Mid-season Team Guide: The Brewers

Welcome back to the NHSL. It's been a few weeks since our last game on December 17 but the action still promises to be as hot as ever when it returns on January 14, 2022.

It's a big game, too. A battle for the second and final playoff spot is about to take place when the Stars and Brewers go head-to-head.

If you're already a fan, welcome back. This will be a great refresher for you.

If you're new, welcome aboard. It's a great time to be a hockey fan in Adelaide.

Here's your mid-season refresher and guide for the Port Adelaide Brewers as we hit the midway point. 


How have they gone so far? 

November 12 – Brewers 4 def Stars 3 (OT)
November 19 – Xtreme 5 def Brewers 3
December 3 – Stars 4 def Brewers 3 
December 10 – Brewers 7 def Stars 6
 

Two wins. Two losses. The Brewers had the most dramatic victory of the NHSL season in Game #1 when 19-year-old Ben Handberg scored with just three seconds left in OT to seal it.

Following a two game losing streak, the Brewers became the only team to defeat the Xtreme after winning a chaotic 7-6 game.

Nearly every game they’ve played has gone down to the wire. 

What are the statistical trends? 

Let’s start with the good stuff…

- The Brewers take the most number of shots per game. They tally 42 shots on goal on average which is six more than their competition. It’s simple maths, right? Shoot more, score more. It also is a great sign of puck possession and ability to generate chances.

- Matus Trnka is a game breaker. The 17-year-old goalie came out with game-saving stops in their two wins. He has the ability to change momentum even when things aren’t going his way.

- 8 different players have found the back of the net. Six of those have multiple goals. It’s a balanced attack, especially up front. 

- Their Penalty Kill is the best in the league. They’ve killed off 93% of penalties they’ve taken and teams have only scored twice with the man advantage.

And now the not-so-good...

- While their penalty kill is buzzing their power play is not. They own a league worst 7.1% conversion percentage. The Brewers need to generate more offense on the man advantage especially considering how much talent they have up front.

- The Face Off Circle. Yikes. Winning 38% of draws concedes possession early. That must change.

- Scoring first. The Brewers have only scored first once this year (and they won that game!). The other games they’ve conceded goals in the very early minutes of a game meaning they have to play catch up from the get go. 
 

Who are the key performers? 

Scroll to the bottom for the full breakdown of players and stats. But here are five players who you should know about on the Brewers:

1. Steve Best. He was a marquee player for the reason and he has not disappointed. He’s one of six players in the NHSL who has registered a point every game. His six points lead the team. Best leads by example and is developing into more of a two-way player than we’ve seen.

2. Ben Handberg. The 19-year-old was drafted high and he’s showing there was reason for that. He’s also one of six players who has a point in every game. He’s come through clutch, too. Handberg scored an OT winner in the first game of the year.

3. Tomek Sak. The Western Australian does a little bit of everything. He can snipe with his pinpoint shot. He steam rolls players by being physical. Simply put: Tomek Sak is a hard-nosed player and miserable to play against. He can change a game.

4. Zach Boyle. The other marquee player has made a difference on the defenseive end and the offensive attack. The 24-year-old defenseman plays for Team Australia and is the only player in the NHSL to score a hattrick so far. Boyle is a top-notch skater. He’s also second in the NHSL with a +5 rating – he’s on the ice for more goals scored than allowed. 

5. Tyler Leeming. He was dynamic in the last 7-6 win over the Xtreme. Leeming is a big, powerful skater who drives the net and creates havoc. He’s one of the top scorers too.

The biggest reason to feel optimistic is…

The Brewers have been in every game they’ve played. They’ve beat both their opponents already. 

And the strange thing is it doesn’t feel like they’ve played their best hockey. The Brewers have not taken advantage of opportunities to their full capacity and their poor power play percentage reflects that.

If the Brewrs can become more dynamic with the man advantage it will help them build leads and be dangerous to anyone they may face. 

Quote from General Manager Bill Newbound


Player Stats