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Ice Wars Will Continue at Games |
Dunedin (Tuesday, 22 December, 2009) – New Zealand’s and Australia’s tussle for dominance on the ice will continue at the Dunedin Ice Stadium during the ACC New Zealand Masters Games in early February.
New Zealand’s Ice Blacks beat Australia for the very first time in late August this year at the Dunedin Ice Stadium and New Zealand’s Masters teams want to make it a winning streak.
Four ice hockey teams from Australia have so far entered the Masters Games matching the four teams from New Zealand. The teams are from Adelaide, two from Melbourne, Brisbane, Queenstown, Gore, Christchurch and Dunedin.
ACC NZ Masters Games Manager Aaron Joy said he knew of two teams from Auckland which may also enter.
Ice hockey was offered as a Masters Games sport for the first time in 2008 - the last time the games were held in Dunedin. Six teams entered then.
It is not part of the games when they are in Wanganui as the city does not have a suitable facility.
Ice hockey co-ordinator Joyce Miller, of Dunedin, said the Australian competitors had been playing the game at Masters’ level for a lot longer than their New Zealand counterparts.
“They can be very competitive,” Mrs Miller said. “The heat will be on absolutely.”
The event was won in 2008 by the team from Brisbane with Dunedin’s Penguins a close runner up.
“We are highly delighted so many teams have entered. It will be a great competition,” she said.
Figure skating will also use the Dunedin Ice Stadium. The event has 29 entries so far.
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