He has never played a game in Australia, but that hasn't stopped American import Ryan Lowe from declaring the Canberra Knights will win this year's Australian Ice Hockey League title.
The Californian goaltender exudes confidence, and the feeling appears contagious among the team before the season opener against the Penrith Bears tonight at the Phillip Ice Rink.
''We will win the championship,'' Lowe confidently declared. ''It will happen, I have no problem saying that.''
The Knights last won a national title in the former East Coast Super League in 1998, and have not made an appearance in the post-season since the inception of the current AIHL in 2002.
While player-coach Stuart Philps stopped short of promising a title, he said the team was confident of a playoff appearance this year.
''We expect to make finals, there's no doubt about that. It's all that is on our minds,'' he said.
The Knights finished fifth last season, one spot out of the playoffs, while the visiting Bears will look to continue where they left off last year after claiming the minor premiership.
''It will be a tough game,'' Philps admitted.
''The Bears are always a creative team and they have always got something up their sleeve.''
The Knights will reveal a new style of play designed to put more pucks on net.
''The Canberra Knights have always been a 'defence-first' hockey team, now we are going to an attacking style,'' Philps said.
''We have always been able to defend, but you win games by scoring.''
Philps said the team's confidence in its newly-imported goalie would allow the Knights to go forward and attack.
''He moves so fast and so effortlessly between the pipes to make the save,'' Philps said.
''Ryan is one of the best goalies we have seen in a long time.''
Aiming to deliver consistency and dependability to the Knights net, Lowe is sure he can make a difference to the team after playing in some of the best leagues in the USA.
''The guys can count on me,'' Lowe said.
''The team will know I can make the save, and they can do the rest.''
Lowe was called up last season to train with the San Jose Sharks, one of the best teams in the North American NHL.
Philps said this year's recruits would add a new dimension to the Knights, with players such as Lowe, arriving from the USA and Canada to join the returning Finnish pair Matti Luoma and Marko Raita.