AIHL Week 3 Wrap: Mustangs, Ice Make Statement as Perth Falter

James Lane

Week 3 of the 2025 AIHL season brought fireworks, surprises, and a major shakeup at the top, with the Melbourne clubs flexing their muscles while Perth’s perfect start came crashing down.

Mustangs Stay Unbeaten

The Melbourne Mustangs were the big winners of the weekend, extending their unbeaten run with a pair of dominant victories. They opened by thumping the Central Coast Rhinos 6–1 on Saturday, shaking off an early 1–0 deficit to pour in six unanswered goals, before dismantling the Newcastle Northstars 8–3 on Sunday. After a 2–2 deadlock at the first intermission, the Mustangs pulled away emphatically, confirming their place as genuine title contenders.

Perth Crash Back to Earth

Over in Perth, it was a weekend to forget for the Thunder. After sweeping the first two rounds, they hit a brick wall against Melbourne Ice, falling 3–0 at home on Saturday and 9–3 in a rough Sunday encounter. The Ice, winless after two rounds following a pair of tough overtime defeats, suddenly look revitalised, grabbing six points on the road and soaring up the standings.

Canberra Down Adrenaline

In Adelaide, the Brave and Adrenaline traded blows across two matchups, with Canberra coming out on top both times. Saturday’s clash needed overtime before the Brave eked out a 6–5 win, but they left no doubts on Sunday, blowing open a tight 2–2 game with a 3–0 third period blitz to win 5–2. Brandon McNally was again the key architect, extending his lead in the assists race with some slick playmaking.

Standings Tighten at the Top

The Mustangs now sit second with 11 points, just behind Perth Thunder (12), who hold a slender lead despite the tough weekend. Melbourne Ice’s sweep sees them jump to third on 8 points, narrowly ahead of Brisbane Lightning (who didn't play this week), and Canberra Brave, who are tied on 7.

At the bottom end, it’s a grim picture for the Adelaide Adrenaline. Still winless after three games, they languish in last place with just a solitary point, while Central Coast and Newcastle sit precariously on four points each.

Perth’s Yu Hikosaka continues to lead the league in goals, even as the Thunder stumbled, with 11 to his name. Canberra’s Brandon McNally remains the premier setup man, topping the assist charts with 13.

Looking Ahead

The early runaway narrative has been flipped on its head. Perth’s dominance is no longer a given, Melbourne’s clubs are surging, and the Brave might just be finding their footing after a rocky start.

With Brisbane set to return next week and several heavyweight clashes on the horizon, the race for the top four playoff spots looks like it’s only just getting started.