REPLAYS: Premier League Hockey action – OHA v Derwent men and DiamondBacks v North West Grads women

Our coverage of Premier League hockey action continues with the OHA v Derwent men’s and DiamondBacks v North West Grads women’s clashes. WATCH THE REPLAYS NOW >>

THE women’s hockey Premier League will show its support for one of its favourite daughters, as clubs come together to raise funds for cancer research for the Mother’s Day round.

University Hockey Club star defender Alexandra Cullen (nee Irwin) was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 32 and has shared that, on the day of her diagnosis, there were 55 Australians diagnosed with breast cancer and eight who lost their lives to it.

The Mercury will once again live stream two Premier League Hockey matches. Replay the OHA v Derwent men’s match below and the DiamondBacks v North West Grads women clash in the video player above.

Cullen’s club will open the round against Canterbury from 10.30am, with both sides desperately seeking the points to stay in contact with the runaway top four sides.

Both sides earned four penalty corner opportunities last time out, but it was the Lions’ ability to convert twice that set the teams apart.

Second-placed North-West Graduates will be seeking redemption for their round-three 0-1 loss to fourth-placed DiamondBacks.

DiamondBacks midfielder Philly Bridley said star forward Emily Donovan was battling a hamstring strain and it would likely be a game-day decision whether she plays.

“Their main strengths are Loui Jacobson, who is still one of the best defenders I know, and we have to keep an eye on Ash Arthur and Grace Calvert through their midfield and their recent addition, Zayna Jackson,” Bridley said.

“I think I can personally look to be more attacking and take the game on at times a bit more.”

Emily Donovan in action for Diamondbacks. Picture: Eddie Safarik

Calvert has five goals from the opening seven matches, but admits she is yet to reach the heights of previous seasons as she commutes from studying in Launceston.

“I haven’t had the best start to the season, so hopefully [during] semester break I can dedicate some more time to my hockey and fitness,” Calvert said.

“We have picked up Kelsey Lewis, who has settled into the team after time in New Zealand and Victoria and has been excellent for us so far. I have also been really impressed with young talent Zayna Jackson.”

OHA can extend its unbeaten streak to eight matches, but the Ships
must first see off the free-scoring Derwent from 4.30pm, with the match sure to contain plenty of celebratory moments.

OHA banks on Chambers ahead of Cup camp

OHA coach Nick Leslie hopes star goalkeeper Henry Chambers, fresh from being named in Australia’s Junior World Cup hockey squad, can play in Saturday’s top-of-the-table men’s Premier League clash with Derwent.

Chambers and University’s Josh Brooks will assemble on the Gold Coast on Sunday for the Burras for a training camp in the lead-up to the Junior World Cup in November.

“His selection does not affect his availability to play for us,” Leslie said.

“I am very happy for Henry. He has worked very hard to put himself in this position, so he is more than deserving of a chance to represent his country.

“If he keeps working the way he is, then I have no doubt he can make it all the way to the top.”

Henry Chambers in action for OHA in 2019. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

OHA will regain Kurt Budgeon and Sam Keating to face the ladder-leading Strikers. The game will be live-streamed through the Mercury from 1.30pm.

Derwent coach Nathan Fitzpatrick is excited to test his squad against the Ships, who were undermanned last time.

With the announcement of Stephen McMullen as new Tassie Tigers men’s head coach, Fitzpatrick would also like to see more Derwent players involved in the Hockey One program.

“Ideally, all of them,’’ Fitzpatrick said. “It sounds a little silly, but the more players that are pushing for Hockey One means our competition will improve as a result.

“If I had to identify players, it would be surnames like McCausland, McCarthy, Mardell, Vickery, Boulton and Bowen.”

Derwent will don pink socks for its annual fundraiser to support Breast Cancer Network Australia.

In other action, North-West Graduates face DiamondBacks from noon, before Canterbury will be trying to see off University from 6pm.

New coach looks to add extra bite to Tigers

TASMANIA’S most successful national sporting side, the Tassie Tigers men’s hockey team, will enter a new era with the announcement of a first-time Hockey One coach.

Multiple Premier League title-winning coach Stephen McMullen was on Wednesday announced as the new leader of the Tigers, representing a program refresh after COVID-19 brought about a postponement in 2020.

The Tigers, national title winners in 2014, also claimed back-to-back bronze medals in 2018 and 2019, their standout performances ensuring national selection for Tasmanian stars Eddie Ockenden, Josh Beltz, Jack Welch, Hayden Beltz and Sam McCulloch.

McMullen said he had already spoken with former Kookaburras stars Jeremy Edwards and Nick Budgeon about rejoining the Tigers program.

“I’m very excited to be taking the reins of this successful program and look to build on the great work that has been done in the past,” McMullen said.

“This team is the Tasmanian hockey community’s flagship male team, its club, and as such it’s critically important that we have the support of the entire hockey community to be truly successful.”

Stephen McMullen, left, has been named as the new head coach of the Tassie Tigers men’s hockey team. Luke Doerner has been reappointed head coach of the women’s team. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

McMullen intends to travel the state taking in as many Premier League, Greater Northern League and intrastate matches to assess his current and future playing stocks.

“I want to see our best players in Tasmania performing to truly understand who we have available now, soon and into the future.”

McMullen aims to put together a program, alongside his off-field team, with some clear focus areas to consider, including mental preparation against power states.

The Tigers fell 0-7 and 1-7 in their two contests with Queensland in 2019, and their field goal conversions (19 per cent) sat behind the league average (50 per cent).

Tassie Tigers women’s coach Luke Doerner was re-appointed and aims to continue the positive results achieved in his debut year in 2019, which included a thumping 5-2 defeat of Western Australia.

Doerner is a World Cup winner, world-renowned dragflick specialist coach, an assistant coach with Belgium, and is also head of the Tassie Tigers Academy, which develops the next generation of hockey talent across Tasmania.

Doerner stated that his number one priority is to get as big a squad from across the state as he can to have an early a look at potential squad members.

“Hockey One has really got it right. It’s the right program, it’s the right format, and it’s at the right time of the year. Speaking with anyone who is a potential player, they want to be involved with it as it is a great product,” Doerner said.

The 2021 season starts on October 2, with the Tassie Tigers hosting the Brisbane Blaze at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre.