How each team is preparing for the NHSL

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South Australian ice hockey has already received a tremendous boost with National Hockey Super League (NHSL) players in the depths of pre-season training.

Teams are ramping up the intensity in advance of the November 12 first game of the season.

Each club can train two times per week on the ice and do as much as they want to off the ice. 

What's interesting is how each team is approaching the season. Three clubs were given the same amount of resources to train but each club is approaching it differently. 

We can also confirm that every team will have an interstate player (or two!) ready to play for Game 1. This is getting real! 

Here's a look at your club update (training edition!)

Adelaide Xtreme - Click here for team roster 

The Xtreme have recently announced a partnership with PEAQ - a conditioning and coaching gym led by renowned trainer Sean Baker. 

Tash Farrier says it's been perfect for pre-season buy-in.

"The boys are in at PEAQ every Saturday morning. Each player has been given a tailor-made program via their team app. There's a weekly wellness check-in."

The night trainings so far has been driven by the head coaching crew of Eric Lien and Stu Henly.

"They are high-pace and great intensity," says Farrier

Meanwhile, morning skates has been driven by the players but based off the Wednesday evening plan.

Farrier says the big stand outs have been the returning veteran players like 261-AIHL gamer David Huxley, former Canadian junior player Graham Charbonneau, and Aussie vets Dean Peterson / Aaron Widger. 

Farrier has confirmed that interstate players will be ready and available to go for games in November. 

She says she is excited to see what the NSW players have to offer in 21-year-old Xander Wardlaw and veteran Adrian Esposito.

"Xander is one of the most exciting junior players in Australia while Adrian played over 280 AIHL games. Both will make a huge impact on our roster," she says. 

Marquee player Joey MacDougall has confirmed the on-ice sessions have been productive and that younger players are starting to learn to anticipate the game. 

The team is currently juggling line combinations. 

Port Adelaide Brewers - Click here for team roster 

Head Coach Mitch Villani has been well on-top of running things for the Brewers.

They have two training sessions on the ice a week plus off-ice on Saturdays.

"The on-ice stuff is going exceptionally well, it's really exciting," he says.

"The first week was all about flow and high-intensity play and getting the guys to know each other on the ice. This week we moved into developing lines and defensive zone systems. Next week we're going into break-outs and offensive zone systems."

He says the boys are really impressive at their off-ice training with their specific hockey training. 

We are still waiting on confirmation about how the team will shape up with regards to interstate players they've drafted.

Noarlunga Stars - Click here for team roster 

The Stars are led by General Manager Matt Lothian, Head Coach Sami Mantere and Assistant Coach Jason Karutz. 

Head coach Sami Mantere says the focus has been on two things so far: "compete" and "personnel combinations".

"There's still plenty of work to be done but we're getting closer to that game intensity every practice," he says. "We've got a set way we want to play. I'm not sure a lot of these players have played with a lot of actual structure so there will be some growing pains but I think we'll get the rewards from it."

Mantere says there's been a few line combinations that have shown promise. He says that players are starting to understand their roles and what's expected of them.

"In reality, we're still early days and first steps when it comes to this. The good thing is all the signs are positive and the players seem to want to learn," he says.

Players are also engaging in one off-ice session per week. Jason Karutz, assistant caoch, has led that department. 

"By all reports the off-ice has been intense and hard - that's exactly the way we need and want to play," says Mantere.