Thirty-two Vantage Black Sticks, 16 men and 16 women, are set to feature in the 2026 Premier Hockey League (PHL), joined by 11 international guest players and 22 emerging players stepping up from the Junior Hockey League (JHL).
Aotearoa’s elite domestic competition returns with a four-weekend, double-header format across five locations. Four franchises, the Alpiners, Falcons, Mavericks and Tridents, will battle it out in the lead-up to the Grand Final on Saturday 12 December. Christchurch will host the finals weekend for the first time.
The Falcons and Alpiners each have nine Vantage Black Sticks, the Mavericks have eight and the Tridents have six. Every franchise has both men and women in the mix.
That blend of experience and emerging talent is at the heart of the competition.
“The Premier Hockey League gives our international players a chance to bring the learnings from the international game back into the domestic environment,” said Hockey New Zealand General Manager of High Performance Simon Brill. “Particularly after the World Cup, we’re excited to see some of our senior players sharing those experiences with younger players across the competition.”
Adding even more star power is Australian captain Jeremy Hayward, who joins the Falcons as an international guest player. A two-time Olympian with 266 caps for Australia, Hayward has strong ties to New Zealand. His brother Leon has represented New Zealand, and their mum grew up in Dunedin.
Three young Northern Territory players, Tobias Jenner, Macenzee Dixon and Tiana Crompton, will also pull on the Falcons colours.
The PHL is also a big step for the 22 players making the jump from the JHL. They will line up with and against Vantage Black Sticks and international guest players, an important part of the pathway towards senior international hockey. With a clear line of sight to the 2032 Olympics, getting young players into this environment early lets them learn the Vantage Black Sticks way.
The league also lines up with a special three-test series between the Vantage Black Sticks Men and India at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Auckland on 19, 21 and 22 November, marking 100 years since India’s first hockey tour to New Zealand in 1926. PHL players are expected to feature, with the series falling between the opening weekend and round two. Tickets are available at hockeynz.flicket.co.nz.
The PHL gets underway on Saturday 7 November when the Falcons meet the Alpiners in Hawke’s Bay (women 4:00pm, men 5:45pm). The Mavericks and Tridents follow at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Auckland on Sunday 8 November (women 1:00pm, men 3:00pm).
Key Dates:
• Round 1: 7–8 November (Hawke’s Bay and Auckland)
• India Centenary Series: 19, 21 and 22 November (Lloyd Elsmore Park, Auckland)
• Rounds 2 and 3: 28–29 November (North Harbour, Auckland)
• Rounds 4 and 5: 5–6 December (Hamilton)
• Round 6 and finals weekend: 11–12 December (Christchurch), with the Grand Final on Saturday 12 December
Vantage Black Sticks in the 2026 PHL (32)
Alpiners: Anna Crowley, Benji Culhane, Britt Wang, Charlie Morrison, Gus Nelson, Joe Morrison, Mezzy (Emelia) Surridge, Sam Lane, Tessa Reid.
Falcons: Dylan Thomas, Emma Findlay, Hope Ralph, Jonty Elmes, Julia Gluyas, Kaitlin Cotter, Olivia Shannon, Riana Pho, Sam Hiha.
Mavericks: Aidan Sarikaya, Brad Rothwell, Grace O’Hanlon, Matthew Ruetsch, Nic Woods, Rebecca Baker, Ruby Baker, Tim Nield.
Tridents: Ella Hyatt-Brown, Holly Pearson, Isaac Houlbrooke, James Hickson, Paige Blake, Ryan Parr.
International Guest Players (11)
Alpiners: Katharina Barth.
Falcons: Jeremy Hayward, Macenzee Dixon, Tiana Crompton, Tobias Jenner.
Mavericks: Greta Schabacker, Louis Ridge, Luzie Franz, Pahila Arnold, Paul Dösch.
Tridents: Titus Wex.
Players Stepping Up from the JHL (22)
Alpiners: Claudia Roberts, Fergus Oberlin-Brown, Finlay Neale, Fynn Harrington, Julia Kersten, Mitchell Suddaby.
Falcons: Foy Kerkin, Hamish Davenport, Harry Withers, Jada Ropitini, Penelope Taulafo, Rachel Duston, Will Roberts.
Mavericks: Brooke Comeskey, Grace Aldridge, Nicole Hollands, Roimata Brown.
Tridents: Ben Wigmore, Poppy Webb, Tamsin Lockie, Tanner Kusch, Victoria Alves Flood.