The last time Canberra Chill played as a team in the Hockey One competition was 2019. That was the one and only season in the rebadged Australian Hockey League before COVID struck.
One of the Chill team from 2019, Meredith Bone, returns as coach in 2022 to lead the line-up which includes star player and twin sister Edwina.
Meredith concedes it’s a different feeling as coach but one of familiarity given she’s played with or against every player in the team. If nothing else, she knows their strengths.
The Chill women made the semi-finals in ’19 before a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Melbourne.
Team member Naomi Evans says the COVID-enforced hiatus allowed her time to pursue other interests, but she’s excited by the return of the Hockey One competition.
The Chill men and women face Queensland in the opening round north of the border in early October, before returning to Canberra to play Melbourne at Lyneham on 13 October.
Seyi Onitiri returns as coach of the Canberra Chill men’s team and is excited by the prospect of having Kookaburra goalkeeper Andrew Charters on board in the wake of his Olympic heroics.
The Canberra men finished fifth in the inaugural Hockey One season.
Team member Sean Baker believes the Canberra line-up is one of strongest he’s played with in his career.