Before the Perth Thundersticks travel to Canberra to kickstart their 2024 Liberty Hockey One campaign, the teams have turned to Olympians and experienced players to lead the group.
Kookaburras Jake Harvie and Tom Wickham were selected to lead the Men’s team as co-captains, while Hockeyroo Penny Squibb was chosen as the Women’s captain.
Harvie takes on a leadership role after previously featuring in every season of Hockey One in its current form as well as making his Olympic debut in Paris in August.
He said he felt deeply grateful and honoured to get the opportunity to be a leader of the Perth Thundersticks.
“Having grown up idolising many successful Perth Thundersticks teams and players it is a dream come true for me to find myself in this position,” Harvie said.
“Hockey has always held a special place in my life, and I do not take this opportunity and responsibility lightly.
“I look forward to empowering the playing group and encouraging the individuals within it to strive towards fulfilling their potential as athletes and as men.
“It is always about more than just hockey and I look forward to contributing to the Perth Thundersticks family like the many that have come before me.”
Like Harvie, Wickham steps into the co-captain role after featuring throughout each season of Hockey One, featuring for the Kookaburras during the Paris 2024 Olympics, and winning the Stiles Electrical Premier League Men’s Premiership with UWA.
Wickham echoed Harvie’s sentiments, describing the opportunity to lead the squad as “an honour and a privilege” that he doesn’t take lightly.
“We are all leaders in our own unique way,” he said.
“Tapping into the collective influence within the team will give us the greatest opportunity to go far this season and beyond.
“I will lead with my strengths and lean on others in areas of their strengths.
“This is a young group of men, great young men.
“As I said to the group when Jake and I were announced as Co-Captains – I will shoulder the responsibility and do my best to lead this team, all I ask in return is they do the same.”
Squibb has long been considered a leader for the Perth Thundersticks Women’s team, stepping into the captain’s role off the back of making her Olympic debut with the Hockeyroos in Paris.
She said it felt special to have been voted to take on the captaincy role by her peers.
“To be voted captain by your peers is a nice thing because it’s nice to be recognised,” she said.
“Within our group, we’ve all got leadership qualities, and we thrive on that, and we are looking for everyone to bring their own qualities.
“I’m definitely looking forward to helping everyone bring out their strengths and have a good season.”
Joining Harvie and Wickham in the Men’s Leadership Group is fellow Kookaburra James Collins and National Development Squad member Tom Harvie.
Flanking Squibb as Vice-Captains for the Women’s team are former South African international Liné Malan, and Stiles Electrical Premier League Women’s premiership player Candyce Peacock.
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The Perth Thundersticks is proudly supported by Sharp EIT Solutions, Bravo Apples, ERM High Voltage Asset Specialists, Polytan, Session Equity, and Project Innovations.
The Perth Thundersticks Women’s program is also proudly supported by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
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