Array of riches to lead Tigers on journey for hockey league glory

THE Tassie Tigers are set to again be a title contender, with the announcement on Wednesday of their extended squad of 30 athletes for the 2022 Sultana Bran Hockey One League season.

The squad is littered with international quality, led by Australian captain and games record holder Eddie Ockenden and fellow Kookaburras Jeremy

Hayward and Josh Beltz.

Coach Stephen McMullen also has at his disposal a trio of players with international experience in Jack Welch, Tim Deavin and Jeremy Edwards, and national development squad members Sam McCulloch, Hayden Beltz and Gobind Gill.

There is also strong representation from the Premier League with Ben Read, Josh Mardell, James Bourke and

Sam McCambridge headlining a list of emerging stars.

“We’re extremely lucky to have the strong group that we have, with four current Australian players, five in identified national squads and four in the national Futures squad,” McMullen said.

“Our squad had a good balance of unbelievable experience and hungry youth, so I feel we are quite well placed.

“While the separation of the group is an uncontrollable issue, we intend having all of our players here one week before the first game for a ‘camp’ which should place us well again Brisbane on September 30 in the opener.

“It’s great to play one of the best teams first up here at home with a vocal home crowd helping us.”

The squad has been an ever present in national league semi-finals and claimed the national title in 2012, but McMullen believes their structure did not always hold up against big teams such as Brisbane Blaze and NSW Pride.

“We have riches of players for backline positions so we will consider our style and structure to complement this and how best to utilise all our assets,” he said.

“Consideration will be given to players such as Josh Brooks, Hayden Beltz, Deavin and

Ockenden to be getting time forward, dependent on our opposition and our needs.

“McCulloch’s move forward last season was a good one and we will continue to build on that because he is a fast, strong and aggressive forward who wants to score goals.”

The squad will be trimmed to 20 in September, before the Hockey One League season running from September 29 to November 12.