Your first year is all about filling drink bottles, lugging bags and meeting your coach's expectations while proving to your senior comrades you are fit for the team.

But that hasn't stopped the Newcastle North Stars' three newest recruits - Josh Hansen, Hayden Sheard and Pat Nadin - from having the time of their lives.

All three joined Newcastle's Australian Ice Hockey League main draft this season through the club's junior system.

Hansen and Sheard, both 18, trained together for eight years while Nadin, 19, started two years earlier.

Nadin played for Canada's Notre Dame College team for two years.

Hansen and Sheard were part of the national youth team that played Mexico at the under-18 world championships in Bulgaria in March.

Hansen was named the tournament's most valuable player.

However, the defenceman struggled to gain as much ice time as his fellow forwards.

Sheard scored two goals this season and makes the ice every second rotation with Nadin.

It is at away games, where Newcastle has only one defenceman, when Hansen is called off the bench and has a chance to shine.

All three players have been difficult for Newcastle coach Garry Dore to overlook.

Dore expected Sheard and Nadin to stick with the East Coast Super League but they proved too good to pass up.

While the rookies climb the ladder under Dore's watchful eye, they have Canadian imports Harrison May, Cody Danberg and Chris Wilson and American John F Kennedy's expertise to guide them.