2017 Men's Australian Hockey League

The 2017 Men's Australian Hockey League was 27th edition of the men's Australian Hockey League. The tournament was held between 28 September and 8 October 2017, in Perth, Western Australia. A total of 10 teams competed for the title.

2017 Men's
Australian Hockey League

Tournament details
Host country	Australia
City	Perth
Dates	28 September – 8 October
Teams	10
Venue(s)	Perth Hockey Stadium
Final positions
Champions	VIC Vikings (4th title)
Runner-up	QLD Blades
Third place	NSW Waratahs
Tournament statistics
Matches played	35
Goals scored	168 (4.8 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Kieron Arthur Chris Ciriello (9 goals)
Best player	Mark Knowles
← 2016 (previous) (next) 2018 →

Like the 2016 edition, invitational teams from India and New Zealand competed in the tournament.^[1]

The VIC Vikings won the tournament for the fourth time and the second year in a row, following a 3–0 penalty shoot-out win over the QLD Blades after the final finished a 1–1 draw.^[2][3] The NSW Waratahs won the bronze medal after defeating the India Development side 3–2 in the third place match.^[4]

Competition format

Teams were split evenly into pools A and B where they compete in a single round-robin format.

At the conclusion of the initial pool stage, the top two teams in each pool progress to the medal playoffs in Pool C, while the remaining six teams progress to the classification matches in Pool D.

In Pool C, teams carry over points earned in previous matches and contest the teams they are yet to play. Final ranking in Pool C determines the final tournament standing from fifth to tenth place.

In Pool D, teams carry over points earned in previous matches and contest the teams they are yet to play. The top two teams then progress to the final, while the bottom two teams contest the third and fourth place playoff.

Participating teams

Dates	Event	Location	Qualifier(s)
Host state			WA Thundersticks
29 September – 8 October 2016	2016 Men's AHL	Perth, WA	Canberra Lakers NSW Waratahs NT Stingers QLD Blades SA Hotshots Tassie Tigers VIC Vikings
Invitational Teams			IND Development  NZLDevelopment

Results

First round

Pool A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	VIC Vikings	4	3	1	0	16	5	+11	10	Medal Round
2	QLD Blades	4	3	0	1	21	8	+13	9
3	Tassie Tigers	4	2	1	1	15	8	+7	7
4	SA Hotshots	4	1	0	3	7	23	−16	3
5	NZL Development	4	0	0	4	4	19	−15	0

Source: hockeyaustralia.altiusrt.com

28 September 2017 10:30 VIC Vikings 8–2 SA Hotshots Ciriello  30' Kleinschmidt  33', 47', 50' Arunasalam  41', 51' Pollard  42' Scanlon  57' Report Larwood  12' Willson  14' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Murray Grime (AUS) Ben de Young (AUS)

28 September 2017 12:30 Tassie Tigers 3–4 QLD Blades Arthur  12', 45+', 48' Report Wotherspoon  19' Rintala  27', 39' Bell  50' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: James Unkles (AUS) Matthew Claxton (AUS)

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29 September 2017 13:00 VIC Vikings 4–0  NZL Development Ford  23', 29', 31' Hendry  50' Report Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Zeke Newman (AUS) Aaron Gotting (AUS)

29 September 2017 17:00 Tassie Tigers 6–0 SA Hotshots McHugh  10' Arthur  20', 31' McCambridge  28', 48' Mackey  50' Report Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 2 Umpires: Tim Pullman (AUS) Ben Hocking (AUS)

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30 September 2017 15:00 QLD Blades 6–1  NZL Development Boyde  8', 57' Swann  16' Beale  30', 36' Elder  33' Report Thomas  16' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Murray Grime (AUS) Matthew Claxton (AUS)

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1 October 2017 17:00 Tassie Tigers 1–1 VIC Vikings McCambridge  20' Report Ciriello  22' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Daniel Johnston (AUS) Gurbaj Singh (IND)

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2 October 2017 17:00 SA Hotshots 4–0  NZL Development Mitchell  5', 59' Brown  20' Bowden  44' Report Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 2 Umpires: James Unkles (AUS) Ben Hocking (AUS)

2 October 2017 19:00 QLD Blades 2–3 VIC Vikings Anderson  26' Bell  57' Report Arunasalam  9' Ciriello  54' Kleinschmidt  55' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 2 Umpires: Matthew Claxton (AUS) Gurbaj Singh (IND)

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3 October 2017 17:30 NZL Development  3–5 Tassie Tigers Lett  53' Hyde  56' Andrews  60+' Report Dick  21' Arthur  36', 47', 50' Ockenden  54' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Ben de Young (AUS) Stephen Rogers (AUS)

3 October 2017 19:30 QLD Blades 9–1 SA Hotshots Weyer  6', 59' Beale  12' Elder  19', 29', 56' Rintala  26', 43', 44' Report Willson  48' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Murray Grime (AUS) James Unkles (AUS)

Pool B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	NSW Waratahs	4	4	0	0	8	1	+7	12	Medal Round
2	IND Development	4	2	1	1	7	3	+4	7
3	WA Thundersticks	4	2	0	2	8	9	−1	6
4	NT Stingers	4	1	1	2	5	8	−3	4
5	Canberra Lakers	4	0	0	4	4	11	−7	0

Source: hockeyaustralia.altiusrt.com

28 September 2017 14:30 Canberra Lakers 0–3 NSW Waratahs Report Sharp  48' McEwen  56' T. Craig  59' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Stephen Rogers (AUS) Gurbaj Singh (IND)

28 September 2017 16:30 WA Thundersticks 3–1 NT Stingers Mitton  10' Wickham  11' Flynn  51' Report Taylor  56' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Zeke Newman (AUS) Tim Pullman (AUS)

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29 September 2017 19:00 WA Thundersticks 1–4  IND Development Flynn  56' Report Qureshi  6' Yousuf  30' Rohidas  45' Talwinder  50' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Stephen Rogers (AUS) Daniel Johnston (AUS)

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30 September 2017 17:00 Canberra Lakers 2–3 NT Stingers Gupte  33' Sutherland  35' Report Wookey  24' Farmilo  36', 52' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Ben Hocking (AUS) Ben de Young (AUS)

30 September 2017 19:00 NSW Waratahs 1–0  IND Development B. Govers  37' Report Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Aaron Gotting (AUS) James Unkles (AUS)

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1 October 2017 19:00 Canberra Lakers 2–3 WA Thundersticks Turner  30' J. Staines  53' Report Main  14' Mitton  16' Wickham  59' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Zeke Newman (AUS) Ben de Young (AUS)

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2 October 2017 13:00 NT Stingers 1–1  IND Development Lockley  34' Report Umar  6' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 2 Umpires: Murray Grime (AUS) Daniel Johnston (AUS)

2 October 2017 15:00 NSW Waratahs 2–1 WA Thundersticks B. Govers  50' T. Craig  53' Report Mitton  12' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 2 Umpires: Tim Pullman (AUS) Stephen Rogers (AUS)

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3 October 2017 13:30 IND Development  2–0 Canberra Lakers Yousuf  5' Qureshi  46' Report Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Daniel Johnston (AUS) Ben Hocking (AUS)

3 October 2017 15:30 NSW Waratahs 2–0 NT Stingers B. Govers  43' K. Govers  45+' Report Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Aaron Gotting (AUS) Tim Pullman (AUS)

Second round

Fifth to tenth place classification

Pool D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	WA Thundersticks	5	5	0	0	16	7	+9	15
2	NT Stingers	5	4	0	1	12	9	+3	12
3	Tassie Tigers	5	3	0	2	16	8	+8	9
4	Canberra Lakers	5	1	0	4	11	14	−3	3
5	NZL Development	5	1	0	4	11	18	−7	3
6	SA Hotshots	5	1	0	4	7	17	−10	3

Source: hockeyaustralia.altiusrt.com

5 October 2017 10:00 NZL Development  2–3 WA Thundersticks Hanks  9' Thomas  25' Report Mitton  11' Wickham  18', 23' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 2 Umpires: Gurbaj Singh (IND) Aaron Gotting (AUS)

5 October 2017 10:00 Tassie Tigers 1–2 NT Stingers McCambridge  3' Report Duguid  39' Farmilo  49' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Ben Hocking (AUS) Matthew Claxton (AUS)

5 October 2017 12:00 SA Hotshots 1–4 Canberra Lakers Johns  53' Report Sutherland  5', 19' B. Staines  35' Turner  50' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 2 Umpires: James Unkles(AUS) Daniel Johnston (AUS)

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6 October 2017 10:00 NZL Development  2–4 NT Stingers Thomas  20' Andrews  23' Report Hayward  15', 17', 35' Farmilo  44' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 2 Umpires: Ben de Young (AUS) Daniel Johnston (AUS)

6 October 2017 10:00 Tassie Tigers 3–1 Canberra Lakers Edwards  14' McCambridge  43' Welch  49' Report B. Staines  21' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Gurbaj Singh (IND) Matthew Claxton (AUS)

6 October 2017 12:00 SA Hotshots 1–5 WA Thundersticks Willson  25' Report Flynn  12', 13' Mitton  20', 57', 58' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 2 Umpires: Ben Hocking (AUS) Aaron Gotting (AUS)

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7 October 2017 10:00 NZL Development  4–2 Canberra Lakers Hyde  10' Harris  14' Andrews  48' Lett  59' Report Day  18', 49' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Matthew Claxton (AUS) Aaron Gotting (AUS)

7 October 2017 14:00 SA Hotshots 1–2 NT Stingers Willson  58' Report Hayward  2' Wookey  5' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Daniel Johnston (AUS) Gurbaj Singh (AUS)

7 October 2017 18:00 Tassie Tigers 1–2 WA Thundersticks Arthur  44' Report Mitton  20' Flynn  32' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: James Unkles (AUS) Ben Hocking (AUS)

First to fourth place classification

Pool C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	VIC Vikings	3	2	1	0	12	8	+4	7	Final
2	QLD Blades	3	2	0	1	10	5	+5	6
3	NSW Waratahs	3	1	1	1	7	8	−1	4
4	IND Development	3	0	0	3	2	10	−8	0

Source: hockeyaustralia.altiusrt.com

5 October 2017 16:00 QLD Blades 4–2 NSW Waratahs Elder  2' Rintala  8' Anderson  42', 47' Report T. Craig  6' K. Govers  30' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Murray Grime (AUS) Tim Pullman (AUS)

5 October 2017 18:00 VIC Vikings 5–2  IND Development Webster  1' Ciriello  18', 34', 49' Kleinschmidt  32' Report Rohidas  40', 45' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Ben de Young (AUS) Stephen Rogers (AUS)

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6 October 2017 16:00 QLD Blades 4–0  IND Development M. Pembroke  5' H. Pembroke  20' Rintala  42' Anderson  54' Report Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Tim Pullman (AUS) James Unkles (AUS)

6 October 2017 18:00 VIC Vikings 4–4 NSW Waratahs Ciriello  28', 31' Hammond  35' Gilmour  52' Report K. Govers  9' Dawson  25' Orchard  42' B. Govers  45' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Ben de Young (AUS) Stephen Rogers (AUS)

Third and fourth place

8 October 2017 13:15 NSW Waratahs 3–2  IND Development T. Craig  39' Orchard  55' Sharp  56' Report Simranjeet  3' Yousuf  9' Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Stephen Rogers (AUS) Ben de Young (AUS)

Final

8 October 2017 17:45 VIC Vikings 1–1 QLD Blades Ciriello  51' Report Beale  36' Penalties Webster Pollard Ford Kleinschmidt 3–0 Beale Weyer Wotherspoon Perth Hockey Stadium: Pitch 1 Umpires: Murray Grime (AUS) Tim Pullman (AUS)

Awards

Player of the Tournament	Topscorer(s)	Player of the Final	GK of the Tournament	Play the Whistle
Mark Knowles	Kieron Arthur Chris Ciriello	Robert Bell	Johan Durst	QLD Blades

Statistics

Final standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Final Result
	VIC Vikings	7	4	3	0	26	12	+14	15	Gold Medal
	QLD Blades	7	5	1	1	30	11	+19	16	Silver Medal
	NSW Waratahs	7	5	1	1	17	11	+6	16	Bronze Medal
4	IND Development	7	2	1	4	11	15	−4	7
5	WA Thundersticks	7	5	0	2	18	13	+5	15
6	NT Stingers	7	4	1	2	13	12	+1	13
7	Tassie Tigers	7	3	1	3	20	13	+7	10
8	Canberra Lakers	7	1	0	6	11	19	−8	3
9	NZL Development	7	1	0	6	12	28	−16	3
10	SA Hotshots	7	1	0	6	10	34	−24	3

Source: hockeyaustralia.altiusrt.com

Goalscorers

There were 168 goals scored in 35 matches, for an average of 4.8 goals per match.

9 goals

• Kieron Arthur
• Chris Ciriello

8 goals

• Trent Mitton

7 goals

• Joel Rintala

5 goals

• Troy Elder
• Sam McCambridge
• Aaron Kleinschmidt
• Liam Flynn

4 goals

• Tom Craig
• Blake Govers
• Isaac Farmilo
• Jeremy Hayward
• Jacob Anderson
• Daniel Beale
• Kurtis Willson
• Tom Wickham

3 goals

• Troy Sutherland
• Amit Rohidas
• Affan Yousuf
• Kieran Govers
• Reuben Andrews
• Dylan Thomas
• Kiran Arunasalam
• Russell Ford

2 goals

• James Day
• Ben Staines
• Glenn Turner
• Armaan Qureshi
• Simon Orchard
• Lachlan Sharp
• Cam Hyde
• Dane Lett
• Oscar Wookey
• Robert Bell
• Scott Boyde
• Corey Weyer
• Daniel Mitchell

1 goal

• Niranjan Gupte
• Jake Staines
• Simranjeet Singh
• Talwinder Singh
• Mohammad Umar
• Matthew Dawson
• Nic McEwen
• Joe Hanks
• Daniel Harris
• Robert Duguid
• Adrian Lockley
• Jared Taylor
• Hugh Pembroke
• Matthew Pembroke
• Matthew Swann
• Dylan Wotherspoon
• Fraser Bowden
• Simon Brown
• Harry Johns
• Luke Larwood
• Jeremy Edwards
• Kurt Mackey
• Ian McHugh
• Eddie Ockenden
• Jack Welch
• Will Gilmour
• Casey Hammond
• Max Hendry
• Josh Pollard
• Andrew Scanlon
• James Webster
• Frank Main

Source: Hockey Australia