Two stalwarts of Tasmanian hockey are set to be announced as coaches of the state's teams in the new Hockey One League.
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Long-standing Tasmanian Institute of Sport hockey coach Andrew McDonald will take charge of the Tassie Tigers men's team while former Kookaburras international Luke Doerner will lead the women's when both teams begin their campaigns in October.
Hockey Tasmania officially launched the new entity on Wednesday with Kookaburras player Josh Beltz and 2018 Tassie Van Demons captain Sarah McCambridge modelling the new uniform.
Chief executive Damian Smith said the Tigers will lead the statewide conversation about the viability and support for Tasmanian sides in national competitions.
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"This is the beginning of not just a new era for Tasmanian hockey, but for Tasmanian sport," he said.
"The Tassie Tigers are here. We exist now, and we want the Tasmanian hockey community to embrace the Tassie Tigers to ensure we continue to succeed at the highest level.
"We will be the test case for the state. We've had good crowds for Tasmanian teams playing here before, but the old Australian Hockey League was usually a two-week tournament format that came to Tasmania once every eight years.
"Hockey One will provide a minimum three home matchdays every season initially, with the Tassie Tigers travelling the country during the other rounds. Tasmanian sports lovers can send a loud, clear, unambiguous message to the nation by getting behind the Tassie Tigers and proving that Tasmanian teams are viable, sustainable, and can have success at the national level."
Foundation memberships have gone on sale.
The Tigers will start the Hockey One season against the Adelaide Fire at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre on Saturday, October 5.
U21 nationals
Tasmania's under-21 men's side ended its national championships campaign in positive fashion, defeating ACT 5-1 in their seventh-place play-off.
Skipper Linden McCarthy was again among the goal-scorers, with Samuel McCulloch (twice), George Wilkinson and Harvey Bessell the other contributors to the scoreboard.
The state's women's side finished sixth after losing its fifth versus sixth play-off to New South Wales 6-0.
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