2022 Perth Thundersticks Match Day Program I Round 1

WA we need you to cheer loud and proud and get behind your state's best! Your support will mean the world to the players, and in particular, showcase the strength of hockey in WA.

We want to create a fortress here at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University - an electric atmosphere!

Western Australia has a rich history of hockey in the state and now is our chance to show what we're made of.

I urge all of our members to come down to Perth Hockey Stadium for our three blockbuster men's and women's double-headers on 1, 15 and 29 October.

It's sure to be a memorable experience!

Best of luck to our Perth Thundersticks teams - we're sure you'll bring the Thunder!

See you at the hockey!

Fabian Fabian Ross Hockey WA CEO

Thundersticks raring to bring top-class hockey to WA

The Perth Thundersticks are raring to bring top-class hockey back to the screaming crowds of WA for the highly anticipated Sultana Bran Hockey One League season.

The squads have now been finalised with several local, national and international stars set to take the pitch for the WA’s premier hockey team, with their hopes firmly set on reclaiming a national title for the first time in over a decade.

Hockey One will return this year for the first time since its inaugural season in 2019, with the last two instalments being delayed due to COVID.

Hockey WA chief executive Fabian Ross said there was plenty of excitement building for this year’s league.

“We are really excited for this year’s tournament and I think hockey fans in Perth and across the state are itching to see our stars playing at home again," Ross said.

“It has been really challenging for a lot of our athletes who have trained for so many years to get to this level, so to see them back on the pitch is something I am very much looking forward to, and they should be proud of their dedication and persistence.

“There is plenty for WA hockey fans to look forward to this year in Hockey One and we hope to see as many of them as possible at our home games.”

Perth will play three home games against Adelaide, Brisbane and Tassie for the season, and travel to play Melbourne, New South Wales and Canberra.

The Thundersticks men and women finished sixth and fifth respectively in the inaugural Hockey One but are both confident they can do some damage in this year’s league.

New Thundersticks women’s coach Phil Hulbert said the squad were primed to bring success back to WA in Hockey One this year.

“Previously the Thundersticks women –the Diamonds – had a really good record,” he said.

“Recently it hasn’t been as successful, I think they have made one finals series since 2010, so we have been starved of a bit of success.

“I think we have the team this year to really take it all the way, I am not coaching to come second, that is for sure.”

As for the men, new coach David Guest said he wanted to instil a good culture in his group that could breed success this year and into the future.

“I want to bring some of that good culture and good feeling into the Thundersticks group,” he said.

“I think we are going to perform really well with the squad we have.

“I think we have really good players and a really good mix.

“Hockey is in a really good place in WA, it is growing momentum, and I think we will do well.”

THUNDERSTICKS

WOMEN'S SQUAD

Sarah BYRNES

DOB: 19/10/2000

Birthplace: Perth Club: Curtin University

Position: Midfield

Kate DENNING DOB: 14/12/1990

Birthplace: Perth Club: Curtin University Position: Defender

Britney DESILVA

DOB: 31/03/2002

Birthplace: Perth Club: UWA Position: Midfield

Georgina DOWD

DOB: 25/10/2001

Birthplace: Chelmsford (ENG) Club: Suburban Lions

Position: Striker

Elizabeth DUGUID

DOB: 01/07/1992

Birthplace: Darwin Club: WASPs Position: Goalkeeper

Career outside of hockey: Student.

Hockey links in family: Thundersticks teammate Kate Denning is my cousin

Career outside of hockey: Doctor Hockey links in family: My mum Elspeth Denning is an Olympic gold medallist (1988) and first woman to play 100 caps for Australia

Career outside of hockey: Student.

Hockey achievements: WA under-21s silver medal at the 2022 National Championships.

Passion outside of hockey: I enjoy creative outlets such as writing, drawing and painting. Little-known fact about me: I broke my hand teaching my English relatives how to play AFL

Career outside of hockey:

Electrical Engineer.

Family background: Descendant of some of the first Chinese immigrants to the Northern Territory Great grandchild of Dr Charles Duguid, an Aboriginal rights campaigner

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THUNDERSTICKS

WOMEN'S SQUAD

Neasa FLYNN

DOB: 13/08/2001

Birthplace: Perth Club: UWA

Position: Striker

Rachel FRUSHER

DOB: 13/02/1994

Birthplace: Perth Club: Victoria Park Position: Defender

Annie GIBBS

DOB: 20/05/1998

Birthplace: Perth Club: North Coast Raiders Position: Defender

Passion/interests outside of hockey: The environment, gardening, the beach, animals.

Little known fact about me: Can drive a tractor

Career outside of hockey: Teacher

Proudest achievement: Back-to-back premierships with Victoria Park.

Hockey achievements: 2022 National Development squad member, Thundersticks debut in 2019, WA under-age representative.

Liné MALAN

DOB: 20/06/1992

Birthplace: London, UK Club: Hale Position: Midfield

Candyce PEACOCK

DOB: 07/06/1996

Birthplace: Bunbury Club: Westside Wolves Position: Defender

Career outside of hockey: Clinical Exercise Physiologist

Family background: Brother plays cricket for England, Dad used to be a state level cricketer, Mum is a keen golfer

Career outside of hockey: Mining Maintenance Planning.

Little known fact about me: I spent time living in Japan as an exchange student for Year 7.

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THUNDERSTICKS

WOMEN'S SQUAD

Aleisha POWER

DOB: 01/01/1997

Birthplace: Northam Club: Victoria Park

Position: Goalkeeper

Anna ROBERTS

DOB: 07/08/1996

Birthplace: Bunbury Club: North Coast Raiders Position: Defender

Hockey links in family: My claim to fame is Rechelle Hawkes is in my family tree.

Little known fact about me: I'm forklift certified

Career outside of hockey: National Laboratory Excellence

Passions/interest outside of hockey: Indoor hockey, lacrosse, floorball

Renee ROCKLIFF

DOB: 31/03/1999

Birthplace: Perth Club: Victoria Park

Position: Midfield

Jolie SERTORIO

DOB: 24/12/2001

Birthplace: Perth Club: Suburban Lions Position: Midfield

Karri SOMERVILLE

DOB: 07/04/1999

Birthplace: Perth Club: Victoria Park Position: Defender

Career outside of hockey: Physiotherapist. Go-to karaoke song: Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield.

Proudest achievement:

Getting through two and a half years of knee rehabilitation. Little-known fact about me: My cat and I tore our ACL’s a month apart.

Proudest achievement: Playing at the Tokyo Olympics. Passion outside of hockey: I love to cook (especially baking) You can never have too much cake!

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An open letter from our very own David Guest to you, WA

To the fans of WA hockey, in just two short days the Perth Thundersticks will begin our mission of bringing home our first Hockey One title.

It is almost impossible for me to put into words how excited I am for this tournament to kick off.

My fellow coaches and I have been working tirelessly to fine-tune the team, our players and our culture in order to bring success for 2022.

It has been a little while since our last national title, but we believe we have the team to do it with the star players at our disposal.

This year’s squad is full to the brim with Olympic athletes, local heroes and stars on the rise who are ready to put on a show for the crowds of Perth.

Some of these players have been waiting almost three years to get back on the pitch and play at the highest level and I am so proud of their dedication and efforts throughout the pandemic.

We will play a quick, fluid and exciting brand of hockey in which we won’t be afraid to challenge the conventional structures and how the sport is played.

We believe our style will be able to handle the heat of what is a highly competitive tournament in Hockey One.

Whether we are at home in Perth or on the road, we vow to represent the State with pride, never say die and show our opposition what we’re made of.

As a player, I had many battles with the Thundersticks and always admired and respected them as a team.

They were fierce, proud and wonderfully talented.

One thing is for sure about Western Australia – the people are proud, and they love to get the best out of themselves and each other.

There is something about this place, we stand up for one another, challenge ourselves and wear our hearts on our sleeves.

I am so thrilled to be a part of this amazing group of athletes and to be able to help them achieve their goals.

So please come and support us.

Get down to the Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University on Saturday 1 October for our first match, and each match thereafter, and cheer as loud as you can to help us get across the line against the Adelaide Fire.

It would mean the world for me and the players to see as many WA fans as possible cheering us on throughout the tournament.

We are ready Perth, and we hope you are too!

Sincerely, David Guest

THUNDERSTICKS

MEN'S SQUAD

Will BATTISTESSA

DOB: 23/04/1998

Birthplace: Perth Club: Victoria Park Position: Midfield

Chris BAUSOR

DOB: 10/11/1989

Birthplace: Perth Club: UWA Position: Midfield

James COLLINS

DOB: 25/02/2000

Birthplace: Perth Club: Victoria Park

Position: Midfield

Bryn DE BES

DOB: 04/07/1996

Birthplace: East Fremantle Club: WASPs

Position: Midfield/Defender

Liam FLYNN

DOB: 30/04/1997

Birthplace: Harare, Zimbabwe Club: Hale Position: Striker

Proudest achievement: Homeowner

Family background: All four Grandparents were born outside of Australia - Italy, Italy, Scotland and Burma.

Career outside of hockey: Event Promoter Career achievements: 2009 Burras member, Kookaburras debut in 2011.

Proudest achievement: Debut for the Kookaburras.

Passion/interests outside of hockey: I enjoy camping, making and drinking coffee and have a little dog (border collie cross kelpie)

Family background:

My parents thought it would be funny to put a Welsh name (Bryn) in front of a Dutch surname (de Bes), which has caused me grief ever since baristas started asking for names.

Passion/interests outside of hockey: Golf, Fishing, Yellowstone the TV show.

Hockey links in family: Sister Kyra is captain of the women's Thundersticks team.

BY

MASTERS

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THUNDERSTICKS

MEN'S SQUAD

Brodee FOSTER

DOB: 21/06/2002

Birthplace: Perth Club: Reds Position: Striker

Cambell GEDDES DOB: 18/06/2002

Birthplace: Perth Club: UWA Position: Defender

Tim GEERS

DOB: 27/04/1994

Birthplace: Perth Club: Melville

Position: Midfield

Harry GOLDING

DOB: 11/02/2000

Birthplace: Perth Club: UWA Position: Striker

Ross HALL

DOB: 03/05/1994

Birthplace: Duncraig Club: Melville Position: Defender

Passion/interests outside of hockey: Love my golf and play as much as i possibly can with the time i have Little known fact about me: When I travel I like to find the best parmy when out for dinner I have a top three and the rest I try to forget about

Career outside of hockey: Sparky Proudest achievement: Under-21s National Championships gold medal in 2022.

Career outside of hockey: Jockey Manager.

Proudest achievement: Captain for back to back premierships with Melville and coaching two gold medal sides in the U18s and U21s.

Career outside of hockey: Public Service

Career highlights: WA under-age representative, Thundersticks selection and debut in 2022.

Little known fact about me: I own over 100 hats.

Passions/interests outside of hockey: Golf, Call of Duty, Peaky Blinders series, NBA and MLB, Collecting Jordan Sneakers.

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THUNDERSTICKS

MEN'S SQUAD

Jake HARVIE

DOB: 05/03/1998

Birthplace: Bunbury Club: Westside Wolves

Position: Midfield

Tom HARVIE

DOB: 01/02/2000

Birthplace: Bunbury Club: Westside Wolves

Position: Defender

Tyler LOVELL DOB: 23/05/1987

Birthplace: Perth Club: YMCC

Position: Goalkeeper

Alistair MURRAY

DOB: 22/01/2000

Birthplace: Perth Club: Westside Wolves

Position: Midfield/Defender

Proudest achievement:

Playing for the Thundersticks with my brother Tom excited! Little-known fact about me: Re introduced the long hair look to men ’ s hockey

Proudest achievement:

Being named as a Australian Development Squad player and being selected in the Thundersticks to play alongside my brother for WA for the first time.

Little-known fact about me: I like gardening and growing my own food.

Best advice you've been given

The goal you just conceded might not lose the game, but if you are still thinking about that goal and let another goal in, that one might lose you the game - Jason Duff (HA Performance Analyst)

Ben RENNIE

DOB: 28/09/1990

Birthplace: Perth Club: Fremantle Cockburn

Position: Goalkeeper

Proudest achievement:

Playing a full season of hockey this year after four injury interrupted seasons Little known fact about me: Makes a mean pesto pasta and sticky date pudding combo.

Proudest achievement: Debut for the Kookaburras.

Little known fact about me: I have a chocolate tri border collie named Jarrah (@jarrah_thebordercollie).

MEN'S SQUAD

Benjamin TAYLOR

DOB: 16/03/1998

Birthplace: Perth Club: Victoria Park Position: Defender

Sasha THOMAS

DOB: 28/05/1997

Birthplace: Perth Club: Victoria Park

Position: Midfield

Tom WICKHAM

DOB: 26/05/1990

Birthplace: Mildura, Vic Club: UWA Position: Striker

Proudest achievement:

Moved abroad to Belgium and lived there for 8 months where I played hockey for Royal Pingouin Nivelles

Little-known fact about me: I am actually quite funny if you are close enough to hear me

Passion/interests outside of hockey: Love to play Guitar and collect records Little known fact about me: Massive fan of F1. Have had tickets to the Singapore Grand Prix since April and will fly out immediately after round 1.

Family background:

Moved around a lot in my early years, living in Broken Hill, Alice Springs, Morgan, Adelaide, Goolwa, Perth Passion/interests outside of hockey: Cycling, golf, camping, coffee, reading, table tennis

Matt WILLIS

DOB: 21/02/1991

Birthplace: Tamworth, NSW Club: Melville Position: Striker

Career outside of hockey: Teacher

Passion/interests outside of hockey: Playing in the best 8-a-side cricket team in Perth the mighty SSS and riding my bike.

Aran ZALEWSKI

DOB: 21/03/1991

Birthplace: Margaret River Club: Reds

Position: Midfield

Hockey achievements: 201 Kookaburras caps, 26 goals, 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medal, 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games gold medal

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