Tassie Tigers Appoint Coaches for 2022

Hockey Tasmania have appointed Stephen McMullen (Men) and Luke Doerner (Women) as the Tassie Tigers Head Coaches to lead the teams into the 2022 Sultana Bran Hockey One league season.

The Hockey One league has been on a 2-year hiatus due to COVID-19 implications. The re-branded national league launched in 2019 but has since had to postpone its second season in both 2020 and 2021.

Hockey Tasmania CEO Damian Smith said that this season will be like a completely fresh re-launch of the competition, and the announcement of the head coaches begins the process of the build towards the first national senior hockey competition in nearly three years.

“We’re delighted to have Luke Doerner and Stephen McMullen coaching our senior Tasmanian representative sides in the elite national domestic competition,” Smith said.

“They were both appointed to coach last year’s teams as well, but as we know that competition had to be postponed for a second year. While that was extremely frustrating and disappointing for all involved, it was understandable under the circumstances, and we are now completely focused on ensuring that the 2022 Hockey One season goes ahead and is successful.

“Both these coaches now get the opportunity that they missed out on last year. We were very keen to re-appoint them as they are two of the very best hockey coaches in Australia and are outstanding people to lead our Tassie Tigers program.

“Luke was the Tassie Tigers Women inaugural Head Coach in 2019 and has had a successful career coaching at the international level with Belgium, and as Head Coach of the Tassie Tigers Academy developing our next generation of hockey stars.

“Stephen led the Tasmanian Under 15 Boys to a national silver medal in 2021, and won the Premier League Men title as a coach in 2020. His work last year as Head Coach of the Tiger’s Men in preparation for that season was exceptional and we’re excited to have him continue in that role,” Smith said.

The 2022 Sultana Bran Hockey One league fixture will be announced soon, with the league due to start in late September and conclude with the final series in late November.