Bluetongues heat up ice in the Sunshine State

by Adrian Barclay

In a state known for its sunny weather and beautiful beaches, a game played on ice is garnering more and more attention. Amongst famous Brisbane sporting teams such as the Broncos and Lions, comes a new member to the club, the Brisbane Blue Tongues Ice Hockey team.

To many people the image of an Australian playing Ice Hockey is like a Jamaican pushing a bob-sled. It just seems a little out of whack. But the Blue Tongues along with the seven other franchises in the newly expanded Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) are setting out to prove that this sport can be popular in our sun-loving nation.

The Blue Tongues and the AIHL are hoping to capitalise on the niche market for Ice Hockey that has been created in this country due to our exposure to the world’s premier Ice Hockey League, the NHL. Already part of North America’s ‘Big Four’ professional sports along with Gridiron, Basketball and Baseball, the NHL is infiltrating the Australian sporting public through advancements in the internet and Pay TV.

It certainly seemed like a mighty gamble to expand the AIHL from its long standing base in the southern states, but the early signs are very promising. The 2005 season saw the addition of the Central Coast Rhinos along with the Blue Tongues to create an eight team league, joining the Sydney Bears, Adelaide Avalanche, Canberra Knights, Newcastle North Stars, West Sydney Ice Dogs and the Melbourne Ice.

The new AIHL is now undoubtedly the premier league in the Southern Hemisphere, and proved that by attracting an NHL player for this season. When the Adelaide Avalanche signed Pittsburgh Penguins big man Steve McKenna, the league took another step up in popularity and respectability. McKenna’s stature in the NHL will only ensure that others will follow him across the world in years to come.

The Blue Tongues have attracted excellent crowds in their inaugural season from their base at Boondall Ice World, by playing exciting hockey and having close contact with the fans. The team is mix of mainly Australian born and bred players, with the addition of seven imports which the league allows each team to have. Blue Tongues GM Garnet Radford spent the months leading up to the season attempting to attract elite Canadian and European players to Brisbane.

From talented North American veterans such as Bryan Randall and Mark Jackson to charismatic Finnish star Mikko Skinnari, Radford has finished up with possibly the finest group in the league. Combine that with top Australian talent such as Don Burke, Mike Gough and teenage Gold Coast sensation David Upton, and you have a team which has worked its way into second place on the ladder with a handful of games remaining before the finals.

So if you’re yet to experience this fast paced and exciting game, rug up and get your family down to see your local AIHL.

Bluetongue

The Bluetongue Brewery in the NSW Hunter Valley produces Bluetongue Premium Lager and Alcoholic Ginger beer. The Bluetongue Premium Lager is brewed in the traditional method using only top quality natural ingredients. At 4.9% alcohol, this full flavoured lager is well balanced, having notable up-front character, complemented with a distinctive crisp bitterness. The Bluetongue Alcoholic Ginger Beer at 4% alcohol, is a light alcohol alternative to the lager.

The Brisbane Bluetongue’s Ice Hockey Team is sponsored by Tyrrells Wines who are the distributor for Bluetongue Beer in Queensland. “We are very excited about the association between Bluetongue Beer and the Brisbane Bluetongues Ice Hockey team,” said Mark Ellis, Queensland State Sales Manager, “the sponsorship has given this new brand exposure to the sporting public, and the brand synergies are there, with fun and cheekiness a key message.”