Top 5 Breakout Players So Far

by Eric Balnar
 

The midway point of the season is here. Christmas has come and gone. 2022 is fast approaching. 

All of this has me in a reflective mood!

In the NHSL broadcasts you hear me call names like Benson, MacDougall, Best, Boyle, Riley and Koubek all the time. And why shouldn't I? These players are staples of South Australian ice hockey and are expected to make a profound impact on their teams.

And they have. 

But what about the players who have been nice little surprise packets? Everyone who skates in this competition should be a solid hockey player but who are the players who are starting to break out into more prominent roles.

Here are my Top 5 Breakout Players of the 2022 Season so far. Please, disagree with me and be upset that someone was left off the list. I live for this. 

#5 Jarrad McDonnell (Stars): This pick-up has really impressed me. McDonnell, who does have AIHL experience, has been playing A-Grade hockey the last couple years with the Blackhawks. However, every game in the commentary booth his name is called for impactful reasons. He has better footspeed than most in the league, isn't afraid to drive the net, and can be deployed in a few different fashions. He has a goal and a couple apples to start the season. McDonnell feels like he is a danger to score or create whenever he touches the puck.

#4 Ben Handberg (Brewers): The following NHSL players have a point in all four league games they've played: Steve Best, Nathaniel Benson, Yoann Levesque, Olivier Martin and Ben Handberg. That's only five players who have hit the scoresheet every game. Best and Benson will not surprise anyone and the other two are both on this list. Was Handberg picked high in the draft for a reason? Sure. But the 20-year-old is consistently contributing. He's found a spot on the top line, is being used in different ways on the power play, and has scored a couple clutch goals for the Brewers including an OT winner with four seconds to go.

#3 Oliver Martin (Xtreme): Four goals in four games. Need we say more? Olivier Martin is the only player in the league who has found the back of the net in every game he has played. The former Australian National Team goaltender has been playing as a skater for a few years and dominating the local A-Grade competition. He's been properly deployed as an opportunistic sharp shooter by head coach Eric Lien. He's cashed in every game, played on a top line, and his shot commands respect. 

#2 Yoann Levesque (Stars): The NHSL's leading scorer was not selected in the initial NHSL draft. Let me repeat that: The NHSL's leading scorer was passed on 22 times by each of the teams. Joey Quebec, a French-Canadian residing in Western Australia, was eventually selected in the development player draft by the Stars and he's made an instant impact. He has played on all three top lines, used on the PK, the PP and as a leader around the room. He has a point in every game so far, eight on the season and back-to-back games with three points. He IS Canadian, however, and does have a strong junior hockey background so we shouldn't be suprised that he's putting up big numbers. That's why he didn't make it to #1 despite being a nearly undrafted scoring leader...

#1 Noah Maley (Xtreme): You gotta give it to the South Aussie work horse. Actually, in the words of guest commentator Yoann Levesque, this kid is a "dog". He sniffs out the puck and relentlessly attacks it, takes it away, and sets something up. Maley has done a bit of everything for the Xtreme. He opened the season with a two goal game and he's had another match with two assists. Perhaps his strongest game to date was last week's 4-3 win over the Stars. Maley filled in by centering one of their top lines in place of Joey MacDougall. He was solid in the face-off circle, tenacious in the corners, and set up goals on the backs of hard work. Maley has suddenly become one of the best players on the Xtreme and would go way, way higher if we were to re-draft the competition.

An honourable mentions from each team...

- A shoutout to the Xtreme's Jared Siemens. He's been used as a centre, a winger and dropped back on defense for a couple shifts. He's had a couple games where he's been a playmaker and other times a shut down role. He's a Top 3 player on the Blackhawks in Premier League though - so I'm not going to consider him as "break out" as others. 

- Stick tap to Reggie Mattchoss on the Brewers. He opened the season scoring a goal in each of his first two games. Not bad for a converted inline player. Tristan Reese, a player who has mainly been in A-Grade the last few seasons, also now finds himself on a top line defensive pairing with marquee player Zach Boyle. Great progress from him.

- Timothy Benson is a +4 on the Stars. The 18-year-old is Top 5 in the NHSL in that department and deserves some credit for transitioning to a bit of a bigger role.