Fortescue Metals Group have been announced as the game day partner for this Saturday’s Sultana Bran Hockey One games featuring the Perth Thundersticks followed by a crucial, must-win Olympic Qualifier between the Hockeyroos and Russia for entry into the upcoming 2020 Tokyo games.
Hockey WA CEO Stu Gilsenan said “the rare combination of our Perth Thundersticks playing in the new Sultana Bran Hockey One competition and an Olympic Qualifying game at the high performance centre of Australian hockey will see the best of Australian hockey on show.”
Fortescue Director of Community, Environment and Government, Tim Langmead, said, “Hockey is a fantastic sport for the whole family and we all look forward to cheering on the Hockeyroos as they prepare for the 2020 Olympics. We are proud to be able to support both national teams and bring more hockey to the community as game day partner for Saturday’s Sultana Bran Hockey One games.”
Both Perth Thundersticks men and women face crucial games against NSW Pride to force their way into finals contention, with the men playing at 2pm, and the women at 3:30pm, and will be broadcast live on Kayo Sports.
This will be followed by the Olympic Qualifier as the world number two Hockeyroos need to defeat the 19th ranked Russian team on goal aggregate to qualify for the Olympics.
This ‘last shot’ opportunity for the Hockeyroos to qualify for Tokyo 2020 comes after they narrowly lost to New Zealand on goal difference in the best-of-three Oceania Cup last month.
The Fortescue involvement in hockey spans back almost a decade for both national teams, based in Western Australia at the Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University.
Fortescue support both the men’s and women’s national teams, as well as the Pilbara Community Hockey Program (PCHP), which involves workshops with members of the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos and 150 students from 12 local schools in the remote Pilbara region of WA.
Entry to the game is free for children under 16, with fans encouraged to come in fancy dress, with lots of activities.
Tickets are available online through Ticketek at www.ticketek.com.au.