11U is open to both male and female players who are a maximum of 11 years old as at 31 December in the hockey year. In 2026, the division is open to those born in 2015 & 2016, and younger players, if deemed suitable, as per IHV rules and policies. Players born in 2017 who have been assessed as having suitable skills and experience may apply to “play up” into the 11U division at the club’s discretion.
11U is classified as non-checking and slap shots (stick above the knee) are not permitted.
David Brand will be back on the ice coaching, but this time in a Head Coach capacity to lead the 11U program.
Our 11U team will be managed by the very capable and experienced Jenny Sturrock, who will be your “go to” for all things team-related.
This year we have submitted an EOI for our 11U team into the Next Gen tournament at Ice HQ (April 11-14) as part of our pre-season preparation.
Watch this space for details of our upcoming comprehensive checking program for season preparation.
11U Team Staff
Head Coach: David Brand
David started playing Ice Hockey in Sydney in 1989 with the Macquarie Bears, wearing #52. He stopped due to a back injury sustained while playing and returned after many years in 2008 when he joined the Melbourne Demons. He has been on the Demons committee for 13 years and is our current club secretary.
He has been coaching Demons ice hockey teams for 15 years, across Summer and Winter teams and has led many of these teams to grand finals and premierships. Over the past few years, he has been focusing on coaching the Women’s team and was one of the 11U coaches last season.
As a kid, David worked at the Macquarie Ice Rink and skated as much as possible. He was on the ice for 18 hours straight one day! He has done speed skating (which is great for developing your edge work), and his top five favourite tricks on the ice are the drunken roll, jump slides, jumping from the red to blue line, doing an axel on hockey skates, and spread eagle full lap figure 8.
Favourite warm-up song on the ice: Kernkraft 440
Favourite teams: LA Kings (Gretzky was there!) and the Minnesota Frost (PWHL)
David’s coaching is all about making sure everyone has a chance to shine and improve their skill set. Hockey is a multi-skill sport, and players need all the skills across a team to succeed. David believes you can’t get good at hockey without being willing to make mistakes and give it a go. He will always encourage players to try something new and feel as comfortable making mistakes as winning the game!
His aim for the 11Us is to form strong foundational skills to create multifaceted players who are ready to move right through the junior ranks and have fun while doing it!
Assistant Coach: Dave Handford
Dave is a passionate hockey enthusiast, having been around Ice Hockey and Inline Hockey for 30+ years. Dave has donned both sets of gear as player and goalie across both sports. He has also previously coached junior and senior players with a key focus on development.
Dave is keen to engage with players, parents and associates to provide an environment for growth, fun and personal development both on and off the ice. Dave embodies all the values and culture of the Demons IHC and places particular emphasis on respect, understanding and kindness. We cannot wait to welcome Dave to the coaching staff for the U11 team.
Assistant Coach: Lachlan Rhodes
Lachlan started off ice skating at a young age, learning on figure skates
before moving into Ice Racing for the Olympic Southern Flyers. In 2017 he
swapped the race skates for hockey skates and joined the Demons very soon
after. Lachlan has played Division 3/4 hockey every year since, helping to
take the team to consecutive grand finals in both winter and summer
seasons.
This year, Lachlan is looking forward to seeing the young Demons grow and
build from their experience of the previous season and ensure that the team
has a fun and fantastic time throughout.
Assistant Coach: Olivia Anderson
Olivia’s hockey journey didn’t start in the traditional way. After years of competitive swimming, she made the bold switch to ice hockey and has been unstoppable ever since. She joined the Demons in 2024 during the inaugural U15 season and has since become a key player in both our Women’s team and our Summer Seniors program.
Off the ice, Olivia is just as committed. As our Communications Officer, she ensures our social media, game-day results, and club updates are always fresh, accurate, and visible for our community.
Within our junior and women’s programs, Olivia has consistently proven herself to be a supportive, hardworking, and inspiring teammate. Last year, she stepped onto the ice to assist with our U11 group, quickly building a strong rapport with the youngest skaters. Her patience, positivity, and natural leadership made a lasting impact.
This season, we’re thrilled to see Olivia transition into an Assistant Coaching role. We have no doubt she’ll thrive—her enthusiasm, dedication, and genuine care for the kids make her an incredible role model. The players already look up to her, and we can’t wait to see her continue to grow and inspire the next generation of Demons.
Congratulations, Olivia! We’re so proud to have you on our coaching team.
Assistant Coach: Julian Lau
Born in 2009 and originally from Melbourne, Australia, Julian Lau has developed into a versatile and dedicated ice hockey player with experience across both Australian and Canadian junior programs.
In Australia, Julian has represented the Demons Ice Hockey Club and the Docklands Ice Wolves across the 15U, and 17U divisions, as well as playing in The Levels Div 1 Rec League. His commitment and performance have seen him selected to represent Victoria in national tournaments including the Ginsberg (13U), Defris (15U), and Tange (18U) championships. He has also participated in numerous interstate and international tournaments, such as the OneHockey Ironworks Steelers Bantam Tournament (captain), the Lynch Cup, the Heatons Cup, and Ice Dragons Classic in Singapore.
Currently based in Canada, Julian is in his third year at Académie Ste-Cécile International School in Windsor, Ontario, where he competes for both the Prep 18U and Varsity 17U teams, captaining the latter. He plays in the Midwest Prep Hockey League (MPHL) and the Great Lakes Prep Hockey League (GLPHL), while also taking part in various tournaments and showcase events across Canada and the U.S.
When in Australia, Julian also contributes to the sport as an on-ice official, refereeing games for Ice Hockey Victoria and the NiteOwls 35+ League. His involvement as both a player and referee reflects his commitment to supporting the broader hockey community.
A forward who can also contribute effectively on defense, Julian is recognised for his speed, tenacity, and hockey IQ. Off the rink, Julian remains focused on maintaining his physical conditioning and takes a proactive approach to nutrition through meal-prep cooking.
Looking ahead, he is eager to share the skills and experience gained from his time in Canada by contributing to the Demons Ice Hockey Club next year through both coaching and competitive play.
Goalie Coach: Bryan MacKenzie
Bryan is originally from Canada where he played AAA junior hockey. He has played in both the Melbourne Mustangs and Melbourne Ice AIHL teams, and is currently with Melbourne Mustangs.
He is the goaltender coach for the AWIHL Melbourne Ice team, has coached the Boxall women’s team and is a regular commentator as well!
His coaching philosophy is if you’re having a good time, you’re learning and getting better. He tries to encourage players to enjoy themselves. Bryan is looking forward to seeing how the players grow and develop their skills throughout the season.
Team Manager: Jenny Sturrock
Jenny is mum to Flynn and brings a positive, supportive energy to our U11
program.
Outside the rink, she works as a meteorologist and loves getting
out to enjoy the game, connect with families, and build friendships within
the Demons community.
Next season, Jenny is most looking forward to seeing the U11 team continue
to grow, introducing exciting new opportunities such as goalie development,
and entering a tournament as the Demons.
Schedule / Fixture
The fixture will be shared when available.
Below is a summary of the training schedule:
- Will be confirmed shortly.
More training times will be announced soon.