The Dunedin Thunder and Southern Stampede enter the New Zealand Ice Hockey League with a different approach but with the same goal in mind.
The Stampede is looking to resurrect its tag as one of the toughest teams in the league after a disappointing season which saw it finish last, while the Thunder will look to build on some promising results in 2010.
Both teams believe they have the potential to reach and win the final.
Thunder coach James van Leeuwen said while his side had undergone some significant personnel changes, this year's squad had more potential.
Ice Blacks trio Rick Parry, Damien Watson and Gino (Paris) Heyd return and are expected to play key roles, and the Thunder welcomes four new imports.
Canadian Hassan Saeed played hockey for the University of Ottawa and the defenceman has also spent some time with the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers as a strength and conditioning coach. He is expected to make a big contribution both on and off the ice.
American Thomas Stevens and Frenchman Yvan Kerneis will also bolster the defensive line, while Canadian forward JP Bertrand will add some potency to the attack.
"We've taken on a lot of very young players," van Leeuwen acknowledged when asked about the personnel changes.
"But I don't think it will hurt us at all. I actually think it will make us a lot stronger this year."
"As always our goal is to get to the final. And there is no reason why we can't make the final and win it. That's the plan. The boys want it and they want to work."
The Thunder has been viewed by some as a sleeping giant. Its first two seasons in the league met with little success but last year's results indicated the club was starting to get up to speed.
The Thunder won seven of its 16 games and the club has an important leg-up on some of its rivals.
Its home rink at the Dunedin Ice Stadium is one of the best facilities in the country, the University of Otago is a valuable drawcard when it comes to recruiting players and it just feels right playing ice hockey in southern climes.
And for a small club battling to promote a minority sport, the Thunder does a remarkable job. It has a polished website which shames the national site and its management work as hard as any sports administrators but do it for nowt.
The Thunder still struggles for recognition and to raise enough funds, but its brand is rising.
The Queenstown-based Stampede is in a different situation. The benchmark side in the early years of the league, the Stampede won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 and made the final in 2009, losing to the Canterbury Red Devils 5-4.
But last year the Stampede was off the pace, winning five of 16 games and finishing at the bottom of the table. However, it went into the season without any overseas players and is expected to be a tougher prospect this year.
Former goalie Stephen Reid has taken over the coaching reins from Steve Rout and the club has acquired the services of three imports.
Swedish forward Adnan Mlivic and Canadian forward Tommy Zizian should add some zip to the attack end while Canadian Michael Sommer will put some starch in the defence.
League veteran Simon Glass returns after a break from the game but otherwise the Stampede has a settled line-up.
The Thunder opens its campaign with back-to-back fixtures against last year's beaten finalists, the West Auckland Admirals, in Auckland this weekend, while the Stampede will play the defending champion, the Botany Swarm, in Auckland a week later.
Dunedin Thunder
• Last year: Fourth
• Coach: James van Leeuwen
• Squad: JP Bertrand, Robbie Coslett, Dane Dunlop, Heath Dunlop, Matthew Enright, Gino Heyd, Mitchell Keenan, Josh McLaren, Ben Roth, Remy Sandoy, Gian Luca Schmidt, Blake Sinclair, Damian Watson, Matt Weir, Mike Wessling, Cameron Frear, Yvan Kerneis, Darcy Knyvett, Hassan Saeed, Thomas Stevens, Duncan Sykes, Geordie Wheeler, Regan Wilson, Aaron Bryant, Rick Parry, Toby Schuck.
