This story has been reposted from Hewitt Sports Network.

The Gold Coast Blue Tongues have been blessed the last three years with the services of star import Mike McRae and Andrew McMurtry discusses the time he has spent on the Queensland coast.

The three years that Mike McRae has been in Australia have seen some phenomenal achievements for the 30 year-old Michigan-born Blue Tongue, although his stats may surprise some.

With Matt Amado and Tobias Falk grabbing their headlines with 69 and 65 point-hauls respectively, McRae finished third, amassing 53 points with 19 goals and 34 assists.

In fact, up to this weekend, McRae has scored 112 points for his adopted hometown, passing fifty goals for the club earlier this year.

“Well Amado gets that every year,” McRae joked. “I was unaware of that but that’s a good accomplishment. But the real goal is playoffs and that is what I’m thinking of now.”

“Our team is a lot different from the first couple years I’ve been here. We have one of the top goalies in the league and a strong six in defence. We have been missing some imports the first couple games but really have been using a team first approach. Defence is our first priority this year, which is very different from the past.”

Despite the tough last weekend, it has been a positive start to the season from the AIHL’s most northerly team with two wins, and three losses, with two by one goal.

For the long suffering Queensland ice hockey fraternity, who have only held the Goodall Cup for one year in 1977, McRae said that he thinks this is the Blue Tongues team that could bring the cup back to the sunshine state.

“This is the best team I have been with in my three years,” McRae claimed. “Amado and Toby are amazing players, two of the better players to play in this league. But with Kimlin and Greg Bay, it really adds a different dimension to our team. We won’t be winning many 7-6 games anymore; we are more focused on 3-2 wins now without Amado and Toby.”

“I think we have one of the best defensive teams in the league. Goals are pretty but defence wins championships. All the guys have bought into the defence first approach.”

One of the other big changes to the team includes the announcement of McRae as the alternate captain and he said he was happy to take the responsibility, even if it meant less points.

“I think the boys gave it to me cause I yell at the ref more than anyone,” McRae laughed. “I’m just allowed to do it this year. But really it’s an honour to get the A and I’ll do what I can to help the team.”

“I’m going to have to score a bit more like my first year (47 points with 27 goals). No one is going to score like him [Amado]. If I cut my scoring in half but win more games and make the playoffs I am glad to do it.”

Having been in Australia now since the 2010 season, McRae said that he loves the lifestyle of the Goal Coast and its very relaxed atmosphere and may even be looking to make his stay in the country more permanent.

“If I can stay for longer or maybe get residency I would love to,” McRae explained. “Australia really is an amazing place and the hockey is really improving and it is becoming a very good league. It has really been great playing and staying in Australia. I really hope hockey gets bigger here and I think it could really take off in this country.”

As a proven star who knows how to hit the back of the net, this surely won’t be the last we hear of Mike McRae this year as he helps lead the Blue Tongues to their first playoff series since 2009.