Hockey SA needs $100K to fund state teams in national league - or won’t produce Olympians

Hockey SA needs $100,000 to fund its state teams’ presence in this year’s new-look Australian Hockey League – and it has just six days to find the money.

Hockey SA needs $100,000 to fund its state teams’ presence in this year’s new-look Australian Hockey League – and it has just six days to find the money.

Without state teams in the AHL, SA talent such as new Hockeyroos forward Miki Spano will have her dream to play in the Tokyo Olympics next year at risk.

For the first time in more than a century, SA is at risk of not fielding men’s and women’s teams in the national competition.

SA’s most successful hockey player and dual Olympic gold medallist Juliet Haslam told The Advertise r without the teams juniors “will have nothing to aim for”.

“Just when we have serious momentum in developing junior players in SA, they will be left with no pathway to the national team,” she said.

PITCHING IN: Hockey great Juliet Haslam with state player Zoe Nunn, 14, Hockeyroo Miki Spano and SA’s Lachie Busiko at the Pines. Picture: Sarah Reed

Haslam feared SA falling off the national map, which meant no AHL games would be played in Adelaide, would also deny Hockey SA a major promotional tool.

“If the kids don’t see their heroes, like Miki Spano, Jane Claxton and Karri McMahon, playing for SA in Adelaide, where do they get their inspiration to become a Hockeyroo,” she said.

SA Sports Institute senior hockey coach Tim White feared the sport would become “irrelevant” without SA’s presence on the national circuit and without a pathway to men’s Kookaburras and women’s Hockeyroos Australian teams. “We have batted above our weight to develop the talent in SA, but if you want to be part of the national development squads, you have to play in the AHL,” White said.

“Hockey people will be aghast if that pathway does not exist because SA has been squeezed out of the national league.”

Hockey SA must raise $100,000 by Tuesday to buy a licence – costing $140,000 – for its men’s Hotshots and women’s Suns teams to participate in the revamped AHL competition in October and November.

Hockey SA also needs to cover $60,000 for the teams’ training program.

The budget shortfall comes after the Northern Territory pulled out of a partnership with Hockey SA to combine its men’s and women’s teams.

Hockey SA chairman James Blackburn told The Advertiser the association’s application for support from the State Government had been rebuffed. “The State Government said it does not support state teams,” Blackburn said.

“As a result, we are $100,000 short on the $100,000 we already have committed to our AHL budget.

“So we now have players who want to represent Australia who will have to find other state teams.

“And if there is no opportunity for those developing players here in SA, there is a cascading blow to SA hockey and the national teams.” SA’s newest Hockeyroo, Adelaide striker Spano, is one player who could be compelled to change state teams to keep her ambition alive of being selected for the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Hockey SA has started a GoFundMe page to raise the money. The association is also appealing for sponsors and donations to support the teams and to contact Hockey SA on 8349 4044.