By Jonty Ralphsmith
Local hockey club Cardinia Storm has confirmed that it will field a men’s team for the 2024 winter season.
The Storm was established as a women’s and juniors only club in 2023, with seasoned campaigner and former Casey Cannons player Peter Turner now set to head up the men’s team.
Turner has 250 games of experience across Metro, Vic League and Pennant competitions, winning multiple best-and-fairests during his career.
Cardinia is looking to compete in the men’s Metro B competition, and has a strong catchment of potential players to find given the south eastern growth corridor, a critical consideration in the start-up club.
Former Tasmanian state hockey player Dan Thorp is the first confirmed signing for the club.
While some players are currently competing in summer competitions, the club has started unofficial preseason training as Turner looks to build on the strong culture of the women’s side.
“I’m all about unity,” Turner said.
“We need to put the foundations down and get the unity across the group and then we’ll start challenging them.
“We want to establish a men’s unit and have multiple teams in the next couple of years and help grow the unity across the men’s and women’s so everyone is included.
“Hopefully in a few years time, there are several junior and senior teams with a pathway for everyone into hockey.”
Cardinia hopes to have multiple men’s teams in the medium term future.
The club has also sourced a running coach who will assist in running preseason sessions and offers a resource for individuals within the club aspiring to take their hockey or high performance further.
The women finished their inaugural season in sixth place on the Pennant D ladder, with seven wins and four draws from its 18 matches, while there was also five junior teams in 2023.
The club is on the hunt for more players to join the ranks.
