The NZIHL 2025 season is now well underway, and the impact of import talent has already been felt across the league. With each passing week, international players continue to elevate the pace, intensity, and skill level on the ice — driving up the competition and thrilling fans in every corner of the country.

Now a hallmark of the NZIHL’s identity, the blend of New Zealand-born players and global imports has created a unique and competitive landscape.

From seasoned professionals to breakout young stars, these players not only bolster their clubs’ on-ice performance, but also raise the standard for domestic talent, developing youth and setting the tone for what it takes to compete at the highest level in Aotearoa.

Whether it’s a returning Birgel Cup champion, a dynamic first-year scorer, or a veteran defender anchoring the blue line, this year’s class of imports have provided standout performances and unforgettable moments — and there’s still plenty of hockey left to play. The 2025 NZIHL season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and entertaining in recent memory.

Declan Quinn: Steady Veteran Presence for Admirals

He may not have made headlines, but Declan Quinn has quietly become a steady contributor for the West Auckland Admirals in 2025.

The 30-year-old Canadian forward has chipped in 3 goals across his first four games, using smart positioning, a quick release, and gritty work below the dots. At 183 cm and 73 kg, Quinn isn’t flashy — but his experience and hockey sense shine through.

After playing U18 AAA for the Oshawa Generals in 2012–13, Quinn stepped away from the competitive game for over a decade before making a surprise return this season. His story adds depth to the Admirals’ campaign — and his timely offence could prove a quiet X-factor in their playoff hunt.

Evan Carroll: High-Speed Playmaker Ignites Botany Swarm in 2025

The Botany Swarm have found a spark in dynamic American import Evan Carroll. At 26, the Philadelphia native may be just 172 cm and 70 kg, but he’s made a big impact—racking up 6 points in his first two games thanks to elite skating, sharp vision, and a lethal shot.

Carroll’s journey began at Northwood School before starring at Davenport University, where he consistently put up points over four seasons. After college, he impressed in the MIHL and FPHL—most notably with 54 points in 14 games for Gaylord Snow. His offensive instincts only sharpened in Europe, where he dominated Germany’s Divisions 5 and 4, including a 70-point campaign with 1. CFR Pforzheim.

Now in NZ, Carroll has seamlessly blended North American grit with European creativity. Whether running the powerplay or slicing through traffic, he brings game-breaking flair to a Swarm team chasing playoff relevance. Slick, smart, and dangerous—Carroll’s a player every team needs to keep an eye on this season.

Bálint Pákozdi Joins Botany Swarm to Bolster Offence

The Botany Swarm have added serious firepower ahead of the NZIHL playoff push, signing Hungarian-British forward Bálint Pákozdi for the rest of the 2025 season. The 26-year-old arrives from England’s Swindon Wildcats, where he tallied 52 points this season and built a reputation as a smart, creative playmaker.

At 183 cm and 89 kg, Pákozdi blends strength, vision, and puck control with a pass-first mindset. His international resume includes stints in Sweden, the USPHL (87 points in 41 games for the NH Jr. Monarchs), and a cameo with the Sheffield Steelers.

Now with 186 points across 200 NIHL games, he brings top-six pedigree and powerplay polish to a Swarm side looking to climb the table. Whether dishing from the wall or finishing off the rush, Pákozdi might just be the spark Botany needs.

Remi Morris: Young Gun Ignites Red Devils in Breakout NZIHL Season

Only 20 years old, Canadian forward Remi Morris is making a major splash with the Canterbury Red Devils. The Orleans, Ontario native has tallied 14 points in just six games, flashing elite edgework, quick hands, and a knack for making things happen in the offensive zone.

A product of the Cumberland Jr. Grads and Rockland Nationals, Morris took his game to the U.S. with the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs before returning to Canada with the Gatineau Flames (QJHL). He then sharpened his skills in Sweden, recording 29 points for Strömsbro IF J20 and earning a senior team call-up.

After a strong run with Ockelbo HC in Division 2, Morris landed in NZ and hasn’t looked back. He’s excelled in Canterbury’s top six, showcasing his versatility at center and wing, working the powerplay, and disrupting play on the forecheck. Mature beyond his years, Morris looks like a future NZIHL star — and one of the steals of the season.

Fabian Hast: Veteran Brings Grit and Leadership to Canterbury in 2025

The Red Devils have struck gold with Estonian-Swedish forward Fabian Hast. At 26, the 185 cm, 91 kg veteran brings size, physicality, and a decade of European experience to Canterbury — and it’s paying off early with 11 points in six games.

Hast came through the Malmö Redhawks system before playing in Sweden’s J20 SuperElit and suiting up internationally for Estonia, where he starred at the U20 level. His senior career has taken him across Sweden, Norway, France, and Germany, where his two-way game and grit became his trademark.

Now in NZ, Hast has found another gear offensively. He’s playing big minutes on both special teams, shifting between center and wing with ease, and giving the Red Devils crucial depth and stability. With playoff battles looming, Hast’s rugged style and leadership could be the difference-maker Canterbury needs.

Luke Stegmann: Two-Way Defenceman Anchors Phoenix Thunder’s Blueline in 2025

The Phoenix Thunder sent a clear message ahead of the 2025 NZIHL season — they were chasing smart, mobile, offensively capable defencemen who could drive play from the back. In Luke Stegmann, they’ve nailed the brief.

The 22-year-old Canadian from Gatineau, Quebec has hit the ground running, notching an eye-catching 15 points (10 goals, 5 assists) in his first 8 NZIHL games — a pace almost unheard of for a blueliner.

At 6’1″ (185 cm) and 91 kg (201 lbs), Stegmann is a right-shot defenceman who blends physical strength with puck control and an attack-minded style. He’s a product of Quebec’s highly competitive Intrépide Gatineau system, climbing through every major level of elite youth hockey — from Bantam AAA to Midget Espoir to the QMAAA, where he became a key contributor. His breakout came in 2019–20 with 16 points in 41 games, plus another 5 in the playoffs — impressive numbers for a defense-first player.

A stint with the Gatineau Flames in the QJHL saw Stegmann unlock more of his offensive potential, posting 27 points (7G, 20A) in 2021–22. He backed that up with a 29-point season for the Terrebonne Cobras, helping power their deep playoff run.

From there, he took his game to Europe, joining Courchevel-Méribel-Pralognan in France. Across two seasons — first in France3, then France2 — Stegmann sharpened his offensive game and gained valuable minutes as a powerplay QB, logging 25 points in 29 games during the 2024–25 campaign.

Now in New Zealand, Stegmann has taken things up another level. His 10 goals in 8 games make him one of the league’s top-scoring defencemen, and he’s proving to be a rare dual threat: able to shut down entries, lead the rush, or hammer home one-timers from the point.

With his smooth skating, high hockey IQ, and calm under pressure, Luke Stegmann is fast becoming one of the most valuable imports in the NZIHL — and a central figure in the Thunder’s playoff ambitions. He’s redefining what it means to be a modern NZIHL defenceman.

Mark Shroyer: Towering U.S. Defenceman Adds Elite Experience to Phoenix Thunder

When the Phoenix Thunder brought in Mark Shroyer for the 2025 season, they didn’t just get size — they got experience, leadership, and a proven track record across two continents.

At 193 cm (6’4″) and 97 kg (214 lbs), the 29-year-old Californian has made an instant impact in New Zealand. In his first 4 games, he’s tallied 5 assists and locked down big minutes on the Thunder’s top pair.

Shroyer first stood out with the Fresno Monsters in the WSHL, where he grew from a physical shutdown defender into a two-way leader. Over five seasons in Fresno, he put up 166 points in 180 games, including playoffs, and wore the captain’s “C” in his final year.

He then spent four seasons at Castleton University (NCAA DIII), where his role shifted toward the defensive side of the game. While the points came less frequently (22 in 73 games), Shroyer leaned into a gritty, dependable style — averaging over a penalty minute per game and anchoring the Spartans’ blue line.

After sitting out 2020–21 due to the pandemic, Shroyer reignited his pro career in France. First lighting up France3 with 16 points in 18 games for Morzine-Avoriaz, he then moved up to France2, continuing to contribute at both ends of the rink with Morzine and later Tours. His 2024–25 season saw him post 23 points in 26 games and 4 more in the playoffs.

Now in the NZIHL, Shroyer is showing his veteran class. He’s taken on key powerplay responsibilities, played big minutes in all situations, and brought a calming, authoritative presence to the Thunder’s back end. With his long reach, heavy shot, and elite gap control, Shroyer gives Phoenix a new dimension on defence.

Whether it’s shutting down a rush, blocking a shot on the PK, or starting a breakout with a laser pass, Shroyer is exactly the kind of seasoned pro you want on your blue line come playoff time. If the Thunder go deep this year, expect No. 4 to be a massive part of the story.

Jett McCullum: Championship-Caliber Blue Liner Returns to Skycity Stampede for 2025 Title Defense

Few players made a smoother — or more electrifying — transition to the NZIHL last season than Jett McCullum. Now, the Skycity Stampede are counting their lucky stars that the young Canadian defenceman is back in Queenstown for the 2025 campaign. After playing a pivotal role in last year’s Birgel Cup title run, the 20-year-old from Moncton, New Brunswick returns as a cornerstone of the Stampede’s repeat hopes.

A silky left-shot blue liner at 183 cm and 84 kg, McCullum’s game oozes mobility, offensive upside, and a calmness beyond his years. His hockey roots trace back to the Dieppe Flyers AAA system, followed by strong showings with the Moncton Flyers at U18 level. From there, his rise through Canada’s top junior leagues was rapid — MJAHL, OJHL, AJHL — and always upward.

After notching 19 points in the 2022-23 season with the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, McCullum split 2023-24 between Summerside and Campbellton in the MJAHL, tallying an eye-popping 46 points in 45 games. His NZIHL debut with the Stampede was nothing short of dominant: 26 points in 14 regular season games, plus two more in the playoffs, playing a crucial role in their championship run.

And he hasn’t slowed down. During the recent North American season, he exploded for 73 points in 39 games with the Ventura Vikings in the USPHL Premier, followed by 13 points in 9 playoff appearances for the Vernal Oilers — a clear sign that his ceiling is still rising.

Back in Stampede gold this season, McCullum has already picked up 5 assists in his first four games. Whether he’s launching a breakout, threading a powerplay seam, or shutting down a rush with smooth skating and smart sticks, he’s a game-changer every time he hops the boards.

At just 20, McCullum’s already one of the most impactful defencemen in the NZIHL. He’s not just a rising star — he’s the standard.

Nolan Ross: The Stampede’s Engine Returns for Another Shot at Glory

In a league that often thrives on new blood, Nolan Ross is proof that sometimes the biggest impact comes from those who stay. The veteran forward from Fort Frances, Ontario, is back in Queenstown for his second NZIHL season — not as a new face, but as a core piece of the Skycity Stampede’s championship machine.

Ross burst onto the NZIHL scene last season with 42 points in 16 games and added four more in the playoffs, helping power the Stampede to a dominant Birgel Cup win. At 29, he’s a complete player — seasoned, steady, and still relentless. His résumé spans the MJHL, SIJHL, NCAA III, and stints in Sweden and France, and that international experience is stamped all over his game.

Whether it’s burying scoring chances, grinding out shifts in the corners, or locking things down in the D-zone, Ross does it all. His ability to lead a forecheck and set up the powerplay makes him indispensable. Already in 2025, he’s racked up 18 points in just 8 games — a red-hot start that has him among the league leaders yet again.

More than just numbers, Ross brings presence. He’s vocal in the room, leads by example on the ice, and has embraced Queenstown and the Stampede identity as his own.

Call him the engine, the glue, the driver — whatever you like. Just know that if the Stampede are heading back to the top, Nolan Ross will be right at the heart of it.

Cole Beckstead: Thunder’s Playmaker-in-Chief is NZIHL’s X-Factor

Dunedin Ice Hockey & The Phoenix Thunder have found their X-factor, and his name is Cole Beckstead. After a standout 2024 campaign, the Ottawa-born winger is back — not as an import, but as a local-eligible game-breaker — and he’s already reasserting himself as one of the NZIHL’s most dangerous playmakers, all the while developing youth players of Otago – Cole has been appointed as the Dunedin Ice Hockey Club’s general manager. Beckstead becomes the first professional manager appointed to the club and will be key in leading the club’s strategic direction and shaping the future of ice hockey in Dunedin.

Beckstead came up through the ranks of the OJHL and CCHL before sharpening his two-way game with NCAA stints at Skidmore College and the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Most recently, he proved he could handle the pace and systems of European hockey, suiting up for Caen in France2 before bringing his elite vision to New Zealand.

In his debut NZIHL season, Beckstead lit it up with 31 points in 15 games. In 2025, he’s somehow taken it up another gear. With 20 points in just 8 games — including a league-leading 17 assists — he’s the conductor of the Thunder’s attack. His chemistry with Phoenix’s aggressive forecheck and transition game is spot-on, and his ability to read defences and create space for teammates is second to none.

And the best part? He doesn’t take up an import slot anymore. That means Phoenix can stack talent elsewhere while keeping one of the league’s top creators in-house.

If the Thunder are serious about a Birgel Cup push, Cole Beckstead will be the player making it all click — quietly on the roster sheet, loudly on the scoreboard.

As the 2025 NZIHL season powers forward, it’s clear that international talent has once again taken centre stage — driving the pace of play, delivering clutch performances, and raising the overall standard of the league. Their presence continues to ignite fierce competition, electrify crowds, and push local talent to new heights. With their diverse backgrounds, professional experience, and game-changing skill sets, these players are not just additions to the roster — they’re pivotal to the storylines unfolding this season. As teams eye the playoffs and the Birgel Cup comes into focus, expect the influence of these standout individuals to grow even more profound. One thing is certain: the road to NZIHL glory in 2025 is being shaped by a global cast, and fans are witnessing something truly specia