Australia isn't known for its ice hockey, and the United States certainly isn't known for its rugby league.

But niche sports can provide enormous global opportunities for those willing to look in the right, unexpected places.

With the total number of Australian ice hockey players estimated at a little over 4,000, ice hockey cannot claim to be a major Australian sport just yet.

But the Australian Ice Hockey League was enough to attract Canadian professional Geordie Wudrick, 26, from North America.

Wudrick was once drafted with the LA Kings, and while never quite making an NHL appearance, he spent years playing at an elite level in both North America and Europe.

After some time out of the game battling injury, Wudrick was looking for a way to get back into high-level hockey.

He found himself signing with the Newcastle North Stars, and later the Canberra Brave.

Boarding a flight to Australia, he said he was not sure what to expect.

"The best word is surprising," he said.

"I went to prep-school with a guy that was an Aussie.

"Just the fact that he even played in a league down here was pretty neat for me."

Wudrick makes waves in Australia

Canberra Brave's Geordie Wudrick from Canada. ( ABC News: Alkira Reinfrank )

Australian competition provided Wudrick with the perfect recovery, but he never went home.

In his first season in the Australian Ice Hockey League in 2015, Wudrick set new point-scoring and goal-scoring records, was named the league's MVP, and guided the Newcastle North Stars to a championship trophy.

"I needed to get more games in and back on the ice playing more to get back in game shape, and this worked out perfectly for that," Wudrick said.

"But I wasn't expecting the level of play that it is. It's very physical, it's more physical than European hockey, it's very similar to Canadian hockey. I think that's why I like it, that's why I thrive here and do well."

In 2016, he made the move to Canberra and said he was not going anywhere.

"I wasn't expecting to break records or anything like that," he said.

"If I can help the game of hockey in this country, that would be something I'd be really happy about.

"I've fallen in love with this country, and I hope to come back here every year for quite a long time. If one day I could maybe become a citizen here and play for the national team, that would be a dream come true."

Bringing rugby league to North America

Josh Cock playing rugby league with the Jacksonville Axemen. ( Supplied: Allene Rachal Photography )

Josh Cock, 27, first heard American rugby league clubs were looking for international talent while he was playing first grade football in Newcastle.

After reaching out via email to clubs across the country, he was offered a position with the Jacksonville Axemen in Florida.

Each side is allowed three 'import' players, and Cock said while they were not paid, it was a pretty good deal for a young footballer.

"They set us up with a place to stay, a car to share between the three of us, and gave us a phone," he said.

"We used to go up to Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and while the team would stay the Saturday night, the imports would stay the Sunday and Monday night."

American rugby league seasons run over the summer, allowing Cock to work as a plumber in Australia for nine months, then travel to Florida for the Australian winter.

USA Rugby League still in its infancy

Cock is now finishing his third season with the Axemen, currently playing in the USA Rugby League (USARL) finals series.

Rugby league is still in its infancy in the United States, with 14 clubs competing in the USARL competition.

"It's not the best, you're getting blokes that haven't played or heard of rugby league before," he said.

"That is sort of the whole point. It has got a long way to go. It could be like a good bush footy competition."

He said the biggest obstacle in growing the game is explaining the difference between rugby league, and the more established rugby union.

"They just call it rugby," he said.

"If you try and explain that we don't play rugby union, we play rugby league, you get some very confused looks."

He said while leaving Australian winters for Florida summers will always be an attractive option, this will be his final season.

"I probably did go one too many but it is a bloody good time," he said.

"I'd highly recommend it to any young bloke."