STEPHENSON, Mark

BORN OCTOBER 8TH, 1961 in Melbourne, Mark Stephenson developed in the local Sydney leagues and represented New South Wales as a junior, including the Tange Trophy (U18) in the early 70s. He joined the new Canterbury United club with Noel Taylor and Kevin Price, then the Blacktown Flyers. The Blacktown club evolved from a founding member of the New South Wales Superleague in the early 80s, playing out of Blacktown Ice Arena in Sydney's west.

A foundation player with the Dogs, he moved to the Sydney Bears in 2002, returning in 2003 and remaining until his retirement 10 years later at the age of 40. At home on ice or inline skates, he coached the young Anthony Kimlim, a future minder for the National ice hockey team, in the Australian under-12 national inline hockey team.

Stephenson represented his state as a senior and won the 1984 Goodall Cup on a side with ex-pat Canadian netminder David Turik and some of the best overseas forwards in the golden era of imports. Players such as Jeff Taylor, Craig Hutchinson and Darrell Becker.

In the mid-90s, Stephenson coached the Blacktown peewees and later the AWIHL Sydney Sirens for four seasons (2009, '12, '13, '14). Two other clubs dominated the League for a decade after it began. The State Coaching Director has also been National Coaching Director since October 2012.

Internationally, Stephenson was Assistant Coach four times for the National Men's Under-20 team (2004 to '07), once for the National Women's Team (2011) with Melissa Rulli and Rocky Padjen, and four times Team Manager of the National Under-18 Women (2016 to 2020) with Head Coach Tamra Jones. He won bronze and gold medals with the Under-18 Women and another gold medal with the Under-20 Men.

In the national men's league, the AIHL, he coached the Central Coast Rhinos in 2005-06; the Sydney Ice Dogs between 2007 and 2010; and he was later twice Assistant Coach of the Ice Dogs (2017, '18). Underdogs in 2008, he led the Sydney team to the AIHL finals.

Wife Vicki served on the board of the national association and was twice GM of the National Under-18 team (2004, '05); Team Manager of the National Under-20 team (2013); and GM of the National Senior Team (2015).

The Stephensons three sons—Todd, Scott and Alec—combined for 764 games in the national league and 123 games for their country. All three were Goodall Cup Champions with the Sydney Ice Dogs in 2013.

Life Members of their state association, Mark works for a pharmaceutical company, and Vicki is an accountant. They have three grandchildren. Mark is also an avid Canterbury Bulldogs supporter in the NRL and enjoys cricket.