Northstars make history with record seventh Goodall Cup
- intouch Magazine
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Newcastle Northstars have written themselves into Australian ice hockey history, claiming a record seventh Goodall Cup and ending a decade-long wait to reclaim the top of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL).
A 2-1 win over Canberra Brave in Sunday's 2026 AIHL Grand Final in Melbourne made the Northstars the first club in AIHL history to win seven championships, adding the 2026 title to victories in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2015 and 2016.
Ten years on from their last premiership, the win comes on the eve of the club's 25th anniversary and caps a season for the record books.
The Northstars went into the finals series as Minor Premiers after topping the regular season ladder — their sixth H. Newman Reid Minor Premiership, a feat no other AIHL club has matched, and a milestone moment for a club that has been part of the Newcastle sporting landscape since joining the league in 2002.
Adding to the sense of history, the 2026 decider was a near replay of the 2016 final — the same opponent, the same 2-1 scoreline. It was also a big weekend for Northstars head coach Kevin Noble, who was named 2026 AIHL Coach of the Year at the Finals.
Noble said the Goodall Cup was the ultimate reward for the commitment the playing group had shown all season.
Road to the grand final
The Northstars booked their grand final berth in style, thrashing the Sydney Ice Dogs 10-1 in Saturday's semi-final. The Ice Dogs struck first, but Newcastle turned the game on its head in the second period, scoring seven times through six different players before adding three more in the third.
Francis Drolet claimed a hat-trick, but the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Newcastle local Maliq West, who scored the tenth and final goal — his first-ever Finals goal.
Canberra Brave earned their spot in the decider with a semi-final win over the Melbourne Mustangs.
Grand final
Newcastle came out flying at O'Brien Icehouse, scoring twice in the opening period to take a 2-0 lead into the first break. Canberra hit back with the only goal of the second period to make it 2-1, setting up a tense final 20 minutes with the Goodall Cup on the line.
The Northstars defence held firm through a scoreless third period, weathering everything the Brave threw at them. When the final siren sounded, the scoreline stood at 2-1 — and the Newcastle Northstars were crowned 2026 AIHL Champions.
Alternate captain Francis Drolet, who finished the weekend with three goals and seven points, was named 2026 AIHL Finals Most Valuable Player.
A historic milestone in a historic season
The 2026 championship crowns a season already stacked with individual and team milestones. Northstars veteran Beau Taylor celebrated his 200th AIHL game, Wehebe Darge reached 300 games, and Brian Funes played his 350th league match.
Francis Drolet marked his 150th AIHL appearance in a season that saw him rewrite the Northstars record books, breaking two club records that had each stood for 11 years — first passing Brian Bales as the club's all-time leading goalscorer, then overtaking Rob Starke as its all-time points leader.
Milestones like these ran throughout the roster, reflecting a squad that blended hard-won experience with the next generation of Northstars talent.
For Newcastle, the seventh Goodall Cup adds another chapter to a proud history — and sets a new benchmark for the AIHL.
