Auckland Ice Hockey Association Adult Hockey League Information

Welcome to the AIHA Adult Hockey League (AHL)

AHL Hockey utilizes IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) rules and is strictly no body checking & is officiated in this manner.

Our aim is to provide a fun & safe enviroment for all players where they can enjoy the great sport of Ice Hockey.

AIHA expects that all players participating display good sportsmanship & respect team mates, opposition players & officials.

Regardless of the level of competition, we are all participating in social adult hockey & here to enjoy the sport.

All players must be registered with AIHA & have a full set of protective equipment to play.

Season Information

The AHL has 3 different leagues - Premier League, Division 1 and Division 2, that compete throughout the regular season to participate in the end of season playoffs.

Our regular season usually runs from mid-March through to late October & AHL games take place on Monday, Saturday and Sunday at the following ice rinks:

Paradice Avondale (150 Lansford Crescent, Avondale)
Paradice Botany (Corner Ti Rakau Drive & Botany Roads, Botany)

The following time slots are usually used for all regular season AHL games.

Monday night @ Avondale Rink:
6:45pm – 7:45pm
8:00pm – 9:00pm
9:15pm – 10:15pm

Once the Bantam & Junior leagues start in late April, Monday night games reduce to the 9:15pm – 10:15pm slot only.

Monday night @ Botany Rink:
8:00pm – 9:00pm
9:15pm – 10:15pm

Once the Bantam & Junior leagues start in late April, Monday night games reduce to the 9:15pm – 10:15pm slot only.

Saturday Night @ Avondale Rink
4.30 - 5.30pm - Game 1
5.45 - 6.45pm - Game 2
7.00 - 8.00pm - Game 3

Saturday Night @ Botany Rink
4.45 - 5.45pm - Game 1
6.00 - 7.00pm - Game 2
7.15 - 8.15pm - Game 3

Sunday Night @ Botany Rink
4.45 - 5.45pm - Game 1
6.00 - 7.00pm - Game 2
7.15 - 8.15pm - Game 3
8.30 - 9.30pm - Game 4 (if required)

Game format (running time)

• 3 Minute warm up
• 1st period - 15 minutes
• 60 second break
• 2nd period - 15 minutes
• 60 second break
• 3rd period - 20 minutes

After the game has finished teams have 2 minutes to shake hands & exit the ice so it can be groomed for the next game.

During certain periods of our AHL season the game times can alter due to availability of ice slots.

AHL Playing Fees

All AHL playing fees are charged to each individual via the AIHA esportsdesk registration system and the fees are typically arouund $650 for the season, including registration to the NZIHF and AIHA.

AHL Premier League (Non Checking)

Competing Teams 

• Blues
• Rampage
• Rangers
• Red Army 

Teams play 20 x regular season games + Playoffs

AHL Division 1 (Non Checking)

Competing Teams

• Chiefs
• Eagles
• Grizzlies
• Jokers
• Savages
• Spartans
• Storm
• Vipers
• Wolves

Teams play 20 x regular season games + Playoffs

AHL Division 2 (Non Checking)

Competing Teams 

• Bears
• Hawks
• Lions
• Scorpion
• Tigers
• Venom

Teams play 20 x regular season games + Playoffs

Basic AHL competition rules to take note of

This is not an exhaustive list, but rather a brief summary of the key rules used by the AHL. The AHL is utilizes the IIHF rulebook, which can be viewed here: https://www.iihf.com/en/statichub/4719/rules-and-regulations

• AHL Goaltenders can only play for 1 AHL team
• Goaltenders from a lower division can fill in for any AHL team in higher division when your regular goaltender is unavailable.
• AHL League players can only play for 1 AHL Team.
• For a team to play a game it must be able to put on the ice at least five skaters and one goaltender at the beginning of the game.
• Teams that forfeit games due to insufficient player numbers shall have 3 competition points deducted.
• AHL Hockey does not rent or loan Adult protective equipment & it is the responsibility of all players to have the correct equipment to play.
• Players born after 1974 must wear face protection & all female players must wear either a full cage or full visor as face protection.
• AHL players must turn 18 years of age in the year of the competition to play AHL Hockey.
• Dispensation may be approved by the AIHA Board of Directors only, for under age players to play AHL Hockey.
• Teams can apply for dispensation for an individual player with respect to playoff eligibility to AHL League Director but they must prove special circumstances apply
• New players are added to existing AHL teams at the discretion of the AIHA Board of Directors and team managers. This is usually done during the registration period at the beginning of each new season (January - March) . Our aim is to place new players into respective League that best suits individuals skill & experience.

Check with AHL League Director (ahl@aiha.org.nz) for clarification as any team found to not adhere to above rules will have that respective AHL competition game noted as FORFEIT & competition points awarded to opposition team.

If both teams found to not adhere to above rules no competition points are awarded. 

Teams that forfeit games due to insufficient player numbers shall have 3 competition points deducted.

Any team that plays a player who is not current with their fees shall have 3 competition points deducted.

Teams that play a player who is either not registered with AIHA or plays with another team, without written permission from the AIHA Board of Directors and/or AHL League Director, will have 3 competition points deducted.