Adelaide Adrenaline: The Halfway Point

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It was a tough start for the Adelaide Adrenaline in the 2025 season, going winless in the first eight games but momentum in recent weeks has began to shift. Adelaide has won four out of the last six games played - the first win came at the inaugural game of the AIS Arena against the Canberra Brave, with the visiting Adrenaline taking the maiden win at the venue in front of a record-breaking AIHL crowd! This set the tone of the results for the past three weeks – a split weekend against Canberra and Perth, followed by a clean sweep against the Central Coast Rhinos in front of the home crowd.

What’s changed?
Adelaide’s roster has seen some significant changes such as defenseman Shaun Dosanjh and Jade Galbraith out of the line-up due to long-term injuries. With the two imports out, Coy Prevost made his return to the team and Roman Nekludovs has stepped in – their impact on the results was immediate. They quickly found the scoresheet on their first game of the 2025 season with Prevost scoring two goals and getting two assists whilst Nekludovs scored one goal and three assists. They continue to add to their tally – Prevost recording 1.8 points per game and Nekludovs with an impressive 3 points per game so far.

When asked about the key adjustments made on the ice to deliver positive results during the last six weeks, this is what Coach Jade Galbraith had to say, “We’re playing as a team. At the start of the year, we were going through a lot of systems and a lot of teaching more than anything. Now we’re starting to figure it out which means we’re playing in the system the proper way. We’re trusting the system and now we’re capitalising on chances.”

Tracking Adelaide’s recent progress:
Adelaide's most recent results saw them make their first move in the league standings, surpassing Central Coast after a six-point weekend. On the ice, there’s been a clear improvement in puck movement, offensive strategies, and overall playmaking. Cleaner passing and smarter plays are creating more scoring opportunities with results being evident.

One of the biggest improvements in Adelaide’s recent games has been their ability to maintain consistency through all three periods, particularly in the third. It’s been challenging for Adelaide to keep the pace going during the final twenty minutes of the game. They’ve fallen short in the third period which has caused Adelaide much needed points.

But lately, they’ve remained consistent. A clear example of this came in Game 2 against Central Coast. Despite being outshot in the first two periods, Adelaide stayed composed and came out even stronger in the third, matching their intensity and eventually outshooting the visitors, pushing forward to a 4–1 victory.

The player chemistry to create offensive pressure has been working well for Adelaide. The line combinations started to click, resulting in higher production in the offensive end and things being much neater at the back end too. With the stronger system and structure now firmly implemented, the results have finally gone the way of the South Australian outfit.

Coy Prevost brings in a mix of offensive and defensive playing style, having experience in both positions in his hockey career, “The last five years now I’ve been playing defense. Obviously being able to play both is an advantage. I find defense a lot more cognitive - you have to be aware of everything in front of you and control the plays and obviously get the puck out of your zone,” Prevost said. “But my offensive tendencies definitely helped me - jumping into positions to score goals and contribute to the team. It's all you can really ask for from a defenseman and lucky enough I’ve been able to do that in the last four games.”

Adelaide Adrenaline Standout Players:
Import Josh Adkins – In 14 games, Adkins has recorded 10 goals and 13 assists, leading the team in points. As a versatile forward, he plays a critical role in both creating
scoring opportunities and finishing them. He was the only import skater during the games against Canberra, stepping up as a key presence on the ice. In several match-ups, Adkins has been instrumental in securing points for the team, coming up clutch in key moments.

Local Nathaniel Benson - Nathaniel Benson is the team’s second-highest point scorer and goal scorer, cementing himself as a core-piece of the forward ranks and showcasing huge improvements from 2024. Benson has so far played in every game, consistently making an impact with his work ethic, positioning, and offensive awareness. His performance at the AIS showed his grit, commitment and will-to-win, with his 6 goals and 8 assists keeping him firmly at 1 point per game at the half-way point.

The new addition of imports Cale Dolan, Coy Prevost and Roman Nekludovs have helped lead the team to successful performances, “Cale, Coy, and Romans coming in, it just makes our team better and it helps the other guys not have to do so much… The systems are finally being played to the extent we need them to be successful,” says Coach Jade

Adelaide’s Fight to Playoffs
With the improved chemistry, standout performances, and strong momentum, Adelaide is fighting for a playoff spot, only being two points behind Canberra who are currently sitting sixth on the league standings. The top six teams in the standings advance to the finals series, so every game in the second half of the season carries importance. The outlook is promising as the team grows more confident in its system, structure, and team culture.

When asked about how the team’s play has changed from the first game of the season to now, Coach Jade said that the team is feeling more confident, “Confidence – once we got that first win with that crowd, it just gave us confidence knowing we can play against any team in the league. From the first game, it’s more feeling your players out, the line combinations, the systems are brand new — so I always knew we were going to get better.”

The team’s shared collective effort has a been key factor in their recent successful performances. Every player has contributed to building a cohesive group focused on one goal.

While the season presented early challenges, the team’s resilience and commitment to improvement, accompanied by a positive momentum and strengthened team culture, the team are driving forward as they push toward a spot in the finals.