Kaurna boomerangs
Kaurna Boomerangs is the first ever Australian Indigenous ice hockey team established in late 2017. The co founders of the team were Shaquille Burgoyne and Jaidyn O'Neill. Both Shaquille and Jaidyn were a part of the Fremont Elizabeth Ice Factor team Bluehawks so were well aware of the advantages of the Program. Shaquille and Jaidyn thought that as Ice Factor was able to help them with their struggles and issues with life, why can't we help other people in similar situation. "The Boomerangs is all about giving indigenous young people a place where they can belong instead of getting trouble with the law and ending up in jail" is the message from Shaquille.
The team started training under head coach Justine Shaw and assistant coaches Ales Kratoska (Adelaide Adrenaline) and Tash Farrier (Adelaide Adrenaline and Australian Women's National Team) and was captained and mentored by Jarrad Chester (Former Adelaide Avalanche and first indigenous player to represent Australia.) The trainings from early on showed that this team had potential and Boomerangs played their first ever games in the Division 1 Ice Factor Challenge Cup in 2018 finishing that tournament undefeated. But the Boomerangs with the leadership of Justine, Brittany Armstrong and Marie Shaw QC had their sights set even further: They wanted Boomerangs to represent Ice Factor and Indigenous people all over Australia and even overseas.
Co founders Shaquille Burgoyne (left) and Jaidyn O'Neill (right)
The management worked extremely hard to make this happen and the boys in the team were happy to do whatever it takes to make the dream a reality. The group was able to get some great support from different organisations and people like Lipman Karas Lawyers, The Nail Shop (Australia) and These people and organisations were a major force in to allowing the Boomerangs to finally play a series of games in Darwin, NT as a supporting series for the Arafura Games.
Unfortunately the regular head coach Justine wasn't available to take the team to their first games but our amazing Ice Factor coach Joey Matthew was happy to take the reigns. Joey was able to take control relatively easy as most of the players have played for him and trained with him in the Ice Factor Program. The three game series for the "No More" cup was a thriller but the Boomerangs took home the honours by beating the hosts 2 games to 1.
Unfortunately the regular head coach Justine wasn't available to take the team to their first games but our amazing Ice Factor coach Joey Matthew was happy to take the reigns. Joey was able to take control relatively easy as most of the players have played for him and trained with him in the Ice Factor Program. The three game series for the "No More" cup was a thriller but the Boomerangs took home the honours by beating the hosts 2 games to 1.
We have had many current Boomerangs players call this experience the best experience of their life and a real life changer. In short time since the games we have seen amazing growth in the mentality of these players and are looking at them achieve more and more. The last in the long list of accolades was a Civic Reception at the Adelaide Town Hall hosted by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide.
Lipman Karas
