RINK WARS 2025

KIHL RINK WARS TARANAKI 2025

New Plymouth played host to the second annual RINK WARS TARANAKI tournament featuring the Alkali Cup Pro Division. 

68 games over 4 days of competition made for a great spectacle of inline hockey action. 5 × Pro Team, 8 × Division 1 teams, 6 × Division 2 teams, and 6 × 21U teams would battle it out across 4 Division for Rink Wars Supremacy. 

The 21U Division would kick things off with a 6 team round-robin format followed by Division 1 and 2 as we eagerly awaited the Alkali Pro Division teams to take the floor. 

The Alkali Cup Pro Division did not disappoint with the pinnacle of inline hockey players from New Zealand and beyond. Spanish KIHL Cup Champion Oriol Morera making his first Rink Wars appearance for the Labeda Frost. Australian Steven Adams returns to Rink Wars for the Pigeons. Recently returned from the USA Josh Stove joins brother Devon Stove for the Rink Rats, while Julian Beardman home from Canada would join brother Sam Beardman for the Pigeons. 

The Pro Division standings finished with a mix of results with the Rink Rats taking the top spot. Rink Rats would meet the Pigeons in the semi with Penguins meeting the Labeda Frost. The Frost going down 6 - 1 to the Penguins with the 4th seed Pigeons taking down the 1st seed Rink Rats 4 - 2 during the Semi-finals.

The Finals would feature the battle of the Birds Penguins vs Pigeons. Penguins again looking too strong and taking the Alkali Cup and the winners cheque for $2000. Rink Wars Pro MVP - Jaan Turia, Rink Wars Pro MVG - Matt deBoer. 

Division 1 was an impressive grade with 8 teams across 2 pools stacked with talent. New teams, new uniforms made for a refreshing competition. Joining Division 1, Our good friends GoPlay Melbourne Bush-Rangers in their first Rink Wars appearance.

Blade Mafia topping Pool A with the Resurgence holding first in Pool B. However Blade Mafia would fall victim to the Tour Vipers and the Resurgence falling to the defending Rink Wars Champion Wolves. A New Division 1 Rink Wars Champion would be crowned with an Overtime winner courtesy of Cole Friedlos to secure the Tour Vipers first Rink Wars title. Rink Wars Division 1 MVP - Callum Hawthorne, Rink Wars Division 1 MVG - Matthew Eastwood. 

Division 2 is a mixed player Division catering mostly to Masters 35+ with 18+ Females. No Pro Players are eligible. Teams were full of legendary players of the past and KIHL regulars with new teams getting amongst the festivities. KIHL Green finished last in the round-robin but upset The Squad in their elimination game to make the Semi-finals.

West Coast Warriors would fall to the Grey Power to make the Division 2 Finals with the Astros going unbeaten dominating thier Semi-finals over the KIHL Green team. Astros would prove too strong taking down the Grey Power to win the Rink Wars Division 2 Championship. Rink Wars Division 2 MVP - John Thomsen  Rink Wars Division 2 MVG - Maia Rata. 

Rink Wars 21U was an entertaining display of hockey talent. A young team Red Bull pulling off multiple upsets going beaten during the round-robin format with +28 and conceding 1 goal in 5 games with Zac Williams recording 4 Shutouts.

 Labeda Frost and Deez Nutz would face-off in the Semi-finals with Red Bull taking on the Tour Vipers. The Tour Vipers would not repeat play pushing the Red Bull to overtime. Wesley Taiapa securing the winning goal to advance to the Finals. Labeda Frost and Deez Nutz would trade blows in their Semi-finals but with a late game power-play Deez Nutz secured a game winner through Lachlan Robertson taking the game 3 - 2.

21U Finals was a tightly contested contest with no score at the half. However Wesley Taiapa found the back of the net 3 minutes into the second half. A quick reply a minute later seen Lachlan Robertson draw level scores. A huge battle was ensuing as pressure mounted on both teams. Lachlan Robertson again finding the back of the net with minutes left the Deez Nutz continued to defend a relentless Tour Vipers team. Deez Nutz getting the job done and secured their first Rink Wars 21U title. Rink Wars 21U MVP - Josh McMaster, Rink Wars 21U MVG - Zac Williams. 

A Big weekend for the KIHL celebrating another successful year of inline hockey in the Taranaki with great people. The tone is already set for Rink Wars 2026 with international interest and teams in the planning for title defense. Many thanks to the players for joining us and let's smash it out again in 2026.