Hockey One launched as Australia’s new elite league

Australia’s domestic hockey scene has changed for good, with the sport taking a leaf out of cricket’s Big Bash League to create a “reimagined” national competition.

The seven new clubs in Australia's new domestic competition, Hockey One. Picture: Supplied/Hockey Australia

Australia’s domestic hockey scene has changed for good, with the sport taking a leaf out of cricket’s Big Bash for a “reimagined” national competition.

Hockey One, which replaces the old Australian Hockey League, will feature seven new united clubs battling it out in both men’s and women’s competitions.

Matches will be streamed live on Kayo Sports and stretch over six weeks from mid-September to late November, with Fox Sports broadcasting live finals.

FLOATED: FIRST SIGNS OF NEW HOCKEY LEAGUE

The seven new clubs in Australia's new domestic competition, Hockey One. Picture: Supplied/Hockey Australia

Hockey Club Melbourne will be the new Victorian-based club, replacing the old Vikings and Vipers, while Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, NSW, Perth and Tasmania will be represented.

Hockey Australia CEO Matt Favier said the new league would “strive to put fans first”.

“The feedback we received from numerous surveys and research conducted in recent years with Australian hockey fans, players and officials has shown there is an appetite for a new approach to our domestic hockey league, much like other sports have adopted, like cricket’s Big Bash League,” Favier said.

“We’ve worked with our member associations on their club identities, which are fantastic and full of life and colour. They are sure to engage existing hockey fans and the next generation.

“Hockey, as a game, is a fantastic entertainment product and we want to showcase that to the wider Australian public through Hockey One.

“Our slogan is it’s ‘Real Hockey. Reimagined’.”

All clubs will play women’s and men’s double-headers in their fixtures

Originally published as Hockey One launched as Australia’s new elite league