The 2025 One Active Hockey One League opened with a weekend of high‑octane hockey that showcased the competition’s unique rules and attacking flair. From six‑minute scoring bursts to shootout drama, round one reminded fans why this league is unlike any other. Defending champions Brisbane Blaze started strongly, NSW Pride spoiled Canberra’s party in a nine‑goal thriller, and HC Melbourne stunned Tassie on their home turf. With every Kookaburra and Hockeyroo set to take the Hockey One stage, the fight to earn a finals spot is already at boiling point.
Brisbane Blaze v Perth Thundersticks
The season curtain‑raiser in Brisbane delivered fireworks aplenty. The women’s clash was a replay of last year’s grand final and initially looked headed for a similar result when Perth struck first through Courtney Schonell in the 31st minute. Her sharp field goal was followed by a conversion attempt, but Jordan Bliss denied her. Brisbane responded before the final interval when Jamie‑Lee Surha expertly touched home a penalty corner in the 42nd. Locked at 1–1, the match went to a shootout where the Blaze held their nerve, converting all three attempts while Bliss stole the show by denying Malan, Ratcliffe and Nobbs. It was a small but symbolic revenge for last year’s defeat, and a reminder of Brisbane’s quality under new coach Angie Lambert.
The men’s fixture saw Joel Rintala return after more than 700 days without a Hockey One appearance, and he underlined his drag‑flick pedigree. The Blaze converted their first three penalty corners in a devastating six‑minute burst: Tom Wycherley rebounded home in the 2nd minute, before Rintala struck in the 3rd and 6th. Perth’s Jake Harvie was prolific for the visitors and pulled one back in the 47th, with a well worked penalty corner variation fed by Tom Harvie. There was time for Perth to strike the woodwork, before Brisbane’s defensive structure ultimately held firm to bank the points. The 3–1 result was an important opener for Brisbane, and Rintala’s double was a pointed reminder to selectors of his scoring touch.
Results:
- Brisbane Blaze Women 1 (Surha 42’) [SO 3–1] def. Perth Thundersticks Women 1 (Schonell 31’)
- Brisbane Blaze Men 3 (Wycherley 2’; Rintala 3’ PC, 6’ PC) def. Perth Thundersticks Men 1 (Harvie 47’ PC)
Queensland State Hockey Centre, Brisbane
Canberra Chill v NSW Pride
The nation’s capital packed in over 2,300 fans for a double‑header that combined set piece power, with intensity. The Pride women struck inside the opening ten minutes through Abby Wilson with a trademark penalty corner flick, before a succession of three green cards forced Canberra onto their heels. Canberra’s new‑look side, featuring Kiwi recruit Olivia Shannan and Hockeyroo Amy Lawton, created half‑chances but couldn’t find a way past the resolute Pride defence. As momentum was shifting, Wilson sealed the result in the 42nd with a sublime tomahawk goal, while returning teammate Laura Reid haunted her old side with a third in the final term, comfortably knocking home after great play from NZ recruit Jenna-Rae McIntyre. The 3–0 scoreline reflected the Pride’s efficiency and Wilson’s clinical edge.
The men’s clash was a nine‑goal rollercoaster that provided vindication for Pride coach Kieran Govers’ approach to bloody some future stars. After a sequence of four set pieces, NSW opened through Blake Govers in the 14th minute, his drag‑flick unstoppable. The Kookaburras star returned to double the advantage from the Pride’s next set piece, before James Jewell halved the deficit with a creative corner routine on 21 minutes. As a tense second half was ensuing, Spaniard Albert Beltran gave the Pride breathing room with a well-taken field goal and conversion, only to see Jewell return with his second in the shadows of three-quarter time. There was still time for Pride debutant Angus Callinan to cap an eye-catching display with a goal and some late theatre when Davis Atkin crashed home an outside-five penalty corner and converted to keep the crowd on edge until the final whistle.
Results:
- NSW Pride Women 3 (Wilson 9’ PC, 35’ FG; Reid 47’ FG) def. Canberra Chill Women 0
- NSW Pride Men 5 (Govers 7’ PC, 19’ PC; Beltran 41’ FG + C; Callinan 48’ FG) def. Canberra Chill Men 4 (Jewell 21’ PC + 45’ PC; Atkin 50’ FG +C)
- EPC Solar Hockey Stadium, Canberra
Tassie Tigers v HC Melbourne
The Bass Strait showdown ended in disappointment for the home fans as HC Melbourne men ran riot in the second half to claim a 5–2 win. Led by skipper Josh Beltz, Tassie made all the early running but only had Jack Welch’s converted field goal to show for a second quarter of utter domination. Leading 14-4 scoring opportunities, the home side were left to rue failing to capitalise on eight penalty corner chances. It was the only opening Melbourne needed as their man-to-man press smashed Tassie and was the catalyst for piling on five unanswered goals thereafter. Kookaburras star Nathan Ephraums kick started the fightback, before Nye Roberts’ brace and Dutch recruit Daniel Smits opened his Hockey One account from the set piece on three quarter time. Tigers’ youngsters Keenan Johnson and Lachie Rogers showed promise, but Melbourne put the result to bed when debutant Carlin Walker knocked home late on to continue the side’s love affair with playing in Hobart.
The women’s clash was even more dramatic, with HC Melbourne edging the Tigers 4–3 in a seven‑goal thriller. Tassie flew out of the blocks: Steph Kershaw converted a penalty corner after just two minutes, before Beth Dobbie netted a field goal and calmly slotted the conversion to make it 3–0 barely five minutes later in a hot start. Melbourne hit back after the first break when Hannah Cotter touched home at the far post after impressive build up play from Sammy Love. The Kiwi star rode a strong challenge to convert and cut the margin to one. With Kershaw unable to take the field in the second half, Melbourne got the match on their terms with Olivia Downes and Krissy Bates getting on top, and with the result hanging in the balance, Hannah Gravenall produced the winner in the final quarter, scoring from a courageous outside-five set piece routine and using every bit of her eight second conversion to seal a famous comeback that could have a huge bearing on their top four chances.
Results:
- HC Melbourne Women 4 (Cotter 18’ FG + C; Gravenall FG + C) def. Tassie Tigers Women 3 (Kershaw PC; Dobbie FG + C)
- HC Melbourne Men 5 (Ephraums 34’ FG; Roberts 38’ FG +C; Smits 45’ PC; Walker 54’ FG) def. Tassie Tigers Men 2 (Welch 25’ FG + C)
Aurora Energy Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart