Revealed: The players to watch in the inaugural Labrador Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association Premier League team

A former Kookaburras captain is predicting a hockey boom on the Gold Coast. Meet some of the current stars aiming towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

Gold Coast talent Aurora Kovacevich in action on the hockey field. She is set to compete for Labrador this season. Picture: Supplied.

Former Queensland and Australia hockey captain Mark Knowles hopes the chance to represent the nation in a hometown Olympics will inspire the next boom in hockey participation on the Gold Coast.

The Rockhampton product said the Sydney Games in 2000 had been a catalyst for his rise to join the Kookaburras in Athens and win the gold medal in 2004

Speaking at Labrador Hockey Club on Wednesday, Knowles said he hoped a new generation would find their own flash of Olympic inspiration.

“Hockey saw a surge of participation leading up to Sydney 2000 and I was one of those kids,” he said.

“My parents took me to the Olympics as a 16-year-old and that was the moment where I said I just want to be a hockey player at the Olympics, and I got to do it four years later in Athens.

“I just hope that some of these kids and families are thinking to themselves that hockey is my sport now - let’s go.”

For rising Gold Coast hockey star Aurora Kovacevich, watching Knowles and her hero Rosie Malone star at Labrador during the 2018 Commonwealth Games was the ignition point for her hockey dream.

Now the 16-year-old says she is willing to put in the work to follow in their footsteps by playing on the world stage in her own backyard in 2032.

“Hopefully I’ll be playing in those Olympics,” Kovacevich.

“I came (in 2018) and watched nearly every single game. I was so excited every time they scored a goal and that kind of flicked a switch and I was like that’s where I want to be soon.

“It would be a dream, seeing my family in these stands. Walking out here for my first game here would mean everything to me.

“Now it’s been announced as being held here it will draw a lot more younger players to the sport and help the sport grow.”

A new era is here with the Labrador Tigerstix entering its first side in the Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association Premier League.

Labrador women’s coach Ryan Hack said the club had worked for almost 20 years to make this dream a reality.

“It is going to be massive, the bigger plan is next year we’ll enter a BWHL second team, so we’ll be able to have two teams in the comp,” Hack said.

“What it means is it gives a platform for the girls on the Coast a pathway to the Brisbane league without having to travel to Brisbane for those training nights.

“For them to train on the Coast and play in the Brisbane league is a huge advantage.”

Check out the players who are set to star this season below.

Brisbane Blaze forward Savannah Fitzpatrick shields the ball from the Thundersticks’ Jesse Reid.

Kendra and Savannah Fitzpatrick

The pair bring several years of Brisbane hockey experience and Hack expects the duo to play key roles for the side throughout the season.

Kendra brings high level rep experience, having represented Australia at several levels and played for the Brisbane Blaze in the Hockey One League.

Savannah has played at the elite level for several years, and has represented Australia at the Olympics.

Kelly Reed

A former South African international with a wealth of experience competing across the globe in outdoor and indoor competitions for more than 15 years.

Kyra Livermore and Laney Smith

The duo are Labrador juniors who have returned to the club to compete in the elite Brisbane competition.

Livermore is set to be the anchor of the side at the heart of the defence.

Gabrielle Nance (R) of Australia vies for the ball with India's Sunita Lakra during their women's field hockey semi-final match of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Photo AFP/ Manan VATSYAYANA

Gabrielle Nance

The former Hockeyroos forward is set to return from a year away from hockey to line up for Labrador.

Nance has competed at Commonwealth and Olympic Games and represented Australia 75 times between 2014 and 2020.

Aurora Kovacevich

One of the most exciting young talents on the Gold Coast, Kovacevich will have the chance to show her class against some of the state’s best hockey players.

The teenage phenomenon has played at senior level for Labrador since she was 12.

Kovacevich was unstoppable in the under-18 state championships last year where she scored 16 goals in just six games - as a 15-year-old.

“She’s definitely going to be a future Australian international,” hack said.

Originally published as Revealed: The players to watch in the inaugural Labrador Brisbane Women’s Hockey Association Premier League team