West Auckland snare new ice hockey trophy

The New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) got underway in the weekend with the introduction of a new Ranfurly Shield-type trophy.

The Toa Kauhanga Riri Tio (TKRT) trophy - which translates to Champions of the Ice Battlefield - will be defended at every Sunday home game for whichever team holds the hardware, with the holders retaining the trophy as long as they continue winning.

The TKRT trophy will not be up for grabs during the playoffs or the Trans-Tasman Champions League, with the team that holds it at the end of the regular season to keep it for the off-season.

The Dunedin Thunder were the first to defend the TKRT trophy, but after winning their Saturday game against the West Auckland Admirals 5-3, they went down 7-4 in the trophy match yesterday.

While game one was all Thunder, the Admirals coped with the fatigue better in game two. Both teams overcame a slow first period, with the Admirals scoring two powerplay goals in the second through Dean Tonks and Bradley Fox, which were quickly matched by the Thunder.

Tonks and Fox proved crucial for the West Aucklanders, with one or other of them having a hand in all seven of the Admirals goals, including five in the third to put the game out of reach for the Thunder.

The Admirals have a bye in the second round and play the Southern Stampede in Queenstown in round three meaning they won't defend the TKRT trophy until their round four meeting with the Canterbury Red Devils.

In the other double header of the weekend, the Red Devils took on the defending champion Botany Swarm in Christchurch.

The Red Devils' Pavel Novak had a hat-trick in game one to help the Cantabrians pull back a 3-1 deficit to eventually win 5-4.

Game two on Sunday was just as tight, with the Swarm managing to hold off a late rally from the Red Devils to secure and 6-5 win.

With each of the four teams in action over the weekend recording one win there is now a four way tie for the lead, with the Southern Stampede to get their season underway next weekend after a first round bye.
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