The AIHL imposed a condition of entry on the Mustangs that prevented them from incorporating 'Melbourne' into their name. The purpose of this condition was to protect the existing Melbourne Ice brand. The Mustangs appointed Steve Laforet as their inaugural head coach for the 2011 AIHL season. Shane Hardy was named the club's first AIHL team captain. In the lead-up to the 2011 season, the Mustangs took on their new local rivals, the Melbourne Ice, in a warm-up match at Docklands. 14 April 2011, the Mustangs took part in the AIHL season opener at the Melbourne Icehouse against the Ice in the first ever AIHL Melbourne derby. The Ice won the match 8–4, condemning the Mustangs to their first ever AIHL defeat. The Mustangs registered their first ever AIHL victory on 16 April 2011. The Orange and Black overcame the Sydney Bears 6–2 at the Penrith Ice Palace. On 23 June 2011, Laforet announced his resignation as head coach for personal reasons. It was later revealed Laforet was temporarily stood down by the club as a result of an altercation at a game against the Gold Coast Blue Tongues. Assistant coach, Doug Stevenson, stepped in and took over for the rest of the season. At the end of the regular season, the Mustangs finished sixth in the league standings, ahead of the Canberra Knights and Sydney Bears. In 2012, during the off-season before the new season started, the annual AIHL general meeting (AGM) sat and a decision was made to lift the restrictions on the Mustangs from using the geographical word 'Melbourne' from their brand with immediate effect. Four days later the Mustangs announced they had officially changed their brand and name to the Melbourne Mustangs. The Mustangs also appointed experienced Canadian Bill Wilkinson new head coach. Ontario-born Wilkinson was a long time NCAA head coach in the US and former Spanish national team head coach. The performances on the ice did not translate with Wilsinson's experience and by mid-season Wilkinson was replaced by the Mustangs assist coach and former head coach, Laforet. Under Laforet, the Mustangs registerd five wins from eight matches but it was not enough to lift the team off the bottom of the Easton Conference at season's end. Ahead of the 2013 season it was revealed the Mustangs and Laforet had parted company by mutual termination of Laforet's contract. The Mustangs would have to appoint a new head coach for the third season running.