Among those is having one of New Zealand’s best young ice hockey players in its squad.
If Adam Stitely’s family had stuck to its original plan, he would have moved back to the United States nine years ago.
His parents had been looking for something exciting to do, so made the move to Dunedin for two years.
But they loved it so much they never left.
It means that rather than turning out for some high school team in West Virginia, Stitely is now in his third year with the Thunder.
The 18-year-old forward, a year 13 pupil at King’s High School, has taken a big step this year, too.
He scored a goal and made two assists in last Saturday’s 9-6 win over the Canterbury Red Devils, before scoring another goal in Sunday’s overtime loss.
It is eye-catching form.
Tonight he will get the chance to put that on display against the Botany Swarm at the Dunedin Ice Stadium, which the side will also play tomorrow.
Now in his third year in the league, Stitely said he was beginning to feel more comfortable playing against the top grown men in New Zealand.
"I’m getting more used to it," he said.
"But it’s still a bit of a step up, honestly.
"They’re just stronger, so you’ve got to be smarter to work around that."
Stitely is from Morgantown in West Virginia and it was in his last year there he began playing ice hockey.
He moved to Dunedin aged 7 and when he saw there was a rink, decided to keep playing.
After coming through the age-groups he linked with the Thunder in 2019.
That was initially to be as a training player.
But injuries opened up opportunities and he ended up taking the ice.
He was nervous at first but, as he played more, he became more comfortable.
That helped propel him into the New Zealand under-18 team.
He hoped that would lead to bigger things.
Making both the New Zealand under-20 side and the Ice Blacks were goals, as was playing many years for the Thunder.
For now, his focus was on the Swarm, which had two opening-round losses to the West Auckland Admirals.
"I’m expecting it to be a quick game. We haven’t played them in a season because they didn’t travel last year with Covid," he said.
"It’s exciting to play against a team we haven’t played in an couple of years."
Tonight’s game begins at 6.45pm, and tomorrow’s starts at 5.45pm.
