Adelaide Avalanche
CityThebarton, Adelaide, South Australia
LeagueAustralian Ice Hockey League
Founded15 May 1999 (15 May 1999)
Operated2000–2008
Dissolved17 June 2008 (17 June 2008)
Home arenaSnowdome Adelaide
ColoursBlue, bronze, black and white
       
General managerAustralia Alan Yarrow
Head coachAustralia Corey Smith
CaptainAustralia Greg Oddy
Championships
Premierships4 (2001, 2003, 2005, 2007)
AIHL Championships2 (2000, 2001)

The Adelaide Avalanche was a semi-professional ice hockey club based in the Adelaide suburb of Thebarton, South Australia. The Avalanche, founded in 1999, was a founding member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). The team's home venue was the Snowdome Adelaide (now known as IceArenA). The Avalanche competed in the AIHL for eight years, from its inaugural season in 2000 until 17 June 2008, when the club was replaced with the Snowdome's own team, Adelaide A's (later rebranded Adelaide Adrenaline), after its AIHL licence was revoked due to financial issues. During the club's lifetime, the Avalanche won four AIHL premierships and two AIHL championships.

History

Foundation and ECSL (1999–00)

The Adelaide Avalanche was founded in May 1999 by the Oddy and Thilthorpe families to secure national ice hockey competition for South Australia and their sons. Steve Oddy and James Thilthorpe headed the fledgling club as owners and directors, Steve Oddy taking on the role of club chairman.[1]

The Avalanche appointed John Botterill as inaugural head coach. He would be assisted by Neil Boyle.[2] Australian international defenceman, Pavel Bohacik, was appointed the club's maiden captain.[3]

Adelaide quickly joined the de facto national league, East Coast Super League (ECSL) in 1999, in what would prove to be the NSW administered ECSL's last season.[4] The Avalanche's first ever competitive game was on the road in Sydney against the Canterbury Eagles. Adelaide defeated the Eagles 7-5 to register the club's inaugural victory. Steve's son Greg Oddy led the South Australian outfit's opening performance, registering two goals. Oddy and Thilthorpe personally arranged and paid for the travel of east coast teams to Adelaide in 1999. On 15 May 1999, Adelaide hosted its first competitive home game at the Snowdome in Thebarton.[1]

AIHL era (2000–08)

Along with the Sydney Bears and Canberra Knights, the Avalanche were one of the founding members of the AIHL in 2000. They finished first out of the three teams that year and claimed the inaugural AIHL championship. In 2001, the club enjoyed the same success in winning their second consecutive title.

In 2002, the Melbourne Ice, Western Sydney Ice Dogs, and Newcastle North Stars joined the AIHL, expanding it to six teams. The Goodall Cup, Australia's top prize in ice hockey, also became part of the AIHL that year. Adelaide again finished second in the overall standings and lost to the Bears in the Goodall Cup final.

Adelaide Avalanche's original logo used between 1999–06.

The Avalanche finished the 2003 season with their fourth straight minor premiership but lost to the Ice Dogs in the first round of a newly introduced four-team playoff system. They would lose in the semifinals again in 2004 to the North Stars in double overtime.

As two more teamsthe Brisbane Blue Tongues and Central Coast Rhinosentered the league in 2005, the Avalanche returned to dominance by finishing first overall in the regular season standings. The "curse of the minor premiers" again haunted the team. Despite winning through to the Goodall Cup final for the first time in three years, they were defeated 3–1 by the North Stars in that game.

The Avalanche have retooled for 2006 in the quest for their first-ever Goodall Cup, with their current roster boasting Mighty Roos players Greg Oddy and brothers Ben & Luke Thilthorpe. They finished second after the regular season and hosted the finals series, beating the Ice Dogs 5–2 to reach the final but losing the final 0-4 to the North Stars.

Members of the Adelaide Avalanche were featured on episode 11 of Network Ten's Cyber Shack TV on 10 October 2006. Both David Huxley and Brad Wanchulak played and reviewed the new NHL 2K6 on Xbox 360.

The Avalanche came into financial difficulties in 2008, and after being able to host several game at the start of the season, could not meet its road commitments, forcing the team to withdraw from the remainder of the season on 17 June. The team's players were transferred to the newly formed Adelaide A's, who in a deal with the AIHL was allowed to play the remainder of the Avalanche's season.

In 2022 the name of the Adelaide Avalanche was revived by a new team competing in the Pacific Hockey League.[5]

Season-by-season record

Champions Runners-up Third Place
Adelaide Avalanche all-time record
Season Regular season Finals weekend Top points scorer
P W T L SW SL GF GA GD Pts Finish P W L GF GA Result Semi-final AIHL final Name Points
2000Information not available2nd11065ChampionsWon 6-5 (SO) (Bears)Australia John Oddy34
200116151012060+60311st110107ChampionsWon 10-7 (Bears)Canada Paul Lawson38
200220130712067+53262nd10147Runners-upLost 4-7 (Bears)Australia Greg Oddy39
2003[lower-alpha 1]1815039852+46301st[lower-alpha 2]202514Fourth[lower-alpha 3]Lost 1-4 (Ice Dogs)Australia Greg Oddy47
200420719116468-4294th10123Semi-finalistLost 2-3 (2OT) (North Stars)Australia Greg Oddy30
20052619140213377+56601st21176Runners-upWon 6-3 (Bears)Lost 1-3 (North Stars)Canada Darcy Corcoran47
2006281990013484+50572nd21156Runners-upWon 5-2 (Ice Dogs)Lost 0-4 (North Stars)Canada Brad Wanchulak53
2007281771312499+25561st10114Semi-finalistLost 1-4 (Bears)Australia Greg Oddy43
200815[lower-alpha 4]38223253-2115DNFSweden Peter Lindgren29[lower-alpha 5]

Notes:

  1. 2003 AIHL season statistics are incomplete. No one source has all the information and the AIHL has not published official statistics on www.theaihl.com.
  2. Based on the most complete information available, the Avalanche finished the 2003 season in first place and qualified for the first four team finals weekend.
  3. 2003 was the one and only season where a third place play-off was contested as part of the finals format for the AIHL. The Sydney Bears defeated the Adelaide Avalanche 10-5 in the third place play-off so the Avalanche finished fourth.
  4. Only completed 15 of the 28 matches in the 2008 season before withdrawing and forfeiting two games. All points, players and fixtured were transferred to the Adelaide A's when the licence was transferred.
  5. top point scorer over entire season including matches for both the Avalanche and Adelaide A's.

Notes References: [6] [7] [8]

Honours

Championships

  • AIHL Championships (2000–01)1
1st place, gold medalist(s) Champions (2): 2000, 2001
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-Up (0):
1st place, gold medalist(s) Champions (0):
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-Up (3): 2002, 2005, 2006
1st place, gold medalist(s) Premiers (4): 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-Up (2): 2002, 2006
1 The first two season's of the AIHL did not have the Goodall Cup as the Championship prize. The Adelaide Avalanche is the only AIHL team to win the AIHL and not be crowned Goodall Cup Champions.
2 This list also includes Premierships won prior to the first trophy (VIP Cup) for Premiers came into existence in 2004.

Franchise Awards

Each season, between 1999 and 2007, the Avalanche held an annual awards night where the team awarded a number of player awards.[9]

SeasonMVPBRFCBDLSBDFCA
1999Australia Glen FollAustralia Eric LienAustralia Trevor WalshAustralia Pavel BohacikAustralia John Oddy
2000Australia Greg OddyCanada Shane WoutersAustralia Greg OddyAustralia Pavel BohacikAustralia John Oddy
2001Canada Charlie LawsonCanada Charlie LawsonCanada Paul LawsonAustralia Glen FollCanada Paul LawsonAustralia Chris Brlecic
2002Australia Eric LienCanada Jamie LeverAustralia Trevor WalshAustralia Glen FollAustralia Greg OddyAustralia Chris Brlecic
2003Canada Dylan MartiniAustralia Josh HardingAustralia Trevor WalshCanada Dylan MartiniAustralia Greg OddyUnited States Duane Gera
2004Australia Trevor WalshAustralia Cass DelsarAustralia Greg OddyUnited States Chris ChantAustralia Greg OddyAustralia Luke Thilthorpe
2005Australia Greg OddyAustralia Olivier MartinCanada Steve McKennaCanada Steve McKennaCanada Darcy CorcoranCanada Tanner Shultz
2006Australia Greg OddyAustralia David HuxleyCanada Brad WanchulakUnited States Kevin ClausonCanada Brad WanchulakAustralia Chris BrlecicCanada Nigel Ward
2007Australia Olivier MartinAustralia Sean GreerAustralia David HuxleyAustralia Josh HardingAustralia Greg OddyCanada Mike Van Den BoschAustralia Ryan Remillard

Players

Last roster

Team roster for the 2008 AIHL season [10][11]

Active RosterCoaching staff
Goaltenders
  • 87 Sweden Christopher Elf
  •  1 Australia Peter King
  • 35 Australia Eric Lien
  • 39 Australia Olivier Marton

Defencemen

  • 13 Australia Nathan Brown
  • -- Australia Scott Chandler
  •  2 Australia Nick Clark
  • 44 Australia Sean Greer (A)
  • 22 Australia Joshua Harding (A)
  • 23 Australia David Huxley
  • 33 Sweden Bob Sannemo
  •  8 Canada Brad Van Camp
  •  4 Australia Brandon Williams
  • 45 Australia Andrey Zolotarev
Forwards
  • -- Canada Blair Bourgeault
  • 40 Australia Darren Corstens
  •  7 United States Kevin Crowder
  • 11 Australia Cass Delsar
  • 76 Australia Luke Harding
  • 18 Australia James Keane
  •  9 Canada Chase Kinch (A)
  • 27 Sweden Peter Lindgren
  • 19 Australia David Manning
  • 10 Australia Greg Oddy (C)
  • -- Australia Dean Peterson
  • 42 Australia Tristan Reese
  •  3 Australia Ben Thilthorpe
  • 15 Australia Mitchell Villani
  • -- Australia Trevor Walsh
  • 16 Australia Matthew Wegener
Head Coach

Coaches

  • Australia Steve Wise



Legend
(C) Captain
(A) Alternate Captain
(I) Import player



Statistics
Average age: 22.1
Average height: 179.9 cm
Average weight: 82.4 kg
Win%: 33%

Last updated on: 28 May 2022
Elite ProspectsAdelaide Avalanche Legends of Australian Ice

NHL players

A list of players that have played at least one game for the Avalanche and who have also played at least one game in the National Hockey League (NHL).

NameYear(s)NHL team(s)
Canada Steve McKenna2005Los Angeles Kings; Minnesota Wild; Pittsburgh Penguins; New York Rangers
Canada Mel Angelstad2007Washington Capitals

References:[12][13]

International players

A list of players that have played at least one game for the Avalanche and who have also played at least one game for an international team at the World Championships organised by the IIHF.

NameCapsPointsPIMMedalsNotes
Australia Glen Foll8072321 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Australian captain for 15 tournaments (1990 to 2006)
Australia Greg Oddy721181312 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Australian captain for 4 tournaments (2010 to 2014)
Australia Ben Thilthorpe3220511 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 3 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Australia Joshua Harding318161 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Australian alternate captain for 1 tournament (2014–15)
Australia David Huxley281082 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1 2nd place, silver medalist(s)Australian alternate captain for 1 tournament (2015–16)
Australia Luke Thilthorpe2417101 1st place, gold medalist(s) 1 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Australia Pavel Bohacik2438
Australia Daniel George20261 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Australia Andrew Brunt1668
Australia Trevor Walsh1526931 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Australia Chris Brlecic1410202 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Australia John Oddy142836
Australia Mitchell Villani10581 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Australia Ross Howell10521 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Australia Sean Greer1004
Australia James Keane9421 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 1 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)
Australia Cass Delsar9482 2nd place, silver medalist(s)
Australia Matthew Wegener504
Australia Ari Pullinen502
Australia Dusan Ocenas422
Australia Olivier Martin100
Australia Paul Cracknell100

References:[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]

Player records

Avalanche all-time, season and game player records.[36]

All-time

No. Appearances Points Penalty Minutes
# Name GP Name P Name PIM
1Australia Greg Oddy133Australia Greg Oddy280Australia Trevor Walsh505
2Australia Ben Thilthorpe126Australia Trevor Walsh201Australia Greg Oddy426
3Australia Luke Thilthorpe122Australia Ben Thilthorpe153Australia John Oddy350
4Australia Chris Brlecic119Australia Chris Brlecic115Australia Ben Thilthorpe346
5Australia Trevor Walsh100Australia Luke Thilthorpe113Australia Chris Brlecic341
6Australia Eric Lien84Australia John Oddy111Australia Luke Thilthorpe231
7Australia Josh Harding77Canada Dylan Martini86Canada Tanner Shultz154
8Australia Glen Foll68Australia Glen Foll73Australia Cass Delsar133
9Australia Daniel George68Canada Brad Wanchulak53United States Ryan Clauson107
10Australia James Keane65Canada Darcy Corcoran47Canada Dylan Martini104

Season

Category Record Season Held by
Most Points532006Canada Brad Wanchulak
Most Goals262006Canada Brad Wanchulak
Most Assists332006Australia Greg Oddy
Most Points (Defenceman)362003Canada Dylan Martini
Most Penalty Minutes1542005Canada Tanner Shultz
Best Goaltender Save %91.8%2005Australia Olivier Martin
Best Goaltender G.A.A2.242005Australia Olivier Martin
Most Goaltender Wins152006Canada Nigel Ward
Most Goaltender Shutouts11999 / 2006Australia Eric Lien / Canada Nigel Ward
Most Game Winning Goals62003 / 2006Australia Greg Oddy / Canada Brad Wanchulak
Most Power Play Goals72006Australia Greg Oddy
Most Shorthanded Goals42001Australia Trevor Walsh
Most Hatricks42002Australia Greg Oddy
Most Consecutive GP with a point172006Australia Greg Oddy

Single game

Category Record Date Held by Opponent
Most Points919 Aug 2006Australia Greg OddyCanberra Knights
Most Goals519 Aug 2006Canada Brad WanchulakCanberra Knights
Most Assists619 Aug 2006Australia Greg OddyCanberra Knights
Most Penalty Minutes5222 Jul 2006United States Ryan ClausonNewcastle North Stars
Most Goaltender Saves5828 May 2000Australia Eric LienSydney Bears
Fastest Goal (Start of Game)14 secs7 Jan 2000Australia Luke ThilthorpePenrith Phantoms
Fastest Two Goals6 secs7 Aug 2000Australia Greg OddyCanberra Knights
Fastest Hatrick5.01 mins22 Jun 2003Australia Trevor WalshWestern Sydney Ice Dogs

Leaders

Team captains

The Avalanche had three captains in the team's known history.[37] The captain in 1999 and between 2002-03 are currently unknown.

No.NameTerm
1Australia Pavel Bohacik1999–01
2Australia Chris Brlecic2004–05
3Australia Greg Oddy2006–08

References:[3][38][39][40][41]

Head coaches

The Avalanche had four head coaches in the team's history.[42]

No.NameTerm
1Australia John Botterill1999–06
2Canada Brandon Williams2007
3Canada Steve McKenna2008
4Australia Corey Smith2008

References: [43][44][39][45][11][46][47]

General managers

The Avalanche had two general manager groups (GMs) in the team's history.[42]

No.NameTerm
1Australia Steve Oddy
Australia James Thilthorpe
1999–06
2Australia Alan Yarrow2007–08

References:[43][44][39][45][11][48][49]

References

  1. 1 2 "Adelaide Avalanche: The Franchise that changed Australian hockey forever". Adelaide Adrenaline. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. "2000 Roster". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 23 January 2001. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 Carpenter, Ross. "Bohacik, Pavel (1969 - )". icelegendsaustralia.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  4. Carpenter, Ross. "A League of Their Own: The AIHL and the fight for the Big League". icelegendsaustralia.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  5. "Pacific Hockey League announces teams". Ice Hockey News Australia. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  6. "2003 AIHL Draw". Newcastle North Stars. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  7. "Championnat d'Australie 2003 (French)". hockeyarchives.info. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  8. "AIHL History". hockeywise.com.au. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  9. "Awards". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  10. "Adelaide Avalanche/A's 2007-2008 Roster". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  11. 1 2 3 "Roster 2008". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  12. "Steve McKenna". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  13. "Mel Angelstad". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  14. "Glen Foll". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  15. "Greg Oddy". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  16. "Ben Thilthorpe". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  17. "Joshua Harding". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  18. "David Huxley". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  19. "Luke Thilthorpe". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  20. "Pavel Bohacik". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  21. "Daniel George". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  22. "Andrew Brunt". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  23. "Trevor Walsh". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  24. "Chris Brlecic". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  25. "John Oddy". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  26. "Mitchell Villani". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  27. "Ross Howell". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  28. "Sean Greer". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  29. "James Keane". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  30. "Cass Delsar". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  31. "Matthew Wegener". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  32. "Ari Pullinen". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  33. "Dusan Ocenas". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  34. "Olivier Martin". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  35. "Paul Cracknell". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  36. "Records". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  37. "Adelaide Adrenaline - Team Captaincy History". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  38. Carpenter, Ross. "Brlecic, Chris (1976 - )". icelegendsaustralia.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  39. 1 2 3 "2006 Avalanche Roster". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  40. "Undermanned Av's start season off with a win". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 16 August 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  41. "Av's jump to third place - Defeat Ice Dog's 6-3". Adelaide Avalanche. 12 July 2004. Archived from the original on 23 January 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  42. 1 2 "Adelaide Adrenaline - Team Staff History". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  43. 1 2 "Adelaide Avalanche Ice Hockey Club: Roster". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 24 November 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  44. 1 2 "Adelaide Avalanche Ice Hockey : Roster". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 8 May 2005. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  45. 1 2 "Roster". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 26 August 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  46. "Avalanche announce new coach [07/03]". Adelaide Avalanche. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  47. Carpenter, Ross. "Smith, Corey (1976 - )". icelegendsaustralia.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  48. Carpenter, Ross. "Oddy, Steve ( - )". icelegendsaustralia.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  49. Carpenter, Ross. "Thilthorpe, Jim ( - )". icelegendsaustralia.com. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
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