The First 72 Hours: A look at key stats and players nominated (so far)

It’s been a wild first 72 hours of the National Hockey Super League (NHSL).

On Wednesday evening, the NHSL effectively broke the Australian Ice Hockey’s hefty meme-based portion of the internet when it announced Australia’s first professional ice hockey league would be lacing it up in November 2021.

This thing is happening.

Yes, the plans are ambitious, but it’s a real chance to change the landscape of the game in Australia.

Not only will it provide another avenue for elite players to show their stuff and improve their game, but it will help present / showcase the sport in a different way to new fans around the country. 

The objective is to have 15 teams competing nationally in a similar format within two years.

Right now we start local. The NHSL story begins in South Australia. 

Yes – there is money involved (hence the word “professional").

Currently players are being asked to nominate themselves to play in the league. Games will run over a 12-week stretch starting in November and played on prime time Friday nights at the Ice ArenA. 

There will be a draft in mid-October where three prolific General Managers will pick their teams. 

The General Managers are already confirmed. Each of them is a championship winner in South Australia and names local hockey fans will be overly familiar with.

Right now the three of them are trying to sign two marquee players each to build a team around. The rest go in the draft. 

Players need to nominate themselves (click here) if they want to be picked in the draft or a marquee player. 

It’s been a great uptake in interest so far. 

So here are some key figures from the first three days of the NHSL. 

• 115 players nominated for the NHSL
• 28 of the top 30 scorers in the South Australian Premier League will be involved
• 2 South Australian ice hockey legends – yeah we’re talking big names here – have come out of retirement for the league (so far!)
• There has been expressions of interest from 7 interstate teams to join the competition
• 13 AIHL players from interstate have nominated, hoping to join the league
• Over 1,000 likes and follows on social media 

Exciting times are ahead. Here is a taste of some of the names who will be involved in the first season of the NHSL.

If you've been following along our South Australian coverage of the Ice
Hockey season, you will know the names. 

*denotes player with past or current involvement in AIHL or National Team.

- Nicola Pau*
- Tyson Boyd*
- Glen Forbes White*
- Eric Balnar*
- Ryan Foll*
- Jeremy Friederich*
- Jordan Geyer*
- Nathaniel Benson*
- Tash Farrier*
- Jared Siemens 
- Andrew Chen* 
- Tyler Boyle
- Eric Lien*
- Jake Hazel
- Ryan Rintala*
- Steve Best* 
- Josh Holland
- Marko Komozec
- Joey MacDougall*
- Bill Newbound*
- Andrew Stapleton*
- Adam Wise*
- Jake Riley*
- Noah Maley
- Matt Lothian
- Jarred McDonnell*
- Dave Gal*
- Sami Mantere*
- Tyler Leeming*
- Zach Boyle* 
- Daniel Chen
- Zach Steele
- Jan Koubek
- Ben Handberg*
- Rhys Page
- Mitch Villani* 
- Matus Trnka
- Jeff Pellerin
- Curtis Villani*
- Sharnita Crompton*
- Dylan Pope*
- Jarred Chester* 
- 13 interstate AIHL players
- Multiple Team Australia players
- Multiple South Australian Ice Hockey Hall of Famers out of retirement

...and that's not even the comprehensive list.

Tell your friends and get them to follow along.

This is ice hockey history you'll want to be part of.