WA Squads for 2015 AHL Named

Hockey WA has announced the 2015 Thundersticks and Diamonds squads to contest the men’s and women’s Australian Hockey Leagues starting in Darwin and Sydney next month.

The Thundersticks will be looking to go one better than their 2014 silver medal effort, whilst the Diamonds will look to reassert themselves into the medal positions after a fourth place finish in last year’s finals.

Both squads contain a strong core of WAIS scholarship holders, with nine on the men’s list and a further nine included in the women’s camp.

WA Diamonds Head Coach Suzanne Tiverios has predicted bright things for WA’s emerging talents, highlighting the performances of a number of individuals during a recent three match warm up series against a composite All Stars side.

“Kyra Flynn (WAIS) and Aleisha Power (WAIS) performed well throughout the series, as did Lauren Turner who is new to the group. Some of the girls like Rachel Barclay, as well as Under 21 athletes Preah Hetherington (WAIS), Teagan Gmeiner (WAIS) and Georgia Wilson (WAIS) have all performed strongly in the All Stars games,” she said.

Hockeyroos Ashleigh Nelson and Kathryn Slattery will both add experience to the Diamonds’ cause.

The Thundersticks will cap eight AHL debutants, but will reinforce their list with several national team members in a squad that balances youth and top level experience.

“We have some exciting young talent coming through our system and this year is the first step in bringing our next generation through,” said Thundersticks coach Jason Butcher.

“We have had a big focus on the new athletes coming into the team understanding the expectations around playing for the Thundersticks and a number of young guys have shown strong signs that they can do their jobs at this level at the standard we expect.

“The next two years are really important for this team’s future, we know we have lots to do and lots to learn, but it is an exciting time for men’s hockey in Western Australia.”

WA Thundersticks
Kiel Brown*
Chris Bausor*
Aran Zalewski*
James Richardson
Tyler Lovell*
Ian Burcher
Fergus Kavanagh*
Frazer Gerrard*
Jake Harvie
Matthew Lim
Coby Green
Alistair Park
Tim Bates
Simon Benetti
Tim Geers
Trent Mitton*
Tom Wickham
Frank Main*

* denotes WAIS scholarship

WA Diamonds
Rachel Barclay
Jemma Buckley
Kate Denning*
Jess Esslemont
Kyra Flynn*
Teagan Gmeiner*
Preah Hetherington*
Kim Lammers
Ashleigh Nelson*
Caitlin Pascov
Aleisha Power*
Alessia Robinson
Kathryn Slattery*
Penny Squibb*
Lauren Turner
Ashlee Wells
Holly White
Georgia Wilson*

* denotes WAIS scholarship