Jeremy Friederich's Top 10 Marquee Player Candidates

Adelaide Adrenaline and Premier League leading goalie Jeremy Friederich was asked about the players he would consider giving a 'Marquee Tag' to. This is what he said.

Our three team General Managers are currently hard at work trying to lock in two players to build a team around before an October draft.

1. Joey MacDougall (Forward - Adrenaline / Tigers)

He can play anywhere on the lineup, he’s a true leader and a commanding figure in any locker room he’s a part of. You won’t find many guys that outperform him in any single area of the game and he’s well rounded enough to excel at all of them.

2. Jake Riley (Forward - Adrenaline / Jokers)

Jake is the most electric and exciting player to watch. He brings a whole new meaning to the word 'excitement' and he is a player that you will always notice when he’s playing.

Not only an x-factor player on the ice but also an x-factor off the ice. Whether it's his hairstyle, or his Vilis-focused Instagram page - there's no bigger presence in ice hockey south Australia.

3. Zach Boyle (Defence - Adrenaline / Tigers)

Not many guys have had the honour of playing for the men’s national team and Zach is as deserving as they come.

The most dynamic player on the ice. He can lead a rush as well as he can shut it down.  Boyle is the kind of player you can build a blue line around and provides experience that not many can come close to rivalling.

4. Steve Best (Forward - Adrenaline / Red Wings)

Another one of those electric players and there isn’t really much separating Jake and Steve. Both are incredible to watch.

Steve could easily be anywhere in the Top 4 on this list. When you look at what you need in a marquee player there aren’t many that fit the mould like Steve does. He’s a great character that can command a locker room while at the same time being friends with everyone.

On the ice he's a clear “one to watch” with a knack for scoring goals when it matters most. He finds a way to dictate the tempo of the game so well with his big frame.

5. Greg Oddy (Forward - GOAT - Adrenaline)

When you’re starting a franchise it’s not only about building a competitive team on the ice but you also need to build a brand.

Oddy is dubbed by many as the “Australian Wayne Gretzky” and there’s no bigger name in the state that you could build your team around.

With such a young core of players coming through the experience and presence of a proven winner like Greg would be extremely valuable.

6. Nathaniel Benson (Forward - Adrenaline / Jokers)

Looking at young dynamic players in the league there aren’t many better than Nat. He is an explosive offensive player who loves to work hard in the corners.

He is a proven point getter and has shown he can produce in any role having played with many different players throughout the years. 

7. Andrew Zolotarev (Defense - Adrenaline / Falcons)

On a struggling falcons team Zolotarev has still managed to shine as a key player.

With a hockey CV that is beaten by very few people in the state, and with a shortage of defensemen in South Australia, making 'Zolly' your marquee player is a very good decision. He is able to lead the play from the back, get involved in the attack, but also play huge minutes as a stay at home D. 

8. Jarrod Siemens (Forward - Blackhawks)

The Blackhawks have improved a lot this season and a lot of that has to do with the return of Peter King in net.

However, a player that continues to shine through and be a pain for other teams is Siemens.

I’m really excited to see the Hawks continue to improve and to see Siemens play a role on a competitive playoff team. He'll get this chance playing at a high-level with the NHSL.

He is an effective special teams player and the kind of guy that can carry a line. He makes the players around him look good.

9. David Huxley (Defence - Adrenaline)
 

A marquee player should be a strong character and there aren’t many that are as strong of a character as Hux.

You need a leader that can hold players accountable and set a good example and there are few names that do it as well as Huxley does.

Not only do you get a prominent leader in the locker room you also get a strong defenseman with a cannon of a shot.

Despite being out of action for a few seasons Huxley is still able to bring a lot to a team and is the kind of player you can structure a blue line around.

10. Jake Hazel (Defense - Jokers) 

A name that is becoming more and more common around the hockey community, Hazel is a stay at home defence man who’s starting to bring a lot more offence to his game.

Great with his stick, and surprisingly agile, he will break down plays and he will create opportunities for your side. He’s a young defenseman that will be around for years and there’s not many better at doing what he does.

Honourable Mentions

Andrew Chen: Experienced offensive defence man, has played all over the world and is one of the best skaters in the state. Amazing speed and strength, Chen can really dictate the tempo of a game and also gets infront of shots and makes some really key defensive actions every game.

Jan Koubek: Experienced player who loves to get others involved. He makes players around him look better, he brings so much skill and experience to the table and is a player you can build a line around.

Daniel Chen: Another young Joker, Daniel is a hard worker and finds a way to make a difference on any line he’s put on. He is bound to bag goals every season and he’ll also put in a great shift on the PK. I can't think of a better young player to build your team around.