▁into ▁Western ▁Australia ▁with ▁the ▁inclusion ▁of ▁Per th - based ▁side ▁Per th ▁Th under ▁and ▁the ▁introduction ▁of ▁a ▁two - con ference ▁competition . ▁ ▁The ▁A I HL ▁is ▁the ▁top - level ▁ice ▁hockey ▁league ▁in ▁Australia , ▁and ▁the ▁largest ▁league ▁in ▁the ▁Southern ▁Hem is phere . ▁The ▁Australian ▁Women ' s ▁Ice ▁Hockey ▁League ▁( A WI HL ) ▁is ▁the ▁top - level ▁women ' s ▁competition ▁and ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁ ▁Ice ▁hockey ▁in ▁Australia ▁is ▁govern ed ▁nation ally ▁by ▁the ▁Australian ▁Ice ▁Hockey ▁Federation ▁( current ly ▁trad ing ▁as ▁Ice ▁Hockey ▁Australia ), ▁formed ▁in ▁ 1 9 2 3 ▁as ▁the ▁Australian ▁Ice ▁Hockey ▁Association . ▁Australia ▁is ▁an ▁active ▁full - member ▁of ▁the ▁International ▁Ice ▁Hockey ▁Federation ▁having ▁been ▁admitted ▁to ▁the ▁feder ation ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 8 . ▁ ▁As ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁there ▁are ▁approximately ▁ 3 , 2 0 0 ▁registered ▁ice ▁hockey ▁players ▁in ▁Australia . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁Ice ▁Pol o : ▁Before ▁Ice ▁Hockey ▁The ▁beg inn ings ▁of ▁ice ▁sports ▁in ▁Australia ▁are ▁trac ed ▁back ▁to ▁the ▁evening ▁of ▁Wed nes day ▁October ▁ 1 2 , ▁ 1 9 0 4 ▁during ▁a ▁car n ival ▁held ▁at ▁the ▁Ad ela ide ▁Gla ci arium , ▁the ▁first ▁ice ▁r ink ▁built ▁in ▁Australia . ▁ ▁This ▁important ▁location ▁for ▁Australian ▁ice ▁sports ▁began ▁as ▁a ▁Cy