The season hasn’t even started and the Ice Dogs have a big win under their belt with the signing of a new major naming rights partner BANQ Accountants.

“We are very excited to have our first ever naming rights partner in Ice Dogs history” says Captain Anthony Wilson.  “The support of BANQ off the ice allows us every opportunity to succeed on the ice this season and further professionalise the club and the league”.

BANQ Accountants specialise in strategic business management, financial advice, legal and more.   Mr Gino Cassaniti of BANQ grew up in Liverpool and enjoys the physical contest of Ice Hockey and would like to see the sport grow further in the Liverpool Community.  ”I think it is great to see a national league ice hockey team in Liverpool, especially the Ice Dogs who are doing a lot of hard work to grow the sport and we want to be apart of that” said Mr Cassaniti.

Now that BANQ are on board as major sponsors they expect nothing less than a championship from the Ice Dogs.  “We are excited to get out to the games and want a repeat of 2004 now that our name is on the line” jokes Gino Cassaniti from BANQ Accountants.

“BANQ Ice Dogs…has a nice ring to it I reckon” finishes Wilson.

TAB West Hoxton Backs the Dogs

As the long and tough 2010 AIHL season rapidly approaches West Hoxton TAB has joined forces with the Sydney Ice Dogs.

This mutually beneficial sponsorship will see West Hoxton TAB be able to access the rapidly growing Ice Hockey community who may or may not be aware that they can have a bet on the NHL with TAB Sportsbet. Whilst the Sydney Ice Dogs gain some monetary help with the rigours of the 2010 season.

“I wasn’t aware that you could place a bet on any NHL game through TAB sportsbet and I have been playing the game for over 15 years now. So I guess it is a very fitting partnership” says forward Scott Stephenson who visited West Hoxton TAB just the other week to seal the deal.

“The Ice Dogs do alot of work with the ice hockey community all year round so it is also nice to help them out with a sponsorship” explains TAB agent Peter Azzopardi (pictured to the right above).

For those adults out there who like to gamble responsibly and have a bit of fun by betting on the NHL be sure to stop in at the West Hoxton TAB and support the company that supports the Ice Dogs.

Ice Dogs Forward Scott Stephenson shaking hands with Westbus CEO Jim Glasson

The Ice Dogs would like to extend a big thank you to one of their 2009  major sponsor’s Westbus, for supporting the Sydney Ice Dogs and the Pups Club.

Every year Westbus  continuously give back to the community and in 2009 they decided to invest in the often neglected ice hockey community through the Ice Dogs and the Pups Club.   The Pups Club  is made up of registered ice hockey players in the Atoms (under 11) and Peewees (under 13) age grades around Sydney, who receive free passes to all Ice Dogs Home Games.

The purpose of the Pups Club aligns with the Ice Dogs mission statement which is “to retain the youth of the game, by providing a pinnacle they can aspire to”.  “The most important thing to come out of the AIHL and Ice Dogs at the end of the day is that kids come to the games with their families and stick to the sport, because they want to play at that level in the future” says Captain Anthony Wilson.   Wilson goes onto say “It is great to find a partner like Westbus who not only understands this, but shares the same vision”.

In 2010, the Ice Dogs are looking to take everything to the next level, including the Pups Club.  “We want to give more to the younger players who come to the Ice Dogs games” says forward Scott Stephenson. “We want to have the Atoms and Peewees playing games in our intermissions, receiving free posters and go that extra mile beyond letting them have first dibs on broken sticks (and even complete sticks sometimes).  It is just a matter of setting up the infrastructure over the off-season to grow the Pups Club”.

So thanks again to Westbus and if you live in the Western Sydney area and are looking for a public transport alternative please check out www.yourbus.com.au and help support the company that supports us!