie goalie Jayde Hodge. That is a massive hole in a team. It is hoped that some of these players will return in the future.

2016/2017 saw the team rebadged as the Rush (as in Adrenaline Rush) to create its own identity from the men’s Adrenaline team. With so many players missing it gave players opportunities to step up and take on senior roles as Captain and alternate captain, such as Kelly Harris as the early captain until stalwart defence player Sari Lehmann returned and took over the role. This has resulted in Kelly and Kirsty Venus as the alternate captains. Jo Phillis returns as the No.1 goalie with Tina Girdler as backup goalie but not at the same calibre as Australian Women’s team goalie Jo. Imports are players imported from Canberra. The team now mainly comprises developmental players but a standout has been Natalie Ayris, who along with Kelly Harris and Kirsty Venus have scored the handful of the Rush’s goals. The team and coach Mitch Kelleher and assistant coach Jamie Holland do not have any lofty ambitions but just want the team play hard, learn a lot and maybe surprise a few of the teams.

6 Samara Mihal 7 Sara-Anne Lemanski 8 Kelly Harris 10 Sari Lehmann 11 Katrina Dobo

29 Tina Girdler

2015/2016 Adelaide Adrenaline

With the new AWIHL rules of no import goalies, there would be no Shannon Giebelhaus again. However Adelaide have two very able goalies in the very experienced Claudia Tom and gutsy Jo Phillis.

Most of the 2014-2015 lineup return in 2015-2016 except for the experienced Natasha Farrier which will be a big loss. Also leaving the team were Carol Riley, Gabby Aston, Beth Bowshall (having a year off, but still on-ice official), Meg Ayris. Coming into the team is Sarah Teed from the Melbourne Ice, and rookie Samara Mihal (whose dad was South Australian ice hockey legend Vladdy Mihal). Natalie Lowes was another rookie and Angie Lee Mitchell (no relation to captain Candice Mitchell) is a future proposition. A slightly depleted lineup has once again left the team a bit vulnerable in the ‘big’ games.

Players that played the last AWIHL games for the Adelaide Adrenaline were:

(left to right) 2 Tess Reynolds 4 Sarah Teed 6 Samara Mihal 7 Bethanie Kavanagh 10 Angle Lee Mitchell

6/13 Natalie Lowes 16 Ruby Gibson 18 Candice Mitchell 19 Diana Glass 21 Kate Tihema

24 Taylor Botterill 30 Claudia Tom 39 Jo Phillis Jayde Hodge

2014/2015 Adelaide Adrenaline

The loss of a few players has to hurt. Michelle Coonan has been poached by the Melbourne Ice, but with an import goaltender in their lineup will be difficult to get much ice time. Despite the Adrenaline having the experienced Claudia Tom and also Jo Phillis as goaltenders the hunt went out for an import goaltender, and Shannon Giebelhaus came into the team.

The remainder of the team from 2013-2014 lineup apart from those named above are much the same, except for the experienced Natasha Farrier, and rookie Natalie Lowes. The slightly depleted lineup leaves the Adrenaline perhaps a little bit vulnerable in the ‘big’ games after some excellent recruiting by Melbourne and Sydney in particular.

Players playing their last season for the Adrenaline are as follows (except Beth Bowshall who may be back):

2 Natasha Farrier 4 Gabby Aston 10(5) Carol Riley 14(28) Beth Bowshall 28(10) Meg Ayris

30 Shannon Giebelhaus

2013/2014 Adelaide Adrenaline

Players playing their last games for the Adrenaline in 2013/2014 are below. Note Andrea Steranko is available but working in the Northern Territory and therefore not financially easy to get into the Adelaide team.

6 Rebecca Aldridge 10 Zoe Boling 28 Sarah Boyce 30 Michell Coonan

2012/2013 Adelaide Adrenaline

The last year these players played for the Adrenaline.

5 Jess Harris 28 Meridith Boyce 19 Andrea Steranko

2011/2012 Adelaide Adrenaline

In the 2011/2012 season the Adelaide Assassins amalgamated with the men’s AIHL Adelaide Adrenaline team. This appeared to be a common tactic in the AWIHL as the Melbourne Dragons had become the Melbourne Ice and the Sydney Sirens had become the Newcastle Northstar-Sirens. With sponsorship rather thin on the ground for women’s ice hockey this meant the women’s teams got more exposure and hopefully some much needed sponsorship.

The last year these players played for the Adrenaline.