Former NHL player David Booth is showcasing impressive goal scores and impressive statistics in Australia
In the world of ice hockey, the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) is the premier competition Down Under, featuring teams such as Melbourne Ice, Canberra Brave, Perth Thunder, and Newcastle North Stars, among others [1][3]. The league is a key part of the national ice hockey structure, operating at the highest competitive level in Australia.
While the AIHL has hosted some international players at various times, it has not been previously known as a league that draws NHL stars. However, this perception might be about to change with the arrival of David Booth, a former NHL power forward [2].
Booth, who played 530 games in the NHL with the Florida Panthers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Detroit Red Wings, has been plying his trade in the AIHL since leaving the National Hockey League [1]. His last NHL appearance was in the 2017-18 season in Detroit.
Booth's recent performance in the AIHL has been nothing short of impressive. This week, he scored one of the slickest goals the league has ever seen. The goal involved intricate hand and footwork, allowing Booth to maneuver around a pair of defensemen with precision that was compared to Vegemite being spread smoothly on a slice of bread [4].
Booth's point-per-game average in the Australian Ice Hockey League this season stands at 4.55, with 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) in just 11 games [5]. These numbers suggest that Booth's scoring totals at the end of the season could potentially be obscene.
After his NHL career, Booth played a pair of seasons in the KHL before joining the Melbourne Ice in the AIHL [6]. Other leagues known to draw NHLers include the KHL in Russia, the DEL in Germany, and the National League in Switzerland. Burgeoning leagues like the United Kingdom's Elite Ice Hockey League and Central Europe's ICE Hockey League are also becoming an option for NHLers.
The AIHL isn't the highest level of professional hockey in the world, but Booth's performance suggests next-level skills that have not been commonly seen in the league. As the Australian Ice Hockey League season concludes at the end of this month, it will be interesting to see how Booth's impact on the league will be remembered.
[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Ice_Hockey_League [2] - https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/former-nhl-power-forward-david-booth-finding-success-australian-ice-hockey-league/ [3] - https://www.hockey.org.au/ [4] - https://www.theage.com.au/sport/hockey/david-booth-scores-slickest-goal-in-aihl-history-20220427-p5a9kp.html [5] - https://www.theage.com.au/sport/hockey/david-booth-scores-slickest-goal-in-aihl-history-20220427-p5a9kp.html [6] - https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/former-nhl-power-forward-david-booth-finding-success-australian-ice-hockey-league/
The Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) has attracted an NHL star with David Booth, a former power forward for multiple NHL teams, showcasing impressive performances this season. With a point-per-game average of 4.55 and 50 points in just 11 games, Booth's potential season-ending scoring totals could be remarkable.
