Canaday (22) played for the Canterbury Red Devils two years ago and has noted a lift in the quality of the players after joining the Dunedin Thunder this year.
''The standard has gone up considerably in the last two years,'' he said.
''The local New Zealand players have raised their standards and the import players are getting better and better every year. It's pretty good hockey that is played here now.''
Canaday joined the Thunder this year because of his admiration for coach Janos Kaszala, who was in charge of the Red Devils two years ago.
The goaltender played in the Kazakhstan league before coming back to New Zealand.
''It is a professional league in Kazakhstan, but it is still an amateur league here,'' Canaday said.
''When more sponsors come on board, they will be able to pay imports and the league will start moving up in the world ranking.''
Canaday is enjoying life in Dunedin more than he did with the Red Devils in Christchurch.
''I was in Christchurch during the earthquakes and the city is more lively here,'' he said.
''The team is very close and we are all good friends in the team. It is not as cliquey as it was with the Red Devils in Christchurch.''
Canaday is keen to play in Hungary or France in the next northern hemisphere winter. If that happens, he will return to Dunedin next year.
Ice hockey is a very physical game in North America, while the European game is more about finesse and ice skills.
''It is a mix here. You have a lot of European guys and they know how to dance on the ice with the puck.
''But when you have a couple of North American guys, like the Red Devils have, it's pretty crash and bang.
''The referees miss a lot of things and you are not allowed to fight because of the International Ice Hockey Federation rules.
''Because of that, there is a lot more anger on the ice and it leads to more penalties than back in Canada, where you can work it out with the guy you are not having a good time with.
''It's really more of a North American style here. There is more hitting than in Europe.''
The rinks in Europe are a lot bigger than in New Zealand.
''There is a lot more room to skate. Dunedin has more space than other rinks in New Zealand and it helps our European players, who are able to skate around players.
''Christchurch has a very small rink. It is a more physical game on small rinks.''
Canaday believes the Dunedin Thunder can reach the final of the national league this year.
''Stealing the three points from the Red Devils in the second game last weekend gave the team a real boost,'' he said.
''We can skate with the best of them. We are looking to go all the way this year.''
The Thunder plays a doubleheader against the Botany Swarm at the Dunedin Ice Stadium this weekend. Games start at 5.10pm today and 4.10pm tomorrow. The Southern Stampede has the bye.
