With the second and final 2023 NHL Global Series game in Melbourne, Australia in the books, coaches and players from the LA Kings and Arizona Coyotes reflected on their experiences. The game also placed Australian-born Jordan Spence in the spotlight, delighting local hockey fans.

The game at Rod Laver Arena was another sell-out, with 13,118 enthusiastic hockey fans filling the building to watch the Kings defeat the Coyotes 3-2. The loudest cheers were reserved for a player with a local connection, 22-year-old LA Kings defenceman Jordan Spence.

Born in Manly, NSW, Spence was around two-years-old when his family moved to Japan. “I’m going to take it all in and actually remember it this time,” he laughed when asked about his return.

Spence didn’t realise he was the first Australian-born player to play in the NHL until after he had made his debut. “Two years ago when I realised that, it’s pretty cool. And coming here, and not expecting to even play games here – it’s a pretty cool experience.”

After playing 24 games in his 2021-22 debut season, Spence played just six games last season.

McLellan has given Spence opportunities this trip to take on a bigger role, including time on the powerplay. In Saturday’s game, Spence quarterbacked the second powerplay unit as Doughty took the first. In Sunday’s game, with Doughty rested, Spence took over PP1 duties.

Spence did not look out of place in either game and contributed an assist in each contest.

“He’s a young, hungry player that really wants to play in the National Hockey League and he’s really close,” McLellan noted. “He keeps playing like that and he’s going to force his way onto the team.”

To Claim, or Not to Claim

With a Japanese-born mother and Canadian-born father, Spence’s family doesn’t have a long-standing connection to Australia. Although born in Australia, Jordan spent his formative years elsewhere.

Australian hockey fans are knowledgeable. Despite the paucity of local promotion for overseas hockey players with Australian connections (try buying a Nathan Walker jersey here), the majority of the crowd knew Spence’s Australian origins.

So, when the rink announcer introduced “from Manly, New South Wales, Australia, number 53, Jordan Spence”, the crowd in Melbourne could almost be heard in Sydney. The crescendo was almost matched with the announcement awarding Spence First Star of the game honours.

Based on Spence’s reception, Australian hockey fans are eager to claim him as their own. His coach and teammates have observed Spence’s nascent connection to Australia during the trip.

“I think he’s had so much on his mind, as far as trying to make the team,” LA Kings Head Coach Todd McLellan told Hockey Hype Australia. “He didn’t live here very long, but he is from here. And with that you take on a little more responsibilities.”

McLellan noted that Spence had hosted a group to one of the games, and the attention he received from the crowd was well deserved. In fact, McLellan regretted not using Spence earlier in the shootout to delight the fans further.

“I think it’s pretty cool for him to come back here and play,” teammate Adrian Kempe observed. “As a team we’re really excited for him as well and I think it means a lot to the people around here.”

Impressions of Australia

Arizona Coyotes Head Coach André Tourigny will leave Australia impressed with the local appetite for ice hockey.

“I don’t know much about the pro league and how they play and all of it,” Tourigny conceded. “What I know is there’s way more hockey fans than I knew, I just didn’t know.”

“I see the number of NHL jerseys everywhere, the number of fans, the way the people were cheering and everything, I think that was pretty cool.”

The team has endeared itself to the Australian public, and made a lot of new fans. Tourigny’s message to Australian Coyote fans is that “the future is bright”.

“We came a long way,” Tourigny continued, “and we’re excited about the future, and I want to thank them for their welcome here”.

The Australian fans impressed LA Kings goaltender Cam Talbot. “The atmosphere here is unbelievable. I mean, to have two sold out games back-to-back nights or afternoons, it was pretty incredible.”

“They were into it the whole time… Give the fans in the city a lot of credit, and I respect the way that they treated us and the way that they came and showed up for us. So it’s been a great experience,” Talbot concluded.

McLellan outlined what his message would be to another NHL coach of a team considering playing in Melbourne. “I would tell [them] that once you get here, it’s an outstanding experience.”

“The people of Melbourne, the organising people, the life in the city, the energy, the AFL game, the fans, I would say it’s an unreal experience.”

For Australian NHL fans, the future looks bright for the league’s return down under. In the meantime, it will be fascinating to see the impact on the sport, and how stars like Jordan Spence and Nathan Walker are marketed going forward.