2024 Mens CL1 Season Preview

Published Thu 04 Apr 2024

The 2024 Hockey ACT competitions will hit off this weekend with round 1 of games taking place this Friday and Saturday.

The Duncan’s Plumbing Capital League One Men’s Competition will again be tightly contested, with Premiers United Hockey Club looking to secure back-to-back premierships after their 20-year premiership drought was broken with their 2-1 defeat of Wests in last years Grand Final.

Predicted top four:

United have retained most of their winning squad from last year and will look to build their depth and maturity to show that winning their first premiership 20 years wasn’t a fluke.

Central had a disappointing finish to the 2023 season, losing in shootouts to eventual winners United. They have named a largely unchanged line-up and the smell of disappointment will fuel them through the season to a top 4 finish playing deep into September.

Wests have recruited well in the off season and capitalised on Wagga Scorchers demise bringing Neo Gupte and Casey Younie back into the Wests family. They have also picked up Charlie Dorman and Lachlan Cope who will strengthen their midfield. Add this to their vibrant young stars Jay and Darcy Macdonald, Luca Barrass-Borzatti and veterans Garry Backhus and James Jewell, Wests are a strong chance to feature in September hockey in 2024.

Old Canberrans have also recruited well in the off season, bringing Lewis McClennan back into the gold and black checks and Jett Leong and Fletcher Craig from Sydney they will have a dangerous mix of stalwarts and rising stars. They are looking to push deeper into finals in 2024 and raise the Hill Trophy for the first time since 2011.

The teams:

Albury Spitfires

Coach

Ben Allen

ANUMHC

Coach	Ben Bishop
Leadership Group	Dave McCaskie
Key Ins	Kaito Tanaka, Ethan Plenty, Ruben Clark, Xavier Dao, Will Darlow
Outs for 2024	Ben Ward, Tom Wylie, Harry Papworth
Rising Star	Aiden Hellyer
Team says	ANU are looking to take another step from their improved 2023 season. Belief within the team is strong in their ability to go toe to toe with all teams in the competition built around a wonderful hard working and positive team culture. The team is looking forward to welcoming Japanese International Kaito Tanaka to play alongside ANU's other representative players in George Vahey, Akash Chandra, Matt Young, JJ White and Aiden Hellyer. This, in addition to 2023 Canberra Chill representatives Koby Johnstone and Max Robson who will protect the net as one of the best young keepers in the Country.

Central

Coach	Jamie Cummins
Leadership Group	Matt Hotchkis, Jarred Brown, Jamie Hawke, Hayden Dillon
Key Ins	Richie Howson
Outs for 2024	Lannon Harley
Rising Star	Pete Crossman
Team says	Our 2024 squad is looking to atone for a disappointing finish to 2023. With limited change to last year’s squad other than the exciting addition of midfielder Richie Howson, we are looking to the youth of our back-to-back premiership winning CL2 group to help achieve our 2024 goals.

OCHC

Coach	Karl Brenner and James Norman (Normo)
Leadership Group	Oscar Smart, Matt Forman, Dan Conroy, Dan Borrett
Key Ins	Healthy Dan Conroy, Lewis McLennan, Issac Russell, Kurt Devlin, Jett Leong, Fletcher Craig, Brock Philip, New Coaching group Karl Brenner & James Norman
Outs for 2024	Gus and Jed Schofield.
Rising Star	Oscar Smart, Jett Leong, Fletcher Craig, Brock Philip
Team says	With an increase in experienced stalwarts and an addition of dynamic and dangerous future stars Checks are looking to go a few steps better than last year to push deeper into the finals and take the trophy.

St Patricks

Coach	Darren “Toge” Williams
Leadership Group	Josh Chivers ©, Kyle Mcintosh (VC), Malcom Beer, Simon Kragh, Shane Martin
Key Ins	Shane Martin, Josh Chivers, Dan Cleary
Rising Star	Jake McCarthy
Team says	We're gearing up for an exciting season with the St. Pats CL1 men, we’ve got some familiar faces returning, like Shane Martin and Dan Cleary, along with Josh Chivers making a comeback from injury. Plus, we're thrilled to see promising young players like Jack Evans, Jake McCarthy, and Harry Skelly back on the field. With a mix of experienced players and fresh talent, we're feeling optimistic about the season ahead. Our goal is simple: to work together, play our best, and have fun out on the field. We're excited to see how our team grows and improves throughout the season.

United

Coach	Aaron Hopkins
Leadership Group	Brendan Hill, Jeremy Hopkins, Matt Neeson
Key Ins	Tom Deane and Adam Boyd
Outs for 2024	Matt Hurrell - UK
Rising Star	Jesse Absolom, Aiden Smith, Lachlan Hopkins
Team says	Continued to build on our great depth across our CL group as our young side matures. Winning last year has shown what’s possible after a 20 year premiership drought, now the challenge will be to see if the hunger is a strong in 2024.

Wests

Coach	Andrew Stead
Captain	Jay Macdonald
Key Ins	Charlie Dorman, Lachlan Cope, Neo Gupte, Casey Younie, Shaun Smith om Deane and Adam Boyd
Outs for 2024	Owen Chivers, Rhys Chivers, Jay Bisson, James Morton
Rising Star	Lachlan Cope, Luca Barrass-Borzatti
Team says	After surpassing preseason expectations last year, Wests are again rebuilding after a number of off season exits with the entire midfield moving to Sydney. However, strong recruitment in the off season has seen the addition of a number of highly talented players to the roster. In particular, Charlie Dorman and Lachlan Cope will add creativity and quality in the midfield. While the return of Neo Gupte and Casey Younie to Wests for 2024 brings a significant level of experience into the group and further attacking threat. Shaun Smith will also return to the squad after a year off in 2023. After recently Captaining the ACT Under 21’s at Nationals Wests are looking forward to a strong season from Darcy Macdonald along with current Brophy Medalist Jay Macdonald. After a breakout first season in CL1, goalkeeper Luca Barrass-Borzatti will again be a player to watch with his agility and reflexes being a hallmark of his play. Wests have a balanced line up of experienced and young up and coming players. However, the challenge for the group will be gelling as a new unit.

Duncan's Plumbing Capital League 1 Round 1 Fixtures:

Friday 5 April @ 6:20pm - Wests v St Patricks - Carter Field

Saturday 6 April @ 12:30pm - United v Central - Carter Field

Saturday 6 April @ 12:30pm - Albury v OCHC - Albury Fields

Bye - ANU