Dunedin Thunder will make its debut in the five-team and 12-game competition against Southern Stampede (Queenstown) at the Dunedin Ice Stadium on Saturday night.
Southern Stampede won the competition in the first two years in 2005 and 2006.
The other teams are last year's champion Botany Swarm (Auckland), Canterbury Red Devils and Admirals (Auckland). Mansfield (23) was a member of the United States team that won a gold medal at the Deaf Olympics at Salt Lake City last year.
Mansfield is not able to hear what other people are saying but communicates with coach Jenel Bode by sign language, and by writing down answers on paper or on the computer.
The coach is used to this approach because she had some deaf players in her squads in Canada before coming to Dunedin two years ago.
The coach was the link between the Otago Daily Times and Mansfield when the goalie described what it felt like coming to New Zealand.
"It's a new experience for me. I'm finding out lots about New Zealand," Mansfield said.
"I'm looking forward to explore more of the country and to become immersed in the culture."
The good news for the coaching staff is that Mansfield intends to stay in Dunedin for the long term.
He is a graduate of Princeton University and played in division 1 of the Ivy League university competition.
Before his university days Mansfield was in the Arlington team that won 27 of its 29 games and was the United States high school champion.
He also spent time in Denmark where he played in the division 2 European competition.
Bode is pleased with the support that Dunedin Thunder has received already..
"Our team will give people pride in their community, give young kids something to aspire to and a natural progression to get there," she said.
But she was not prepared to pick a Dunedin Thunder win in the competition.
"We will definitely be competitive and make other teams work hard to beat us," Bode said. The other elite internationals in the squad are wing forward Peter Lamb, of Canada, defender Richie Russo (United States) who played division 2 in the NCAA and forward Paavo Huhtinen (Finland) who played in the European league for Helsinki.
The 23-man squad also includes Ice Blacks Mike Sam in the centres and utility James van Leeuwen.
Damian Watson, Duncan Sykes and Simon Christos have transferred from the Southern Stampede, while Clay Caird and Vince Mitalas have come south from the Canterbury Red Devils.
Games at the Dunedin Ice Stadium this weekend are: v Southern Stampede, Saturday, 7pm; v Canterbury Red Devils, Sunday, 4pm.
Dunedin Thunder
The squad:
Adrian van Leeuwen, Andrew Howard, Blake Sinclair, Caleb MacDonald, Clay Caird, Adman Watson, Dane Dunlop, Darcy Knyvett, Duncan Sykes, Harrison King, Heath Dunlop, James van Leeuwen, Jeff Mansfield, Matt Wier, Mike Sam, Paavo Huhtinen, Peter Lamb, Richard Sykes, Richie Russo, Ritchie McCutcheon, Simon Christos, Toby Schuck, Vince Mitalas.
