A Comprehensive Guide: Adelaide Xtreme

by Eric Balnar

This is the third of a three-part series giving you a comprehensive guide to each of the teams in the NHSL. The league opened on Friday 12 November as a sold-out crowd watched the Brewers win 4-3 in overtime. 

For Part 1: A Comprehensive Guide of the Stars, click here. 
For Part 2: A Comprehensive Guide of the Brewers, click here.

Welcome to the second ever game week in National Super Hockey League history - Australia's first ever professional ice hockey competition. If you've heard all this in yesterday's article, scroll on down to the meat of the article! But...

If you're just joining us it's nice to meet you. Let's get you up to speed with what's happened.

We appointed three iconic South Australian ice hockey figures to be a General Manager of an NHSL club. They appointed a coach. They signed two marquee players each to build their team around. Then they filled out their roster at the NHSL draft.

The teams were selected from a pool of players who nominated themselves for a draft. 

The take up was huge. Over 150 players registered for the draft. Among them were local stars of the game, savvy veterans, emerging young talent, about a dozen interstate players, and people who came out of retirement just for this league. 

22 players were drafted to each team in early October. Since then, those very players have trained three times a week gelling together getting ready for the season.

It's a game changer for hockey here. Players have more time on ice. They are learning different structures. Their fitness is being taken to new levels. 

Now, the season is here. Let's see what we have. 

On Friday night the Port Brewers and Noarlunga Stars face-off in the historic game. Tickets sold out within 24 hours. All games will be broadcast (stay tuned for details!). The hype is real and justified - this is different. 

How things will play out is anyone's guess, but it's incredibly intriguing. 

We're so accustomed to seeing these South Australians play together in their traditional clubs. Now they're pushed out of their comfort zone by playing with new unseen interstate talent, and players that haven't been around the rink for a number of years.

How will the return of retired players like impact the game play?

How will structure improve with teams training three times per week?

How will players adjust to three 20-minute stop time periods?

We have a unique situation. All we can do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

Let's jump to the third of our teams - The Xtreme - who are making their debut this Friday vs the Brewers. 
 

ADELAIDE XTREME 

General Manager: Tash Farrier, 4x AWIHL Champion, Team Australia Player, AWIHL Scoring Champion 

Head Coach: Eric Lien, former Team Australia goalie, former Team Australia assistant coach, former Adrenaline Head Coach. He's joined by assistant coach Stu Henly. 

Marquee Players: Joey MacDougall, you could make a case that he's the best all-around player in South Australian Hockey at the moment and 19-year-old goalie phenom Jeremy Friederich.

Who are their star players?

Showtime Joey MacDougall had a big season for the Premier League Tigers. He led the charge on both ends of the ice. He plays a tenacious game, creates turnovers through hard work, makes his teammates better, dominates the face-off circle and helps dictate the pace of play.

Nathaniel Benson was the #1 overall selection in the Draft. The 20-year-old put up 45 points in 19 games this year, has two years of AIHL (as a 16 and 17-year-old) and just returned from Canada. He's creative and skilled.

Jeremy Friederich is a star in all aspects of the game. He dominated with a 1.42 GAA and .936 save percentage for the Jokers this year. He had 8 shutouts and allowed over three goals only twice. Friederich has backstopped the Jokers to two straight championships. You literally can't give him a lead. The Jokers have not lost when scoring first (when Jeremy is in net) for two seasons.

Xander Wardlaw has also entered the chat. He led the East Coast Super League in scoring and the 21-year-old has been a leading scorer with Australian Junior National Teams. Already a solid AIHL player, he is moving to South Australia and will be a big difference. 

What about their emerging stars? Who should I be excited about?

Despite their young age, Benson and Wardlaw are not emerging. They are already here. Same goes for Friederich.

Andrew Chen could arguably be placed in "Star Player" category, but the 21-year-old defenseman still has room to grow. He's got his feet wet in the AIHL, is a long time Junior National Team player, played high school hockey in Canada and was the Ace of the Jokers blue line during their last two championships.

Noah Maley impressed in the back-half of the Premier League season as a guy who plays good two-way hockey and can score a clutch goal. Let's see how he does with veteran players around him. 

Interstate X-Factors + Returning Players 

We talked about Wardlaw earlier. He's a big pick up. The other one is Jamie Woodman. He's a Perth Thunder player residing in WA and arguably Australia's best defenseman. If he makes his way over that might be the biggest acquisition for any team.

Adrian Esposito has over 280 games of AIHL experience with the Sydney Bears and has played in multiple leagues all over the world. That veteran experience is huge.

On the theme of veterans, a few players have come out of retirement for the Xtreme.

Former Canadian junior player (OHL) Graham Charbonneau is skating again and was recently named an alternate captain. He brings so much hockey smarts, knowledge and skill. He can play forward or defenseman.

AIHL players Dean Peterson and Aaron Widger bring some hard nosed hockey and great vibes in the room. It's great to see them with gear on again!.

The biggest X-Factor possibility here is David Huxley - a 250+ AIHL veteran and one of the best defensemen South Australia has ever seen. He could be available to play Game #1 and if he gets game ready we're in for a treat. We anxiously wait...
 

What about their defensive and goaltending situation? 

Let's not waste any more words on Jeremy Friederich. He's probably the best goalie in South Australia and will soon be challenging the likes of Anthony Kimlin in Sydney for Australia's starting job of the top team.

Jordan Geyer - the captain of the 2x defending champion Jokers - will likely make the move back to the blue line. He has AIHL experience.

Tom Tait is a very hard working defenseman who holds the fort well with the Red Wings.

Andrew Chen was mentioned above and is a great skater who will likely see power play minutes.

Charbonneau has been practicing on the blue line and by all reports has been excellent. He'll be available Week 1 and is an assistant captain on the side. 

A huge addition is the potential return of David Huxley. The 250-game AIHL veteran is one of the best defensemen that Australia has ever seen. He has been practicing with the Xtreme, but his overall health is still in question. It feels like a matter of "when" we will see Huxley and not "if." 

Nick Wieland, another young player, has AIHL experience and looked more comfortable as the Premier League season went on after a couple years away from the game.

If Jamie Woodman flies in for a game or two this season, that puts the Xtreme at a wild advantage. 

What's the third line depth looking like?

There's lots of options for line combinations for the Xtreme. They might be the deepest team on paper. 

Jarrad Siemens could play anywhere from first line minutes, to anchor an impressive third line. He's a Canadian who was arguably the Blackhawks best player this year. Hardworking and ferocious  backchecker. But I see him as a top two guy. 

Andrew Stapleton captains the Tigers in the Premier League and will be as good a player as they come if he's on the third line. 

Maybe Noah Maley anchors the third? 

Or, do they roll a line of veterans with Widger and Peterson? Both have tremendous upside. 

Josh Holland led the Falcons in scoring in the Premier League. He'll be a nice depth player.

Anyway you slice it, there's options. The Xtreme drafted six centres - more than any other team - and you'd expect coach Lien to use them wisely.

POTENTIAL LINE COMBINATIONS

Wardlaw - Benson - Martin

Siemens - MacDougall - Esposito (should he arrive)

Stapleton - Maley - Peterson

Taylor - Holland - Sarcich


Charbonneau - Chen

Tait - Geyer

Weiland - Huxley

Widger

X-Factor: Woodman (if available)

J.Friederich
C.Peacock