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HELLYER LADDER

Team	GP	W	L	PTS
Ice	5	5	0	15
Thunder	6	4	2	12
Bears	4	3	1	9
Mustangs	3	1	2	3
Ice Dogs	5	1	4	3

RURAK LADDER

Team	GP	W	L	OTW	OTL	PTS
Northstars	4	3	0	1	0	11
Lightning	6	3	3	0	0	9
Adrenaline	3	1	1	0	1	4
Brave	6	1	5	0	0	3
Rhinos	4	0	4	0	0	0

SCORING LEADERS

Jeremiah
Addison (PER)

Player	Points
Aiden Wagner (NNS)	18
Wehebe Darge (NNS)	15
francis Drolet (NNS)	15
Joey HUGHES (MIC)	14

GOALIE LEADERS

N Novysedlak (BRE)

1.000

Goalie	SV%
Rhys Pelliccione (PER)	.950
Tatsunoshin Ishida (MIC)	.933
Leo Bertein (PER)	.905
Charles Smart (NNS)	.903

Two-way Stefan brings enviable record to Thunder

Tuesday, May 6, 2014 - Submitted by Gemma Fagan

Fresh off his third year in the SPHL, Stuart Stefan has a record that many players would covet. He was a star in the NCAA Division III with the Castleton State College, where he compiled 110 points (54 goals, 56 assists) in 103 games. Since moving to the SPHL, Stefan has proved to be a versatile and exciting player in three seasons with the Huntsville Havoc, scoring 112 points (41 goals, 71 assists) in 155 games.

It’s how he’s compiled those points, especially in the last season, that really sets him apart. Starting his career as a forward, the 28-year-old Ontario native switched to defence his third season in the SPHL. While many people would expect him to take time to adjust, the new defenceman had his best season yet, scoring 43 points through 18 goals and 25 assists in 56 games. So successful was the move, Stefan was named SPHL defenceman of the year as well as a place on the SPHL first all-star team.

“I play both,” says Stefan. “I pretty much played forward my whole life, and then this past season over in the States I started playing defence because we needed some defencemen. So hopefully I can help out both here. If they need a defenceman, I can play defence.”

With the amazing success of the Havoc in 2013-14, having claimed fifth on the ladder after successive eighth-placed finished, Stefan needed a new challenge. Having heard about the AIHL previously, Stefan decided to turn his attention to Australian shores with the Perth Thunder.

“I actually heard about the league two or three years ago,” Stefan said. “A guy I played with over in the United States played here and told me all about it. (He) said it was a great experience so I wanted to try it someday.”

The two-way player has plenty of experience to draw on from to help his new team in Perth. With experience both up forward and at the blue line, Stefan said that he was really keen to try and help improve the Western Australians all around the ice.

“I think it sounds like a really young team here, so I feel like I have a lot of experience and can really help out,” says Stefan. “I’m a two-way player so I can help out in the defensive zone and then control the puck and hopefully score some goals.”

However, hockey isn’t everything and like many of the imports who decide to come to Australia, Stuart is looking forward to his down time away from the rink while in Australia.

“I definitely want to tour around and visit as many places as I can,” Stefan said. “I just want to see as many attractions and just try to take it all in as much as I can.”

Whether he’s on the top line scoring goals or in the defensive zone stopping goals, there is no doubt that Stuart Stefan is going to be a great asset to the Perth Thunder squad this coming season.

The Perth Thunder is at home this weekend taking on the Sydney Bears in a double header.

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