The Sydney Sabres are an Australian junior ice hockey team based in Sydney playing in the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League. They represent one of the two junior ice hockey teams from New South Wales currently playing in the AJIHL, which is the most elite level for ice hockey at a national level for ages between 16–20 years old.

Sydney Sabres
CitySydney, Australia
LeagueAustralian Junior Ice Hockey League
Founded18 September 2012
Home arenaPenrith Ice Palace
Owner(s)New South Wales Ice Hockey Association
General managerPaul Kelly
Head coachJason Kvisle
CaptainDaniel Pataky
Franchise history
2012–2013Sydney Lightning
2013–presentSydney Sabres
Championships
Regular season titles1 (2014)
AJIHL Championships3 (2014), (2016), (2019)
Current season

Team history

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AJIHL

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The Sydney Lightning were founded 18 September 2012 following the announcement by Ice Hockey Australia of the formation of the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League.[1] The team is controlled by the New South Wales Ice Hockey Association.[1] On 14 October 2012 it was announced that Jason Kvisle as coach for the 2012–13 AJIHL season with Jimmy Dufour as his assistant.[2]

The Sydney Lightning played the first ever AJIHL game against the Melbourne Blackhawks at the Medibank Icehouse on 21 October 2012. The Lightning we defeated by the Blackhawks by a score of 5–3. [3]

The first goal ever scored in the AJIHL was by Daniel Pataky of the Sydney Lightning.[3]

The first team in club history: For the 2012–13 AJIHL season[2][4]

# Nat Name Pos Date of Birth Acquired Birthplace
7 Christian Elaya F 19 August 1996 2012
3 Charles Frazer D 22 August 1995 2012
8 Jesse Garcia F 9 June 1994 2012
20 Rhett Kelly G 29 June 1994 2012 Sydney, Australia
17 Jackson Knott D 7 December 1994 2012
6 Jake Knott F 21 June 1996 2012 Sydney, Australia
14 Casey Kubara F 6 April 1996 2012 Sydney, Australia
19 Cian O'Reilly F 5 June 1995 2012
5 Daniel Pataky D 24 January 1996 2012 Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
25 Harley Quinton-Jones G 13 May 1995 2012
11 Yucca Reinecke F 5 July 1995 2012 Johannesburg, South Africa
18 Hayden Sheard F 5 March 1996 2012
9 Chris Shephard F 24 May 1994 2012
1 Marco Tomasello G 6 March 1992 2012 Sydney, Australia
4 Cameron Todd F 21 July 1994 2012 Sydney, Australia
15 Martin Valdivia D 21 April 1995 2012
12 Axel Winton D 21 July 1994 2012 Sydney, Australia
16 Luke Zvonicek F 30 August 1996 2012

AJIHL Expansion

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The follow-up season in the Australian Junior Ice Hockey League saw a lot of change via expansion and renaming of its existing teams. The Sydney Lightning were renamed the Sydney Sabres in September 2013.[5][6] The changes were made in response to the National Hockey Leagues concern about the AJIHL using their team names and logos but also recognised the opportunity to create a new history for the teams through creating their own identity. In October 2013 the league expanded to six teams with two teams from Perth, the Sharks and the Pelicans, joining for the start of the 2013–14 season.[7]

Logo and Uniform

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2012–2013 Sydney Lightning

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Sydney Lightning used this logo between 2012 and 2013

In their first year, and the inaugural AJIHL season, the Sydney Lightning wore a uniform that resembled the NHL namesake Tampa Bay Lightning. The jersey design and uniform bore close resemblance to the Tampa Bay Lightning design, with the AJIHL logo used for shoulder crests.[8]

2013–present Sydney Sabres

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Season by season results

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Season GP W OTW OTL L GF GA PTS Finish Playoff
2012–13 14 5 3 0 6 45 41 21 3rd Lost semi-final vs. Sydney Maple Leafs, 2–7

Players

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Current roster

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For the 2016–17 AJIHL season

# Nat Name Pos Date of Birth Acquired
2 Jack Ransome 2016
3 Austin Matthews 2016
5 Hayden Savage 2016
6 Kory Sheridan F 6 March 1999 2015
7 Charles Yole D 9 February 1997 2015
8 Aiden Sillato F 13 October 1999 2015
9 Liam Manwarring F 11 March 1999 2015
10 Mohak Issar F 29 October 1999 2015
11 James Barton 2016
12 Jayden Whitbread 2016
13 Joey Gunner 2016
15 Tim Russell D 20 January 1997 2015
16 Branson Moore D 20 January 1999 2015
17 Lachlan Good 2016
18 Joshua Kleipas F 5 November 1998 2015
19 Nick Air F 13 March 1998 2016
37 Nathan Moncrieff 2016
98 Ellesse Carini F 4 December 1998 2014
1 Dale Tilsted G 8 April 1999 2015

Captains

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Head coaches

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The first Head Coach for the Sydney Lightning in the inaugural year for the AJIHL was Jason Kvisle.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Hewitt, Andrew (20 September 2012). "AJIHL Teams Announced". Hewitt Sports Network. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  2. ^ a b Hewitt, Andrew (14 October 2012). "AJIHL rosters finalised". Hewitt Sports Network. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  3. ^ a b Hewitt, Andrew. "Blackhawks Make Winning Start". Retrieved 17 September 2015.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Sydney Lightning". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Formerly the Sydney Maple Leafs". Sydney Wolf Pack. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Coaches Welcome the Sydney Sabres". Sydney Sabres. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  7. ^ "AJIHL National Junior League Kicks Off in Perth". Ice Hockey WA. 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  8. ^ Hewitt, Andrew. "Lightning and Red Wings Complete Round 3 Sweep". Archived from the original on 26 November 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  9. ^ Hewitt, Andrew. "AJIHL Rosters Finalised". Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2015.