Joey MacDougall brings his talents to the XTreme

Forward Joey MacDougall was approached by all three National Hockey Super League franchises to be a marquee player. While he says each team was appealing, it was a better fit for him to link up with Adelaide Xtreme General Manager Tash Farrier.

The Xtreme have a good one in MacDougall. He’s tenacious on the ice, a point producer and a natural leader.

“I coached Tash last Adelaide Rush season and got to know her pretty well,” says MacDougall. “I know how hard working, committed and determined she is as a player. I just know she is going to put that same effort in as a General Manager to build the best team possible. Tash has been very transparent in the whole process and we agree on a lot of the important issues of building (and managing) a competitive team.”

MacDougall adds that he thinks every team is in good hands and he is impressed that everyone has put an emphasis on wanting high commitment from players.

“But at the end of the day, Tash was saying all the right things and I’m really excited to be part of the Xtreme,” he says. 

The 32-year-old forward from Canada moved to Adelaide in 2018 to do a law degree and instantly joined the ice hockey community. He’s since played for the Adelaide Adrenaline (AIHL), coached the Adelaide Rush (AWIHL), run Ice Hockey Academies at the Ice ArenA and been the star player of the Tigers in the Premier League.

He put up 32 points in 18 games this season with the Tigers and earned the nickname “Showtime” for his penchant to make big plays in big moments – many of them off the back of pure hard work.

Joey’s work rate on the ice was an appealing factor to Farrier.

“Joey has so many layers of value. His relentless work ethic, will to win, ability to change a game, leadership, extensive experience, his coaching experience….I could go on and on,” says Farrier. “I have no doubt that the other teams see the same value as someone to shape a team around.” 

Farrier says she was just honest with MacDougall about her vision from the start.

“I explained my vision and he could see himself being part of it. The hiring of [Head Coach] Eric Lien was also one of the key factors in pulling Joey to the Xtreme,” she says.

Farrier and Lien both say they expect MacDougall to be a leader both on and off the ice.

“I expect Joey to play the way he plays. He naturally leads from the front and has already demonstrated key qualities we need from a marquee,” she says.

MacDougall says he is a vocal leader.

“I try to pump guys up in the dressing room and talk a lot on the bench during games. I also think it’s just as – if not more – important to lead through action. I always expect the best effort out of myself every game and I think that hard work can be contagious,” he says.  

Head Coach Eric Lien played a big role in recruiting MacDougall to the Xtreme.

“Joey expressed to me right away how excited he was to learn from Eric,” says Farrier. “He has the attitude of ‘If I have been in the game for as long as I have and know what I know…imagine what Eric knows’…that’s the kind of guy we want on the Xtreme.”

MacDougall is just the first piece of the on-ice puzzle for Farrier and the Xtreme. All General Managers can sign two marquee players ahead of a mid-October draft. Farrier now must get to work to fill out the rest of the roster.

She says one of her big considerations in recruiting players is looking at what guys do away from the rink.

“I like to look at what different players are studying, what careers they are in, what is their work ethic around the gym. These are all additional transferable skills guys can bring into the environment for added value,” she says. “I want players to have a team first attitude and the ability to play big.”