Investing in Alice Springs: A Vital Step for Hockey NT’s Future

Hockey NT and the SRA Information Technology Territory Stingers where proud to be in Alice Springs last week, working alongside our partners, the Hockey Australia Foundation, the Australian Olympic Committee, and the Olympians Unleashed program to deliver hockey programs to local schools. Leading these sessions with HNT where Indigenous coaches from the AOC, Olympian Hockeyroo Renee Taylor, and none other than Alice Springs’ own Kookaburra, Tom Wickham Together, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future for hockey in the Red Centre.

We know how important it is to invest in our regional communities. Alice Springs is a critical part of the heart and soul of the Territory, but for us for over 15 years, a junior hockey program has been missing.

This year, with a renewed focus and determination, Hockey NT has worked hard to change that. Our Term 3 Hookin2Hockey program was a massive success, with incredible feedback from the kids and families involved. It’s clear the passion for hockey is alive and well, and it’s our responsibility to nurture that spark.

As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue this momentum. Our next steps are already in motion: a holiday clinic in Alice Springs on December 12th and 13th, followed by a four-week indoor summer hockey competition in January. These efforts will build toward establishing a more robust hockey scene, with interschool competitions planned for Term 1 and Term 4 of 2025.

None of this would be possible without the ongoing support from our partners and the community. I want to personally thank everyone who has believed in this mission, from the local leaders to the national bodies, who have shown that investing in Alice Springs is not just a commitment to hockey, but to the future of sport and opportunity in the Northern Territory.

Together, we are building something special, and I am excited for what lies ahead.

Hockey NT Hockey Australia