WA’s newest national team have announced their final women’s squad ahead of the new Hockey One competition starting in Perth on Sunday September 29.
The women’s squad includes two national players expected to feature in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Penny Squibb and Georgia Wilson are part of the 20-strong squad set to take on the other states and territory sides in the new format.
Jemma Buckley, at 30, is the veteran of the side, celebrating a decade since being part of the 2009 Australian Hockey League side, the competition Hockey One is replacing.
Coach Ed Welch said “We have great experience in key positions and plenty of attacking speed and flair across the final twenty. I want us to be an exciting, attacking team to watch”.
Another nine players are part of the Junior Development, National Development or Under 21 squads, providing Perth Thundersticks with a powerful line up for the competition.
Curtin University and Victoria Park Xavier are the best represented clubs, with four players each, while the youngest player in the squad, Jolie Sertorio, who turns 18 late this year, is the sole representative of her Suburban Lions club.
Annie Gibbs reinforces the ‘Hockey Family’ history of the sport, joins her older brother Brandon as a Perth Thundersticks player.
Perth Thundersticks play their men’s and women’s games as double-header fixtures at the Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University on the following dates:
Sunday 29 September v Melbourne Hockey Club
Saturday 12 October v Canberra Chill
Saturday 26 October v New South Wales Pride
In addition, they play three away games with all games streamed live on Kayo Sports.
Single game tickets and season memberships are available through Ticketek.