Hellyer, Wayne

BORN FEBRUARY 27TH 1963 in Sydney Australia, he was educated at Rozelle Primary (1968-74) in Sydney's inner west, then completed a HSC at Balmain High (1975-81) while playing junior hockey for the Glebe Lions at Canterbury from 1978. Hellyer caught the train at Burwood Station at 4.10am to get to Sunday morning training. He was seemingly there in every team photo, from the age of 19 when the Macquarie Bears IHC of the newly-formed NSW Super League was incorporated in 1982; when it was renamed “The Sydney Bears” in 1997; when it became a foundation club of today's Australian Ice Hockey League in 2000. He was General Manager until 2019, displaying the genius for durability that has been a recurring theme in his work.

From inception back then, "Bears vs Bombers" games became highlights of the Super League fixture, even though players and coaches came and went. The club steadily improved from two grades to Pee Wees, Bantams, Midgets, Juniors, Senior B and Super League in just two seasons with the support and assistance of builders such as player-team manager, Ron Mann, and the Macquarie rink managing director, Peter King.

He won the Junior minor premiership with the Bears in 1983. He won his first Goodall Cup as head coach and manager of the New South Wales state team in 1999, his second as manager of the Bears in 2002, his third as vice president and general manager of the Bears in 2007, and his fourth in 2019. Club president in later years, he was also General Manager of the National Senior Team at no less than ten straight World Championships, 1995 to 2004, a permanent fixture surviving a long line of coaches that included Dan Reynolds, Marc Bowles, Kelly Lovering, John Botterill, Jari Gondstrand, and Don Champagne. This work was rewarded with a silver and 5 bronze medals.

Foundation president and board member of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL) in 2000, he and league secretary Tony Lane led the representation for affiliation with the national association, which resulted in a Working Agreement that was ultimately successful. The AIHL has since provided a platform for showcasing the best ice hockey players and coaches Australia has to offer, across 26 successful seasons. Wayne Hellyer was an AIHL Director in 2026 and his hockey career had spanned over four decades, almost all at the one club.