A powerful squad of 20, featuring significant Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Cup experience, has been selected for the men’s Perth Thundersticks ahead of their 2022 Sultana Bran Hockey One League season, which commences October 1.
The group, which can be amended in the final weeks before season commencement, includes some of Australia’s brightest stars as well as high-quality performers at Western Australian and Premier League level.
Some of the stars named in the 2022 Perth Thundersticks men’s squad include current and former Australian representatives Tyler Lovell, Aran Zalewiski, Jake Harvie, Ben Rennie and Tom Wickham, as well as players with extensive open-age national championships experience.
Perth Thundersticks men’s coach David Guest said his group is very competitive.
“Selection was incredibly difficult as we have such a deep squad – there are several guys outside the 20 who are more than capable to play in the 15 selected for each weekend,” Guest says.
“The team is shaping up well. It has been great to have the Kookaburras back in the squad, their presence has lifted our training sessions to another level.
“We are looking forward to playing practice matches over the next few weeks to fine tune our strategy.”
The 2022 men’s Perth Thundersticks squad is as follows:
Will Battistessa (Victoria Park Xavier)
Chris Bausor (University of Western Australia)
James Collins (Victoria Park Xavier)
Bryn de Bes (Wesley South Perth)
Liam Flynn (Hale)
Brodee Foster (Reds)
Cambell Geddes (University of Western Australia)
Tim Geers (Melville)
Ross Hall (Melville)
Jake Harvie (Westside Wolves)
Tom Harvie (Westside Wolves)
Matt Lewis (Hale)
Tyler Lovell (YMCC)
Alistair Murray (Westside Wolves)
Ben Rennie (Fremantle Cockburn)
Ben Taylor (Victoria Park Xavier)
Sasha Thomas (Victoria Park Xavier)
Tom Wickham (University of Western Australia)
Matt Willis (Melville)
Aran Zalewski (Reds)
Hockey WA’s General Manager – Performance and Development, Dean Evans, said the squad is talented.
“The men’s Perth Thundersticks squad, like the women’s, is a strong group, and we’re really hoping for a terrific tournament,” Evans says.
“We want all of the hockey community from across the state to back our Thundersticks and get behind us throughout the campaign.
“We look forward to seeing the squad jostle for final positions in the lead-up to the tournament and wish David and the team all the best for the 2022 Sultana Bran Hockey One League season.”
The 2022 Sultana Bran Hockey One League season is going to be one to remember. Be part of hockey history by being at the Thundersticks matches – tickets and memberships are now on sale.
The Thundersticks’ campaign opens on Saturday October 1, with Perth’s first home match against Adelaide Fire.