Season 2 of the Sultana Bran Hockey One League has been postponed until 2021 due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 global health crisis.
The Hockey One Board confirmed the difficult decision at a meeting late yesterday.
“We understand that fans, sponsors, partners, players and all other stakeholders were looking forward to the second season of Sultana Bran Hockey One League later this year, following the successful inaugural season held in October-November 2019,” said General Manager Tony Dodemaide.
“The League and Member Associations, operators of the men’s and women’s teams, had made extensive progress in planning for the second season, with the schedule close to being announced just as the scale of the pandemic was becoming apparent.
“In close consultation with Hockey Australia and our Member Associations, it became clear that the impacts of the crisis were such that they could not support the program later in the year, with their priorities quite rightly shifting to their organisational adjustments and supporting their local clubs and associations through this difficult period.”
With the majority of Australia’s other major national sporting competitions also being postponed, Mr Dodemaide emphasised the commitment to the future of the Sultana Bran Hockey One League.
“In recognising the realities of the current situation, our Board, sponsors, partners and stakeholders all remain committed to the long-term vision of Hockey One as a key vehicle for the sport of hockey,” said Dodemaide.
“Our first season validated the belief that elite hockey has a rightful and viable place in the national sporting landscape, with sponsors, team members, match attendees, TV viewers and fans engaging like never before with a domestic hockey competition.
“We look forward to building on those foundations and presenting the second edition of Sultana Bran Hockey One League even bigger and better in 2021.”
“In the meantime, we wish all our fans and stakeholders a safe passage through the current crisis, and fully support and endorse all of the measures articulated by both Federal and State Health authorities in recent communications.”