The fire is back in the bellies of the Southern Stampede squad going into the New Zealand Ice Hockey League.
Manager Charlie Reid said the Queenstown-based Stampede, winner of the league in 2005 and 2006, "let ourselves down a little bit" in the past two seasons but he was confident the team could turn it around this year.
"This year the guys have got the fire back. We are there . . . to compete at the highest level and be in the final."
The Stampede has a healthy sprinkling of international players, some of whom have been living and working in Queenstown for several years.
New to the team this year is Cles Lambridis, who played for Greece in the world third division championships in Dunedin in March.
Joining him are Canadians Joe and Brett Bjorkman, Kevin Bar, Thomas Gobeil and Evan Lapointe and transferring from the West Auckland Admirals is Daniel Smith.
The Stampede will also include plenty of young talent.
Nick Gloag, Gareth Lloyd, Dane Dunlop and Connor Harrison would ensure its strength in yearsto come, Reid said.
"We've got a good mix of young fellows in there. That's the future of the Stampede."
The build-up to the season had been "far more intense" than in recent years and the squad was looking sharp for its first match, against the Admirals, in Queenstown tonight.
Southern Stampede
Squad (NZ unless stated)
Aston Brookes, Bert Haines (Canada), Braden Lee, Brett Bjorkman (Can), Brett Speirs, Cameron Frear, Chris Dale, Cles Lambridis (Greece), Connor Harrison, Dane Dunlop, Daniel Smith, Evan Lapointe (Can), Gareth Lloyd, Hayden Argyle, Jamie Moore-Carter, Joe Bjorkman (Can), Kevin Bar (Can), Luke Pickering, Mark Shearer (Can), Matt Swirtz (US), Mitchell Frear, Nick Gloag, Ryan O'Keefe, Simon Glass, Simon Wilson, Stacey Rout, Stephen Reid, Thomas Gobeil (Can).
Draw for Stampede
June 12-13 v Admirals, Queenstown
June 20-21 v Swarm, AucklandJune 27-28 v Thunder, Queenstown
July 3-4 v Swarm, Queenstown
July 25-26 v Red Devils, Christchurch
August 1-2 v Thunder, DunedinAugust 8-9 v Admirals, Auckland
August 21-22 v Red Devils, Queenstown
