Steve Best becomes first marquee player to sign

As soon as Bill Newbound was confirmed as a General Manager in the newly formed National Hockey Super League (NHSL), Steve Best knew he wanted to be part of his team.

It should come as no surprise that one of the stars of South Australian Ice Hockey became the first marquee player to sign in the NHSL after he locked himself in with Newbound’s Port Adelaide Brewers. 

Best is as dominating on the ice as they come in South Australia. He’s put up 253 points across 103 games over the last eight seasons of Premier League hockey while playing for the Red Wings. He wears a letter with the Adelaide Adrenaline and is one of their leading scorers. 

No team would say “no” to Steve Best, but Newbound made it easy for him to say yes.

“When I first started playing for the Wings we lost nearly every single game in the Premier League,” says Best. “When Bill started to take over the management side of things we became a contender for the cup almost every year. We won four cups with how he shaped the team.”

Best says that Bill Newbound is a winner – and he expects the same thing to get done with the Port Adelaide Brewers. 

“To me – he’s proven he knows how to build a championship team. How could anyone say no to being a part of that,” he says.

In a league full of variables it’s nice to have something certain, says Newbound.

“I know how Steve goes about his hockey on and off the ice,” the General Manager says. “He’s the ultimate leader. I feel safe that he is going to lead by example and mentor the young guys we want coming through. He’s highly skilled, silky smooth with the puck and a player I know can play in every situation.”

The Red Wings captain is the first player to be locked in as a marquee player. Each team can sign two players, but not from the same IHSA club. Players are free to sign with who they like and it is believed all three general managers are trying to lock in their guys.

The remainder of the team will be filled out in a draft that players must nominate for.

Best is in red-hot form at the moment. He’s led a Red Wings team to the Preliminary Final of the local season. But he’s had to do things a little different.

The Red Wings have been ravaged by injuries. He’s had to play offensively, defensively and with a revolving door of line mates. He finished third in the league in goals (21) and had the competition’s longest point streak – a 13 game stretch where he put up 15+10.

Best says he’ll use his championship experience and draw on moments from the year while he’s been looked to as a marquee player.

“In the room, I like to try to make sure everyone feels comfortable being there and know that they belong…as long as they are putting in the work and buying in,” he says.

“I know I’m one of two players that are shaping this team. I’ll be a leader.”

All General Managers have the ability to sign two marquee players ahead of a mid-October draft. Teams can sign whoever they like, and players can sign wherever they want. Two players from the same IHSA club are not permitted. To sign together.

Best says he is energised by what the NHSL is bringing.

“This is going to be great exposure for ice hockey in South Australia in what is ‘technically’ our off-season. The fans are going to have some higher quality local hockey to watch,” he says.

The Brewers now have one more spot to fill but will have to look outside the Red Wings to fill it.

Who will it be? 

Either way, Steve Best is off the board.