Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

The Dunedin Ice Hockey Association Board of Directors meets on the first Monday of every month at the Dunedin Ice Stadium. If you are interested in being involved with the committee and organising hockey events in Dunedin then please contact the DIHA secretary.

To see who is on the current DIHA Board of Directors, please visit our contact page.

To learn about the structure of the club, see our DIHA Organisational Chart.

Dunedin’s Ice Facilities

Dunedin has two ice rinks. The brand new international sized hockey rink and the adjacent curling/skating rink at the Dunedin Ice Stadium. The facility accomodates for ice hockey, curling, figure skating, speed skating and public skating.

The Dunedin Ice Stadium is run by Dunedin Ice Sports Inc. which was formed in 2003 by the The Dunedin Ice Hockey Association, Dunedin Ice Skating Club and Dunedin Curling Club. Each of the individual clubs have representatives on the Dunedin Ice Sports Inc. board. The new facility replaces the old “Big Chill” which was never intended as a permanent home for ice sports in Dunedin. The Dunedin City Council offered the use of the old Dunedin Stadium to the board of Dunedin Ice Sports Inc. as the previous users had relocated to the Edgar Sports Center.

History of the Dunedin Ice Hockey Association

The following history of the Dunedin Ice Hockey Association was kindly supplied by Graham McKerracher. We also have page on the history of ice hockey.

1989

The inaugural meeting of the Dunedin Ice Hockey Club was on 20 November, 1989 and was chaired by Graeme Wickin of the Dunedin Ice Skating club. At the meeting, a steering committee was set up to look into the formation of a hockey club. The steering committee comprised of:

Craig Scammell
Peter Klemick
Raymond Westeneng
Cameron McKenzie
Andre Van Leeuwen.

1990

On 4 December 1990, the Dunedin Ice Hockey Club held its first Annual General Meeting. Thirty-two members attended and the Club’s first executive was formed. The executive was comprised of:

President: Rob Carlson
Vice-President: Peter Klemick
Secretary: Angelique Mawson
Treasurer: Richard Young
Committee Members:
Craig Scammell
Justin Rowlands
Andre Van Leeuwen
Raymond Westeneng
Ray Steel
Cameron McKenzie
Jonathon Peacy
Graeme Wickin

Following shortly after, Rob Carlson stood down as President due to work commitments and Pete Klemick replaced him. Once Pete Klemick became President, he donated the “President’s Cup” as Dunedin’s trophy so that each year a tournament would be played in Dunedin for the trophy. He also donated the present goalposts to the Club. The committee also voted to call Dunedin’s first hockey team, the Dunedin South Stars.

Dunedin played its first year in the Southern League in 1990 and during that year, the South Stars won their first cup by beating Oturehua for the President’s Cup. In 1990, players played against other Southern League teams with either red or blue bibs that were donated to the Club by Canadian perfusionist, Russell Miller. The bibs still survive to this day and Russell still resides in Dunedin. The South Stars were coached by Canadian Ph.D student, Gordon Court, who was in New Zealand on a Commonwealth Scholarship to study penguins and skuas. Gordon Court was in Dunedin for three and a half years but had to give up coaching the following year to concentrate on his studies which involved 3-4 month stays in Antarctica.

1991

In 1991, Peter Klemick left Dunedin to pursue work and ice hockey in Christchurch. Consequently, Martin West was elected president at the Club’s AGM in March 1991. The Club’s second executive was comprised of:

President: Martin West
Vice-President: Graham McKerracher
Secretary/Treasurer: Daphne Glover

Committee Members:
Angelique Mawson
Craig Scammell
Chris Hanna
Eric Bell
Fraser Booth

During the 1991 season, the Dunedin South Stars played and lost to the Newmarket Bombers from Toronto, Canada who were on a New Zealand hockey tour. The game was the highlight of veteran goalie, Eric Bell’s career as he was awarded one of the Bomber’s special awards. Along with being President, Martin West was also the coach of the South Stars Southern League team and Canadian Otago University Physical Education Lecturer, Steve Jackson, was the captain. Also in 1991, Ron Wispinski and Adrian Van Leeuwen coached the first Dunedin junior team.

1992

In 1992, Graham McKerracher was elected President at the Club’s AGM held in February after Martin West stook down as President due to work commitments. Graham McKerracher was the last President of the Dunedin Ice Hockey Club. The Club’s third executive was comprised of:

President: Graham McKerracher
Vice-President: Andre Van Leeuwen
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Kaye Amies
Committee Members:
Virginia Miller
Craig Scammell
Jackie Hornell
Glenn Heather
Stephen Glover
Reuben Weare
Chay Amies
Rob Carlson

Kaye Amies and Joyce Miller’s involvement signalled the amalgamation of the emerging junior team with the senior club under one administration. At the Club’s AGM in 1992, the Club changed its original team name, “South Stars” to the newly adopted team name of “Penguins”. The Club also adopted the team colours of red, black and white. This was the first year that Dunedin had their own team uniforms as previously they had been using pale blue practice jerseys with taped on numbers borrowed from Steve Jackson.

Also in 1992, the Club adopted the Constitution put forward by Martin West the previous year (until then the Club had no Constitution). Later in the year, the Club became an incorporated society under the name of “The Dunedin Ice Hockey Club”. The Penguins were successful in winning the President’s Cup for the second time. Also, the Penguins were finalists for the first time in the Ancient Briton Cup and the Erewhon Cup and were runners-up in the Idaburn Shield. Murray Skeaff was senior coach that year with Steve Jackson taking the role of captain. Andre van Leeuwen was the coach of the junior team.

1993

In 1993 at the Club’s AGM, the Club changed its constitution to become The Dunedin Ice Hockey Association. Consequently the Club had to rescind its old incorporated status and take out a new one under the name of “The Dunedin Ice Hockey Association”. This development was brought on by the growth of ice hockey in Dunedin and the opportunity it afforded the Association to control and develop the game of ice hockey under one umbrella organisation (rather than have a series of competing clubs). It was also believed that the Association was a more appropriate body to develop club competition in Dunedin and to promote Dunedin’s involvement in the Southern League.

Also, at the 1993 AGM, Geoff Cook was elected the first DIHA President after Graham McKerracher stood down as President to pursue work in Fielding. Dunedin’s first DIHA and fourth ice hockey executive was comprised of:

President: Geoff Cook
Vice President: Duane Bell
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Kaye Amies
Committee Members:
Dan Williams
Andre Van Leeuwen
David Sparks

Dunedin had two senior teams for the first time in 1993 when Angelique Mawson, Jackie Hornell and Stephen Glover formed the Dunedin Lords. However, the Dunedin Lords disbanded after only one season.

1994

In 1994, Geoff Cook became the first President to sit for two terms when he stayed on as President for 1994. Dunedin’s fifth executive was comprised of:

President: Geoff Cook
Vice-President: Alb Carlton
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Kaye Amies
Committee Members:
Karen Wilson
Michelle Whitburn
Adrian Van Leeuwen

The void created by the withdrawal of the Dunedin Lords was filled when the Penguins developed a second team known as the Dunedin B team. However, late in the season, Dunedin B became restless with their B status and decided to call themselves the “Dunedin Ducks”. The transformation was complete when Rob Carlson returned from the United States with Duck uniforms. Andrew Douglas then designed the Dunedin Ducks logo.

1995

Geoff Cook stood down as DIHA President in February 1995 when he took over as President of the Southern League. Consequently, Kaye Amies was elected as the new DIHA President. The sixth executive was comprised of:

President: Kaye Amies
Vice President: Steve Jackson
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Michelle Whitburn/Joyce Miller
Committee Members:
David Sparks
Karen Wilson
Alb Carlton

During the 1995, the Penguins had its most successful season to date. The Penguins won the B Pool Championship, the Idaburn Shield, the Erewhon Cup, the President’s Cup, the Ancient Briton Cup and the Alexandra Cup, to take a clean sweep of all competitions. The team was also unbeaten during the 1995 season with their closest result being a 3-3 draw with the Christchurch Red Wings. Meanwhile, the Dunedin Ducks had their first full season under their new name. The Ducks were coached by Canadian Physical Education Ph.D student, Roger Le Blanc and James Broome was their captain.

1996

In 1996, Kaye Amies followed in Geoff Cook’s footsteps by taking on a second term as the DIHA President. Dunedin’s seventh executive was comprised of:

President: Kaye Amies
Vice President: Steve Jackson
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Virginia Miller/Joyce Miller
Committee Members:
Karen Wilson
Kate Smith
Ellen Hendry

Steve Jackson was the coach and captain of the Penguins. The Ducks were coached once again by Roger Le Blanc and the captain was Canadian Marine Science student, Darrin Drumm. The junior team was coached by Corey MacDonald and Graeme Sykes was junior team manager.

1997

This was the first year of the Dunedin Interclub competition and was instigated by Roger Le Blanc. Four teams entered the competition – the winning team receiving the Clarendon Cup. Tim Cooper was selected for the NZ senior team which played in Turkey. Roger Le Blanc coached this team. The eighth executive comprised of:

President: Kaye Amies
Vice President: Gordon Slievert
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Colin Moodie
Committee members:
Roger Le Blanc
Tim Cooper
Pete Klemick

1998

Our President, Kaye Amies, left in February 1998 to take up a new position in Lower Hutt. Shawn Killian ran a hockey school in Dunedin in April. Women’s hockey was organised this year, with Bruce Pinel as Coach. Antony Miller ran a University beginner hockey group during the year. The Interclub continued this year. The ninth executive comprised of:

President: Ellen Hendry
Vice President: Bruce Pinel
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Colin Moodie
Committee Members:
Steve Jackson
Jackie Christos
Graham McKerracher
Karen Wilson
Graeme Sykes
Chay Amies

All Southern League junior and senior tournament games comprised 3 x 20 minute periods from this year. Bruce Pinel organised games with Otago Nuggets and Otago Rebels. $1000.00 was received from Cableways to purchase 10 helmets. $1310.00 was received from the Hillary Commission/Community Trust and used to purchase a catcher and blocker and 2 sets of leg pad and body armour. The Peewee Nationals were held in Dunedin this year.

1999

The tenth executive comprised of:

President: Ellen Hendry
Vice President: Bruce Pinel
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Colin Moodie
Committee Members:
Steve Jackson
Karen Wilson
Jackie Christos

The Sport Otago Winter Sports Awards were held at the end of the year – the following receiving awards:
Sportsperson: Steve Jackson
Sports Administrator: Joyce Miller
Sports Team: SIHL Women’s Rep team.
Sports Coach: Bruce Pinel
The Interclub continued with teams.

A grant of $2,000.00 was received from Cableways and used to purchase 2 sets of jerseys for the Interclub — Dunedin Stars and Dunedin Sharks. The High School League continue to grow this year and a tournament was held in August. A second interclub was held later in the year. Bruce Pinel compiled a coaching manual and copies were handed to the Dunedin coaches.

2000

The eleventh executive comprised of:

President: Ellen Hendry
Vice President: Bruce Pinel
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Colin Moodie
Committee Members:
Steve Jackson
Russell Walsh
Jackie Christos
Larry Wheeler

Planet Hockey was held in Dunedin during March. The Interclub continued with teams. The High School league continued to be successful. A summer Interclub was held and was run by Sam Smith. Simon Christos was selected for the NZ junior team to travel to South Korea. Bruce Pinel returned to Canada to live and a farewell was held for him in August? The senior A and B format to continue this season.

2001

The twelfth executive comprised of:
President: llen Hendry
Vice President: Graeme Sykes
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Larry Wheeler
Committee Members:
Jackie Christos
Steve Jackson
Russell Walsh
Mike Lewis

This year’s interclub was run by Mike Spencer, Sam Smith and Gina Bosselman. Luke Walsh was selected as the U/16 player from NZ to attend a development camp in the Czech Republic in July. A trophy for the President’s Cup B Pool section was purchased and named “The Bruce Pinel Trophy”. The President’s Cup tournament was held in Alexandra this year. Eight teams were involved in the high school league this year and an Otago tournament was held in August. A summer interclub was also held this year. Simon Christos was selected for the NZ junior team. The Club took part in the Santa parade this year and this was organised by Larry Wheeler. The Club received an NHL grant of $US5,000.00 to be used for equipment, travel and icetime for junior and younger aged players.

2002

The thirteenth executive comprised of:

President: Ellen Hendry
Vice President: Graeme Sykes
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Larry Wheeler
Committee Members:
Russell Walsh
Jackie Christos
Steve Jackson
Euan Garbutt
+ Team Managers

The Stadium was looked at with a view to becoming the venue of a new rink. Graeme Sykes and Ellen Hendry were elected to the Board of Dunedin Ice Sports. Jackie Christos was appointed as Manager for the Friendship team to travel to St Paul in 2003. The High School league continued to grow and was very popular. In October, the rink in Kaikorai Valley Road closed.

2003

After 4 years at the helm, Ellen handed in her resignation and Vice President, Graeme Sykes took over the role of President. The fourteenth executive comprised of:

President: Graeme Sykes
Vice President: Stephen Christos
Secretary: Joyce Miller
Treasurer: Euan Garbutt
Committee Members:
Steve Jackson
Gina Bosselman
Brian Michelle
Jackie Christos
Larry Wheeler

+ Team Managers

Because there was no rink, numbers dropped considerably. The Club only fielded 1 midget and 2 senior teams this year. The President’s Cup tournament was held in Gore this year.

Club members sold pens as a fundraising venture.