Huxley vs Harding - A Match Up We Can't Wait For

by Eric Balnar

Let's appreciate what we are about witness on Friday night. When the Xtreme and Stars drop the puck we will be witnessing two living Australian Ice Hockey legends going head-to-head.

And it's not something we're used to.

Josh Harding (Stars) and David Huxley (Xtreme) both came out of retirement to suit up for the NHSL. It's a welcome site and neither looked out of place.

Harding showed he still has it in his first game game on November 12. He moved the puck well. He dictated the tempo of the game. It's like he was a puck magnet, he just knew where to go and always seem to have it.

I'm sure by his standards there's a check list of things he'd like to improve but it sure was fun to watch him play.

Huxley played the way Huxley always seemed to play in his time with the Adrenaline and Australian national teams. He played a simple game. He led by example. He blocked boxes. He sent in threatening shots from the point. 

What's funny about Friday, however, is that these two legends go head-to-head for one of the very few times in their long hockey history. 

Hux + Harding were teammates for 12 AIHL seasons, 6 World Championships and many IHA hockey seasons. They won championships together at every level - from Gold Medals with Australia, to Goodall Cups with Adelaide, to a title in 2018 with the Blackhawks.

The stories they'd have together would fill up years of time. 

Both are considered two of the greatest Australian defenseman in history. Both have their numbers retired by the Adelaide Adrenaline.

On Friday they go head-to-head.

It's one of those "let's savour this" moments. Enjoy!