Melbourne Mustangs Raise Goodall Cup Banner

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It was an emotional occasion for the Melbourne Mustangs organisation, seven long months had passed since the 2023 Goodall Cup triumph. However, during week two of
the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) season the Mustangs officially unveiled their championship banner.

A packed O’Brien Icehouse Arena greeted the Mustangs, as queues for membership collection disappeared down Pearl River Road with fans eager to see their favourite stars.

Within the Mustangs, acknowledgement of the Goodall Cup championship runs deeper than the AIHL roster. A collective effort from everyone on and off the ice to help get the club in a position to succeed.

“Well, I guess for me personally it’s a great achievement, but more than that it’s a combination of a whole lot of work by whole lot of people,” Mustangs President John Belic told Hockey Hype Australia.

“Winning a championship there is a whole bunch of players that are out on the ice and they do the scoring and the defending and so forth. But to win a championship, you really got to have the whole organisation behind you and have the sponsors supporting you, the fans supporting you, the volunteers supporting the club. 

“So, it was just for us, or for me and the club it was I guess a tribute to the collective effort by everybody last year to get us to where we are today.”

Following the championship heroics of 2023 demand for Mustangs tickets are at a premium, membership allocation is now closed due to an increase in season ticket purchases.

It is the first time in Mustangs history that season tickets have been stopped due to the high demand, continuing the positive strides the club has made since coming out of the covid pandemic.

“For the first time ever, we have actually stopped selling memberships,” continued Belic.

 “We have got a number of people that sort of delayed buying their memberships thinking there was time, unfortunately, we have been overwhelmed and it’s great being popular and we are very, very happy with it.

“But it has caused a couple of little growing pains that we are not used to, memberships are fantastic, we have increased by about 60-70 per cent this year which is wonderful, and we certainly love our members.”

New Era Begins
Arriving in Australia Scott Timmins wasn’t aware of the prestige that is the Goodall Cup, a trophy with a steep history in ice hockey globally – the fifth oldest ice hockey trophy in the world.

Getting the chance to lift the 113-year-old cup was a special moment for Timmins, something that sits high on the accolades of an ice hockey career which has reached the heights of the NHL.

“It’s pretty special, coming here I didn’t know the history of the trophy or how long it’s been awarded, pretty impressive looking thing,” Mustangs player-coach Scott Timmins told Hockey Hype Australia.

“And obviously always nice to win a championship, it’s been a while since I’ve had that winning feeling and just the bond that comes with being champions, seeing the guys that came in from last year’s team, always good to see that.

“And then just the memories that come with winning a championship, you know, those laughs are a lifetime. So, whenever we get together again, we have that bond and you know, together we are champions.”

Named league MVP for the 2023 AIHL season, and now the new head coach of the Mustangs, it was a special moment for Timmins to see the championship banner raised.

A coaches mentality and drive to win, Timmins already has an eye on adding to the banners in the rafters, looking to chase down their local rivals.

“Yeah, pretty cool. Obviously, a special moment. Just a lot of memories that come back with seeing that,” continued Timmins.

“It’s nice to raise that and hopefully raise a few more and even up the numbers with the [Melbourne] Ice up there.”

It’s a new role for Timmins in 2024, taking on the head coaching position following the departure of Pat McMahon mid-season, and Jon Moses taking over for the cup run home.

Furthermore, Moses won’t be lost to the Mustangs, playing an important role alongside Timmins as part of the coaching staff.

Although it will be the first time Timmins takes a spot behind the bench, the chance to fill the void and pass on hockey knowledge was exciting. Giving back to a sport that has afforded Timmins so much.

“Just with what happened last year letting go of Pat [McMahon] mid-season, I just figured with a vacancy to take it over and see what I can do, and you know pass on my knowledge of the game,” said Timmins.

“A little more stressful with having to worry about lineups, training plans. Just X’s and O’s. Rather than just focusing on myself playing out there. So, a little more stressful with the extra jobs, but I’m happy to help.

“You know, when I came here, I wanted to leave it better than I found it. Just to pass on that knowledge and make everyone around me a better player, that’s what’s most important.

“So, just to help grow the game, make the guys better, hopefully I can do that and hopefully we can win another championship.”

This article has been republished with permission from the Hockey Hype Australia
You can view that article on the HHA website by clicking here
The author of both articles is the same.