Back-to-back championship beckons!
17 September 2026
The capital’s premier women’s ice hockey team, the Canberra Pirates, is on a mission to win back-to-back championships this weekend following a 15-game season of undefeated competition against seven other women’s teams from Sydney, Newcastle, and Erina.
ACT Ice Sports Federation today hailed the team’s rise from the cellar in 2021 where it finished last, to its phenomenal achievements in 2026 when it defeated every Ice Hockey NSW (IHNSW) Women’s League team it faced in the world’s fastest team sport, putting it in the front seat for a second championship.
“This achievement is a huge credit to the ice sports community in Canberra, and especially to the development of home-grown talent with girls as young as 14-years-old forming part of the Pirates’ full roster of 20 players and three goalies,” Sandi Logan, ACTISF spokesman said today.
“Girls’ and women’s sport is an important part of all Australian communities, and the support the Canberra Pirates have inspired in recent seasons speaks volumes for its commitment to their program making ice hockey not only accessible to all girls and women, but especially geared towards a strong skills-development approach, a team-first mentality, and lots of fun for every player.”
The Pirates are entirely self-funded with corporate sponsors helping towards players’ and team costs which exceeded five figures in 2026 paying for the extensive interstate travel to the other teams’ arenas, all based in NSW. It is the club’s 10th season in the competition – in its 12th year of operation – with a line-up that includes at least six current and/or former Australian national team players.
Coached by Ray Chiasson, with assistant coaches Jake Goodwin, Lyndon Chiasson and Don MacDonald (goalie coach), the Pirates will again play their hearts out for fans who numbered more than 750 at last weekend’s game at Phillip Ice Rink when they won their elimination semi-final, defeating Liverpool’s Valkyries 3-0.
“This Saturday’s (19 September) game at 4pm (doors open at 3pm) could be a sell-out, and it further supports the community’s advocacy for a new ice sports facility, notwithstanding the recent decision by the ACT Government not to proceed with the Tuggeranong project in Greenway,” Logan said.
“Fortunately, Geocon has been improving the 45-year-old Phillip arena’s spectator amenity as well as other structural enhancements since it took over the lease, and we’re very appreciative of their efforts,” he added.
As expected, Canberra Pirates’ merchandise has been running hot with a range of branded caps, drink holders, beanies, hoodies, and ice hockey pucks available for fans to purchase.
“We’re very proud of the Canberra Pirates women’s ice hockey team and wish them all the best for their grand final championship game Saturday against Sydney’s Arctic Foxes,” Logan added.