Australian Hockey League

The Australian Hockey League (AHL) was Australia's premier national domestic field hockey competition.[1] Despite its non-professional nature, it was considered one of the strongest and most competitive national hockey leagues in the world, consisting of both men's and women's competition. It included many players from the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos, with participating in the AHL serving as a selection requirement for all Australian national squad members.

Australian Hockey League
SportField Hockey
FoundedM: 1991; 33 years ago (1991)
W: 1993; 31 years ago (1993)
Ceased2018; 6 years ago (2018)
Replaced byHockey One
No. of teams8
CountryAustralia
Last
champion(s)
M: Queensland QLD Blades
W: New South Wales NSW Arrows
Most titlesM: Queensland QLD Blades
(10 titles)
W: New South Wales NSW Arrows
(10 titles)
Official websitehockey.org.au/ahl

The last edition of the AHL was contested in 2018, with the league was replaced by Hockey One, Australia's new elite domestic hockey competition.

History

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The first season of the Australian Men's National Hockey League (former AHL) took place in 1991, when the perpetual national championship was replaced by a new-look format. The competition, which was played over a two-month period, did not limit player eligibility to state of origin. Six teams competed in the first year – Brisbane Blades, Melbourne Redbacks, Adelaide Hotshots, Canberra Lakers, Sydney Stingrays and Tamworth Frogs. In 1991 and 1992, both the National Championship and the National Hockey League was played, placing a financial burden on the states. From 1993, the decision was made to play the National Hockey League as the sole competition in determining Australia's champion State.

The league has since evolved into an eight team competition played on a home and away basis before climaxing with a finals series. In 2000, 2004 and 2008 however, the league reverted to a two-week championship format. This format is designed to replicate the intense nature and heavy playing schedule of the Olympic Games. The league embraced some big changes leading into the 2001 season as the former Men's and Women's National Hockey League combined to form the Australian Hockey League (AHL). Both the men's and women's leagues shifted their seasons from mid-year to February–April and a unique format was adopted. The format devised allows a high level of hockey to be seen across Australia through four weeks of home-and-away competition. The league then climaxes with a full finals week that comprises three-round matches, the semi-finals and finals.

Competition Format and Rules

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Past Editions

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Prior to 2018, the Australian Hockey League was run as a centralised tournament.

Teams were split into two pools, Pool A and Pool B, playing in a single round robin format. At the conclusion of the pool stage, the top two teams entered the medal round, while the remaining teams played in the classification round.

2018 Australian Hockey League

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Like in previous editions, teams are split into Pool A and Pool B. At the conclusion of the pool stage however, teams contest in a quarterfinal format, with each team still eligible to contest the medal round.

2018 Rule Innovations

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Played under FIH international rules. 4 x 15-minute quarters.

  • At the end of the second and fourth quarters, one team is given a PumpPlay. During this 5-minute period, teams are reduced to 9 players, and goals for the team in possession of the PumpPlay are worth double.

If a field goal or penalty stroke is scored, that player has an immediate one on one with the goalkeep for an extra goal.

If any match culminates in a draw, the teams will contest a penalty shoot-out to determine a winner.

Point system

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2018 Points System
W WD LD L
5 3 2 0

Australian Hockey League Teams

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Australian Capital Territory

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Australian Capital Territory
  Teams AHL Titles Years Home Stadium
Men Canberra Lakers 0 National Hockey Centre,
Canberra
Women Canberra Strikers 0

Both the men's and women's Australian Capital Territory representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.

The men and women have both previously represented ACT under different names. The men have represented as the ACT Lakers (2011), while the women have previously represented as the ACTAS Strikers (1995–1996) and the ACT Strikers (2011).

New South Wales

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New South Wales
  Teams AHL Titles Years Home Stadium
Men NSW Waratahs 3 1995, 2001, 2005 Sydney Olympic Park,
Sydney
Women NSW Arrows 10 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000,
2001, 2002, 2009, 2014, 2018

Both the men's and women's New South Wales representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.

The men and women have both previously represented NSW under different names. The men have represented as the Sydney Stingrays (1991–1992), the Sydney Scorpions (1993–1994), the NSW Warriors (1995–2000) and the NSW Panthers (2001–2004). The women have previously represented as the NSWIS Arrows (2000–2004).

Northern Territory

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Northern Territory
  Teams AHL Titles Years Home Stadium
Men NT Stingers 0 Marrara Hockey Centre,
Darwin
Women NT Pearls 0

Both the men's and women's Northern Territory representative teams entered the AHL at different times. While the women joined in the tournament's inaugural year of 1993, the men didn't join until 1998.

While participating for the first three years, the women's team were absent from the AHL between 1996 and 1999.

The men and women have both previously represented NT under different names. The men have represented as the Territory Stingers (2001–2008) and the Darwin Stingers (2010, 2012), while the women have represented as the Darwin Blazez (1993–1995) and the Territory Pearls (2006–2007, 2010).

Queensland

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Queensland
  Teams AHL Titles Years Home Stadium
Men QLD Blades 10 1991, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018 Queensland State Hockey
Centre
, Brisbane
Women QLD Scorchers 5 1997, 2005, 2013, 2015, 2016

Both the men's and women's Queensland representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.

The men and women have both previously represented QLD under different names. The men have represented as the Brisbane Blades (1991–1997), while the women have represented as the QAS Scorchers (1995–1997, 2000).

South Australia

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South Australia
  Teams AHL Titles Years Home Stadium
Men SA Hotshots 0 State Hockey Centre,
Adelaide
Women SA Suns 2 1995, 2011

Both the men's and women's South Australia representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.

The men and women have both previously represented SA under different names. The men have represented as the Adelaide Hotshots (1991–2007) and the Southern Hotshots (2008–2014), while the women have represented as the Adelaide Suns (1993–2007) and the Southern Suns (2008–2014).

Tasmania

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Tasmania
  Teams AHL Titles Years Home Stadium
Men Tassie Tigers 1 2014 Tasmanian Hockey Centre,
Hobart
Women Tassie Van Demons 0

Both the men's and women's Tasmania representative teams entered the AHL following the inaugural year for each gender. The men joined in 1992, while the women joined in 1996.

Victoria

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Victoria
  Teams AHL Titles Years Home Stadium
Men VIC Vikings 4 1996, 1998, 2016, 2017 State Netball and Hockey
Centre
, Melbourne
Women VIC Vipers 3 2003, 2012, 2017

Both the men's and women's Victoria representative teams entered the AHL in the inaugural year for each gender, 1991 and 1993 respectively.

The men and women have both previously represented VIC under different names. The men have represented as the Melbourne Redbacks (1991–1992, 1994–2001), the VIS Redbacks (1993) and the Azuma Vikings (2005–2006), while the women have previously represented as the VIS Vipers (1993–2004) and the Azuma Vipers (2005–2006).

Western Australia

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Western Australia
  Teams AHL Titles Years Home Stadium
Men WA Thundersticks 9 1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2011 Perth Hockey Stadium,
Perth
Women WA Diamonds 6 1994, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010

Both the men's and women's Western Australia representative teams entered the AHL at different times. While the women joined in the tournament's inaugural year of 1993, the men didn't join until 1992.

The men and women have both previously represented WA under different names. The men have represented as the Perth Thundersticks (1992, 1994–2001) and the WAIS Thundersticks (1993), while the women have previously represented as the WAIS Diamonds (1993–2002).

Men's AHL

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Statistics

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Men's Australian Hockey League
Year Champion Runner-up Player of the Tournament Highest Goalscorer Player of the Final
1991 Brisbane Blades Melbourne Redbacks Colin Batch (Redbacks) David Shaw (Redbacks)
1992 Perth Thundersticks Brisbane Blades Jay Stacy (Redbacks)
Todd Williams (Tigers)
1993 WAIS Thundersticks Sydney Scorpions
1994 NHL Not Played in 1994
1995 Perth Thundersticks Brisbane Blades Lachlan Elmer (Hotshots) Bobby Crutchley (Lakers)
1996 Melbourne Redbacks Brisbane Blades Jay Stacy (Redbacks) Greg Corbitt (Thundersticks)
Jeremy Hiskins (Redbacks)
1997 NSW Warriors Perth Thundersticks Jay Stacy (Redbacks) Glen Kingston (Lakers)
1998 Melbourne Redbacks Canberra Lakers Daniel Sproule (Tigers) Daniel Davison (Thundersticks)
1999 Perth Thundersticks QLD Blades Michael York (Lakers) Craig Keenan (Tigers)
2000 Perth Thundersticks NSW Warriors Brent Livermore (Warriors) Craig Keenan (Tigers)
2001 NSW Panthers Perth Thundersticks Matthew Wells (Tigers) Michael McCann (Panthers)
2002 WA Thundersticks QLD Blades Zain Wright (Tigers) Andrew Smith (Vikings)
2003 QLD Blades WA Thundersticks Matthew Wells (Tigers) Andrew Smith (Vikings)
2004 QLD Blades WA Thundersticks Stephen Mowlam (Vikings) Troy Elder (Blades) Dean Butler (Blades)
2005 NSW Waratahs QLD Blades Rob Hammond (Blades) Taeke Taekema (Waratahs) Michael McCann (Waratahs)
2006 QLD Blades Tassie Tigers Mark Knowles (Blades) Chris Ciriello (Vikings) Dean Butler (Blades)
2007 QLD Blades WA Thundersticks Bevan George (Thundersticks) Marcus Richardson (Tigers) Mark Knowles (Blades)
2008 WA Thundersticks QLD Blades Bevan George (Thundersticks) Luke Doerner (Vikings) Aaron Hopkins (Thundersticks)
2009 WA Thundersticks QLD Blades Brent Livermore (Waratahs) Jason Wilson (Blades) Graeme Begbie (Thundersticks)
2010 QLD Blades NSW Waratahs Des Abbott (Stingers)
Simon Orchard (Waratahs)
Josh Miller (Waratahs) Jason Wilson (Blades)
2011 WA Thundersticks NSW Waratahs Eddie Ockenden (Tigers) Wouter Hermkens (Lakers)
Eddie Ockenden (Tigers)
Sam Pike (Thundersticks)
Sam Pike (Thundersticks)
2012 QLD Blades WA Thundersticks Simon Orchard (Waratahs) Chris Ciriello (Vikings) Matthew Swann (Blades)
2013 QLD Blades VIC Vikings Eddie Ockenden (Tigers) Aaron Kershaw (Lakers)
Mark Paterson (Waratahs)
2014 Tassie Tigers WA Thundersticks Eddie Ockenden (Tigers) Blake Govers (Waratahs) Tristan Clemons (Tigers)
2015 QLD Blades WA Thundersticks Eddie Ockenden (Tigers) Blake Govers (Waratahs) Cale Cramer (Blades)
2016 VIC Vikings WA Thundersticks Flynn Ogilvie (Waratahs) Chris Ciriello (Vikings) Chris Ciriello (Vikings)
2017 VIC Vikings QLD Blades Mark Knowles (Blades) Kieron Arthur (Tigers)
Chris Ciriello (Vikings)
Robert Bell (Blades)
2018 QLD Blades NSW Waratahs Jake Whetton (Blades) Blake Govers (Waratahs) Corey Weyer (Blades)
Men's Australian Hockey League
Year Goalkeeper of the Tournament Play the Whistle
2012 Canberra Lakers
2013
2014 Leon Hayward (Stingers) Tassie Tigers
2015 Andrew Charter (Lakers) Tassie Tigers
2016 Tyler Lovell (Thundersticks) WA Thundersticks
2017 Johan Durst (Vikings) QLD Blades
2018 Andrew Charter (Lakers)

References

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  1. ^ AHL Webpage Archived 25 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
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