User:Greg the White Falcon/Wollongong Falcons
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| Wollongong Falcons | |
| League | AIHL |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Based in | Wollongong, New South Wales |
| Home ice | WIN Entertainment Centre |
| Colors | Blue, silver and white |
| Championships | None |
| Minor Premiers | None |
| Head coach | Vacant |
| General manager | Vacant |
The Wollongong Falcons are a fictitious semi-professional ice hockey team in the Australian Ice Hockey League.
The Falcons and the New Zealand Black Ice are part of the AIHL's planned expansion to ten teams for the 2007 season. The team will play its home games at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong, New South Wales.
In 2006, Ice Hockey Australia announced plans to expand the AIHL into two more markets currently not served by existing teams. The cities of Perth, Hobart and Geelong were considered, however it was Wollongong who submitted one of two winning bids (Auckland, New Zealand being the other) after plans were unveiled to completely renovate the WIN Entertainment Centre with improved ice-making facilities in time for the 2007 ice hockey season.
[edit] Origins of the name
The name "Falcons" was chosen for several reasons:
- The team will share the WIN Entertainment Centre with the similarly-named Wollongong Hawks of the NBL;
- The selected colours for the team were blue, silver and white, with the jerseys similar to those worn by the NCAA's Air Force Falcons;
- Local businessman Brad Wratten, who owns a Ford dealership in the area, is a part-owner of the team and the Falcon is Ford Australia's flagship model.
[edit] 2007 Roster
The Falcons and the Black Ice participated in an expansion draft in 2006 in order to set their rosters for the coming season. As per AIHL rules, each team was allowed a maximum of six imports (players not from Australia or New Zealand). The Falcons' roster for 2007 will be:
| No. | Player | Position | Status | Nationality | Last Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shaun Starkey | Goaltender |  |
Sutherland Sharks (NSW League) | |
| 3 | Keith Hewitt | Defender | |
Brisbane Blue Tongues | |
| 4 | Aaron Nunn | Defender | |
NSW Under-21s | |
| 6 | Jason Rothschild | Defender | |
NSW Under-21s | |
| 7 | Jeff King | Right Wing | |
Melbourne Ice | |
| 8 | Brad Rudnicky | Right Wing | |
Brisbane Blue Tongues | |
| 10 | Drew Benson | Centre | See below |  |
Boston College Eagles (NCAA) |
| 15 | Ben White | Centre | Captain | |
Sutherland Sharks (NSW League) |
| 16 | Jonathan Macon | Left Wing | |
Bankstown Bruins (NSW League) | |
| 18 | Reid Kelly | Right Wing | Import |  |
Vancouver Giants (WHL) |
| 19 | Wade Brennan | Centre | Import | |
Brampton Battalion (OHL) |
| 22 | Owen Rushton | Centre | Import | |
Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 23 | Chad Young | Defender | Import | |
Toronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL) |
| 24 | Patrick Molloy | Defender | |
NSW Under-21s | |
| 26 | Esko Järvinen | Right Wing | Import |  |
Kärpät (SM-liiga) |
| 27 | Matt Sorensen | Left Wing | Asst. Captain | |
Sydney Bears |
| 39 | Mathew Martin | Goaltender | |
Sydney Bears | |
| 48 | Jeff Primeau | Defender | Import | |
Thunder Bay Bulldogs (SIJHL) |
| 52 | Jason Griffin | Left Wing | |
Newcastle North Stars | |
| 69 | Kane Ross | Right Wing | Asst. Captain | |
Western Australia Under-21s |
- Although he was born in the United States, Drew Benson qualifies as a non-import as he holds dual citizenship with the U.S. and Australia.
