Territory Stingers to feature in 2025 Festival of Hockey

International clashes and elite domestic finals will deliver NT hockey’s biggest month on record as the full program for the 2025 Festival of Hockey has been revealed.

Jeremy Mayne, Izzy Gill, Adrian Lockley, Amy Stripling and Zach Rakkas as the Territory Stingers ahead of the 2024 Festival of Hockey. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

International clashes and elite domestic finals will deliver NT hockey’s biggest month on record as the full program for the 2025 Festival of Hockey has been revealed.

The Festival is now in its third year with the past two featuring matches between the Territory Stingers and Brisbane Blaze.

But a triple header of matches that are sure to put the Stingers in the national spotlight are on the agenda this year.

August 30 will be a night to remember with the local TPL grand finals followed directly by a Malaysia and Territory Stingers match against the New Zealand Black Sticks.

The match is part of the collaboration between Hockey NT and the Malaysian Hockey Confederation as a proof of concept to join Hockey One as a cross-border franchise.

Joel Carroll playing for the Territory Stingers.

The teams will meet again in a second international fixture on September 1 with the Black Sticks head coach Greg Nichol looking at the matches as strong preparation for the world cup qualifiers.

“Having game one on grand final day also allows us to connect with the Hockey NT community. It is shaping up to be a superb day of hockey,” he said.

These matches form part of the final preparations for New Zealand ahead of the Oceania Cup, a three-game series from September 4-7 in Darwin.

The festival continues with the Stingers v Indonesia Five-Match Series from September 18–24 featuring the men and women against Indonesia.

Hockey NT chief executive Jason Butcher said the festival reflects the momentum and ambition building across the Territory as the four year plans gets under way.

“We’re looking forward to some great hockey and entertainment and also unveiling key pieces of the Northern Gateway Initiative,” he said.

“It’s an incredibly unique opportunity for the Territory Stingers to join forces with Malaysia and take on one of the most iconic teams in world hockey.

Izzy Gill and Amy Stripling for the Territory Stingers. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“The Black Sticks have an incredible legacy, and for our local boys to line up against them in front of a home crowd is going to be something truly special.

“It’ll be a treat for our community to see some of our home-grown players step onto that stage.”

Stingers women head coach Michelle Caden said the series plays a critical role in the program’s development:

“Playing Indonesia in a five-game series at home gives our group the chance to test themselves, build confidence, and show what they’ve learned across the year,” she said.

“It’s also an important part of the selection process leading into our next Malaysian Hockey League campaign and will be a real measure of how far this playing group has come.”

Festival of Hockey 2025

DHL Grand Final Day – August 30

• Women’s TPL Grand Final – 4pm

• Men’s TPL Grand Final – 6pm

• Malaysia & Territory Stingers v Black Sticks Men – 8pm

Second International Match – September 1

• Malaysia & Territory Stingers v Black Sticks Men 6pm

Oceania Cup - September 4-7

• Kookaburras & Hockeyroos v Black Sticks (World Cup Qualification)

Indonesia v Stingers Series five match series

• September 18 – Practice Game: men 6pm / women 7.30pm

• September 20 – Game 1: women 4pm / men 5.30pm

• September 21 – Game 2: men 4pm / men 5.30pm

• September 23 – Practice Game: men 6pm / women 7.30pm

• September 24 – Practice Game: men 6pm / women 7.30pm

Originally published as Territory Stingers to feature in 2025 Festival of Hockey