If there was any doubt the Canberra Brave have become a force to be reckoned with, they put it to bed this weekend, and they shocked Melbourne Ice in the process.

The AIHL ladder took another big shake-up in Week 13 as the Perth Thunder surged into second, the Mustangs continued their dramatic slide, and both the Brave and Northstars cashed in to rise in the standings.

The standings might have shuffled a bit, but in terms of form and performance, the power rankings hold steady this week. With playoff battles heating up, expect that to change soon. But for now, status quo reigns.

Melbourne Ice continue to set the pace in the AIHL, and it remains an utter logjam behind them. This week, it’s Brisbane Lightning leapfrogging the Thunder and Mustangs after a perfect weekend on the road.

On Sunday afternoon, I found myself at the O’Brien Icehouse in Melbourne’s Docklands, ticking off the second entry on my list of Australian sporting experiences. This time, it was ice hockey, a sport which is much less popular here, but one that I am more excited to attend.

Beyond the Ice, it's getting very hard to rank anyone in the AIHL.

Week 11 of the AIHL season saw the Melbourne Ice continue their dominant run, while the Perth Thunder made a big statement in the playoff race. It was a tough weekend for the Brisbane Lightning, who slipped down the standings, while the Mustangs and Brave kept things interesting in the fight for finals spots.

Melbourne Ice made yet another dominant statement in Week 10 of the AIHL, sweeping the Brisbane Lightning and piling on 12 goals in a Sunday rout. Elsewhere, Perth and Central Coast had mixed weekends, while the Mustangs will be nervously looking over their shoulder at Newcastle.

Melbourne Ice continue to put distance between themselves and the rest of the league, while the battle for playoff positioning is heating up. Here’s how things stack up after Week 9:

Week 9 of the AIHL saw a mix of the expected and the extraordinary, with Adelaide climbing off the bottom of the table, and Brisbane stumbling after a blistering start to their weekend.

Week 8 brought some stirring action on the ice, including a second win for Adelaide and a stunning comeback from Brisbane Lightning, shaking up the standings just a little. But for the most part, the league’s pecking order remains steady, with only a couple of meaningful shifts.

Week 8 of the AIHL brought fireworks on and off the ice, with high-scoring thrillers, dramatic comebacks, and one team continuing a turnaround few would have predicted just a fortnight ago.

There were plenty of storylines in week 7, from a record crowd in Canberra to a thrilling Melbourne derby, and Adelaide's first win, but only one change in the power rankings.

Week 7 of the AIHL season saw the Melbourne Mustangs climb into second place after a thrilling double-header, while a record-breaking night in Canberra saw the Adelaide Adrenaline finally notch their first win of the season.

Another busy week on the ice gave us plenty to chew over. The Ice held firm at the top, Perth flashed their firepower despite losing a high-scoring shootout, and the Northstars are officially back in business. Meanwhile, the Lightning quietly climbed the ladder, the Mustangs took a hit, and Adelaide's misery deepened.

Week 6 in the AIHL produced an array of high-scoring fixtures, with the Melbourne Ice maintaining their grip on top spot, while the Newcastle Northstars and Brisbane Lightning climbed up the standings on the back of two dominant wins and some serious firepower.

A couple of big results this week, but no change in our power rankings. After dismantling both Canberra and their crosstown rivals, the Ice have remain top and now occupy the same place on the league table. Elsewhere, the Mustangs stumbled, Adelaide’s struggles deepened, and Newcastle finally woke up.

Week 5 of the AIHL saw a reshuffling at the top and some eye-opening scorelines across the country, with Melbourne Ice claiming first place on the back of a dominant double-header. Meanwhile, the Central Coast Rhinos pulled off a thrilling overtime win against Adelaide.

Week 4 in the AIHL delivered plenty of fireworks. Seven-goal first periods, hat-tricks galore, and the return of international talent from the IIHF World Championships made for the most explosive weekend of the season so far. Melbourne Ice surged, Central Coast finally clicked, and Canberra Brave served up the upset of the round. Here’s how things stand heading into Week 5:

The AIHL delivered another electric weekend of action in Week 4, highlighted by explosive first periods, a 12-goal statement from Melbourne Ice, and a standout individual performance from Brandon McNally.