Australia's new premier domestic men's and women's hockey competition, the Sultana Bran Hockey One League, is back and gearing up for a massive second season following the release of the 2021 fixtures.
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For the very first time, the competition will head to a regional area with the NSW Pride's first home game set to take place at McGlynn Sports Complex in Parkes.
A hot-bed for hockey talent in NSW, Parkes will host the Pride's October 6 clash with the Canberra Chill in front what is expected to be a sold-out local crowd.
Local Parkes products, Hockeyroo Mariah Williams and Kurt Lovett from the Kookaburras, will be fan favourites as they run out onto the field named in Mariah's honour - and she is thrilled to be returning to her home town.
"I'm so incredibly excited to be able to play a Hockey One game in Parkes," says Williams.
"It's like a dream come true to be able to represent our state in my home town and even better on the turf that is named in my honour in front of family, friends and the Parkes community.
"A massive hats off to the Parkes hockey community and the Parkes Shire Council to be able to get a game in Parkes."
After COVID-19 caused the postponement of last year's edition, the 2021 season will take place from October and culminate with the men's and women's grand finals on 21 November.
The season will again feature seven rounds as well as a new finals festival format, with every match LIVE on Fox Sports or Kayo.
After their games in Parkes, the NSW Pride will then head back to their Sydney Olympic Park home - the Lion's Den - for their two remaining home games against the Brisbane Blaze (October 16) and Perth Thundersticks (October 30).
The match against the Blaze will be a heavyweight matchup, with the 2019 men's grand finalists squaring off against each in a replay that is sure to fiery.
In a much-anticipated away game, HC Melbourne will host the Pride in the opening match-day of the 2021 season on Friday, October 1.
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Williams said NSW is determined to redeem themselves after a disappointing campaign in the last edition of the league, in 2019.
"The Pride girls are very excited to play again, especially after not doing our best in 2019 and coming 2nd last...so we plan on redeeming ourselves and doing much better than that this year."
Hockey NSW CEO David Thompson is incredibly excited about the upcoming season and the opportunity to take the NSW Pride to regional hockey fans.
"The NSW Pride are a team for the entire State to get behind and to do that, we knew we had to bring the competition to new locations across NSW," said Thompson.
"Nearly 70% of our hockey community in NSW live regionally, with a large percentage of those based in the Central West, so it made sense to take one of home games to a great regional hockey centre like Parkes."
The town has long had a proud tradition of producing elite hockey players, like current stars Williams and Lovett, and Williams puts that
"The Parkes hockey community is such a great community; there are coaches there that are putting in some hard yards and that's a real credit to them - and it's paying off with so many representatives in state teams."
Hockey One General Manager, Tony Dodemaide, said the anticipation is high for the 2021 edition.
"Starting only months after the Games in Tokyo, the Sultana Bran Hockey League will give the Australian sporting public the opportunity to see the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos stars who will hopefully be fresh off claiming medals," said Dodemaide.
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