The Territory’s Under 15 girls team is a chance of making the semi-finals at the national championships

A string of strong performances at the national junior championships in Darwin has shown the future is bright for Territory hockey.

The future of women’s hockey in the Territory appears to be in safe hands following a raft of strong performances at the national junior championships in Darwin.

Led by Milly McLaurin, the NT’s Under 15 girls team are an outside chance of making the semi-finals at the MWT Hockey Centre tournament, bouncing back from a tough start.

After a bruising 5-0 opening round loss to Queensland Maroon on April 15, and their fixture against NSW cancelled due to lightning strikes, the girls drew with Victoria and then beat Western Australia 1-0.

It’s more positive news for the sport, just weeks after former Waratah player Jeremy Hayward was named the Territory’s Sportsperson of the Year for the second time.

The NT will face South Australia on April 19 with a win potentially progressing them further.

Hockey NT interim chief executive Jason Butcher said combined with a promising Territory Under 18 girls team, an important female player base was being cultivated.

The Northern Territory's Under 15 team celebrates a goal at the national championships in Darwin. Picture: MJM Photography.

“We now can see this cohort we have in our women’s program that we can hold onto and nurture for the future,” Butcher said.

“It’s not just one age bracket ... that we can build a list around for the future, it’s very exciting.”

He said midfielder McLaurin, the Perth-based member of the Territory’s Under 18 squad, had been “outstanding” at the seven-day tournament, “forging the path for others to follow”.

“She’s probably been the standout, she’s been everywhere,” he said.

“She’s held things together.

“There would be 6-8 girls who have all stood up and played above themselves.”

The NT squad for the national championships. Picture: MJM Photography.

He said the SA fixture would be “massive” in the context of the competition, with the NT just two points behind the Vics in second place in their pool.

“They’re still an aspirational chance to play finals, which would be amazing. They’re in the hunt,” he said.

However, the Under 15 boys have suffered from a tough draw, going down to WA Gold (7-0), QLD Gold (3-0) and SA (3-2) in an encounter they could have won.

“They’ve had the worst draw you can imagine, they’ve had probably the two top seeds first up,” he said.

“They were 2-1 (against SA) and just couldn’t get it done.

“It’s been a steep learning curve but they’re getting better and better every day.”

Butcher gave the boys a chance to beat Victoria on April 19, as they were coming to understand the “relentless chess game” that was hockey at the state level.

Noah Lenoir is playing for the Territory at the junior national hockey championships. Picture: MJM Photography.

He said young Commerce-Pints midfielder Baden Dixon had done the Territory proud: “There’s been a fight and a spirit and a composure to back himself and take the opposition on in a purposeful, smart way.”

Butcher said the championships also exhibited the NT’s proud intergenerational connections, with Leo Skippings’ father David arguably one of the best hockey players the Territory has produced; Noah Lenoir’s dad Nick a NT Institute of Sport coach while Luca Davey is the grandson of local hockey icon Bev Sinclair.

He said Darwin hosting the champs had “reinvigorated” the local hockey community, making members realise “we’re better together”.

“This community element to Territory hockey has always been our superpower,” he said.

“This tournament has brought everyone together and galvanised some of the progress that’s been made.”