🏑 THAT’S A WRAP ON THE 2026 SEASON! 🏑

Well, Reds and Greys, we’ve made it! Another hockey season is done and dusted, and what a season it’s been! 

Before we officially hang up the sticks and enjoy a well-earned break, we have one last newsletter to get through — and this one's all about celebrating our 2026 Award Winners! 🎉

But first, a huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our end-of-season wind-up! We couldn't have asked for better weather, the food was fantastic, the awards were well deserved, and it was wonderful to get everyone together to celebrate another great season. A massive thank you to everyone who helped organise, set up, cater and pack up. Our club wouldn't be what it is without the people who pitch in and make these events happen!

And then, of course, there was the Adults vs Kids game… 😂

The kids clearly came prepared with a winning strategy — line up the little ones feet-to-feet in front of the adult goals and watch the parents suddenly lose all ability to shoot! Because let's face it, who's going to blast a hockey ball through the legs of a five-year-old just to score? The kids had us well and truly worked out! 

As for who actually won? Well, we're not admitting to anything just yet… let's leave that debate for next season's rematch!

All jokes aside, it was a fantastic evening full of laughs, great company and plenty of club spirit. Thank you again to everyone who came along and helped make it such a lovely way to finish the season. 

🏆 2026 JUNIOR AWARD WINNERS

A huge congratulations to all our junior award winners! It's wonderful to recognise the effort, improvement, commitment and team spirit shown by our young players throughout the season. Well done to each and every one of you!

10/11/12 Girls

🏆 Best & Fairest: Stella Gordon
🥈 Runner-Up Best & Fairest: Zoe Letter
👏 Coaches Award: Caris Jones

7/8/9 Girls

🏆 Best & Fairest: Sarayah Post
🥈 Runner-Up Best & Fairest: Amelia Osborne
👏 Coaches Award: Megan Shawe

7/8/9 Boys

🏆 Best & Fairest: Lewis Jones
🥈 Runner-Up Best & Fairest: Elliott Smith
👏 Coaches Award: Patrick House

5/6 Redbacks

🏆 Best & Fairest: Leila Herud
🥈 Runner-Up Best & Fairest: Connor Stan-Bishop
👏 Coaches Award: Cecelia Gilfellon

5/6 Greys

🏆 Best & Fairest: Archie Smith
🥈 Runner-Up Best & Fairest: Riley Rogers
👏 Coaches Award: Tayla-Rose Pantall

🏑 2026 SENIOR AWARD WINNERS

Congratulations to our senior award winners across Men's A, Women's A, Men's B and Women's B! A fantastic achievement and well-deserved recognition of your efforts throughout the season. ❤️🩶

Men's A

🏆 Fair & Best: Dan Beech
🥈 Runner-Up Fair & Best: Jonah Musitano
👏 Coaches Award: Reuben Law-Davis

Women's A

🏆 Fair & Best: Cate McDonald
🥈 Runner-Up Fair & Best: Beck Gallimore
👏 Coaches Award: Stella Gordon

Men's B

🏆 Fair & Best: Flynn Jackman
🥈 Runner-Up Fair & Best: Robert Stan-Bishop
👏 Coaches Award: Mitch Hathaway

Women's B

🏆 Fair & Best: Gabbi Bickers
🥈 Runner-Up Fair & Best: Tracey Menegola
👏 Coaches Award: Bonnie Dewar

A massive congratulations to all our winners, junior and senior alike! And to everyone who took to the turf this season, thank you for being part of our club. Awards are lovely to take home, but the friendships, teamwork and memories made along the way are just as important.

Kids not ready to hang the stick up yet? -  KEEP THE HOCKEY GOING THIS SUMMER! 

The Redbacks Development Squad is happening over summer, and it's not too late to join in!  Open to all junior players, this six-week program caters for all abilities, with players grouped by skill level to develop their skills, build confidence and, most importantly, have fun playing hockey!

A huge thank you to Jonah, Astyn, Dinah and Stella for coming down to coach our very first session today! What an incredible session to kick things off, with fantastic feedback from the kids. It's such a wonderful opportunity for our junior players to learn, develop their skills and enjoy hockey with some great coaches. Thank you all for giving up your time and helping make this program such a positive experience!

Want to join still?

Cost: $30 for the six-week program, proudly subsidised thanks to our generous sponsor, Driftwood Homes. A huge thank you for supporting our junior players!

Register here:https://www.revolutionise.com.au/northalbanyhc/events/387723

Having trouble registering? Don't let that stop you! Come on down and give it a try anyway, or pay the $30 directly into the club account using your child's name as the payment reference.

Bank details:

• Account name: North Albany Hockey Club

• BSB: 633 000

• Account number: 162 608 798

And a shout-out to our senior players — we'd love your help with coaching! Whether you can commit to the full six weeks or pop in as a guest coach for a session, we'd love to hear from you. Please email the club or get in touch with Dan if you're interested.

Don't hang up those sticks just yet — let's keep developing, having fun and enjoying hockey together over summer! 🏑☀️

ONE LAST THANK YOU!

And finally, a big thank you to every player, coach, manager, volunteer, parent, umpire, supporter and sponsor who helped make the 2026 season what it was. Clubs don't run on hockey sticks alone, and we are incredibly lucky to have so many people who give their time and energy to keep things moving.

And a special thank you to everyone who has put up with this newsletter writer popping up week after week with results, fixtures, reminders and the occasional gentle (or not-so-gentle!) nudges.  You can finally enjoy a break from my ramblings… although I make absolutely no promises about next season!

For now, put your feet up, enjoy the off-season, and give yourselves a pat on the back for another great year of hockey.

That's a wrap from us for 2026. See you all back at the turf next season!

GO NORTH ALBANY!!