New Zealand Premier Hockey League

Premier Hockey League

Formerly	New Zealand National Hockey League
Sport	Field hockey
Founded	2020
No. of teams	4
Country	New Zealand
Continent	Oceania (OHF)
Most recent champion(s)	Central Falcons (M & W)
Official website	www.premierhockeyleague.co.nz

The Premier Hockey League an annual field hockey competition. The league serves as New Zealand's premier domestic hockey league, helping unearth future talent for selection to the country's national teams; the Vantage Black Sticks.

The Central Falcons were the inaugural tournament champions in both the men's and women's editions, taking out the 2020 titles.^[1][2]

History

The Premier Hockey League was founded in 2020. The tournament was formed as a response to Hockey New Zealand needing to provide their top players elite-level hockey, with the Black Sticks being unable to travel due to the country's COVID restrictions.

In 2020, it was confirmed that the league had secured a major partnership with Sentinel Homes, with naming rights also afforded to the company, forming the Sentinel Homes Premier Hockey League.^[3][4]

Following a four-year break in competition, the league will return in 2024. The league will now be privately run, with a focus on being a franchise-based competition.^[5]

Format

Teams

• Central Falcons
• Hauraki Mavericks
• Northern Tridents
• Southern Alpiners

Men's tournament

Summaries

Year	Finals Host		Gold Medal Match				Third and Fourth
			Champions	Score	Runners-up		3rd place	Score	4th place
2020	Hamilton, New Zealand		Central Falcons	1–1 (1–0 pen.)	Southern Alpiners		Hauraki Mavericks	4–1	Northern Tridents
2024	Auckland, New Zealand		Southern Alpiners	7–4	Central Falcons		Northern Tridents	4–3	Hauraki Mavericks

Women's tournament

Summaries

Year	Hosts		Gold Medal Match				Third and Fourth
			Champions	Score	Runners-up		3rd place	Score	4th place
2020	Hamilton, New Zealand		Central Falcons	3–1	Northern Tridents		Hauraki Mavericks	1–0	Southern Alpiners
2024	Auckland, New Zealand		Central Falcons	5–1	Northern Tridents		Southern Alpiners	6–1	Hauraki Mavericks

Awards

In both the men's and women's competitions, Hockey New Zealand presents a most valuable player (MVP) award at the conclusion of the tournament. The name of each trophy comes from that of past Black Sticks players. The men's trophy is named after father and son, Jeff and Ryan Archibald, forming the Archibald Trophy, while the women's trophy is named after Suzie Muirhead.^[6]

Winners of both the Archibald and Muirhead trophies are listed below.

Most Valuable Player Trophies
Year	Archibald Trophy	Muirhead Trophy
2020	Jacob Smith (Falcons)	Stacey Michelsen (Tridents)

See also

• Hockey New Zealand
• New Zealand National Hockey League

References

1. "Keepers play star roles as Central Falcons claim premier hockey title in shootout thriller". stuff.co.nz. stuff. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
2. "Central Falcons fly away with hockey Premier League title". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
3. "WE'RE PROUD SPONSORS OF THE PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE". sentinelhomes.co.nz. Sentinel Homes. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
4. "NEW PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE UNDERWAY NEXT MONTH". hockeynz.co.nz. Hockey New Zealand. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
5. "Hockey: Privately owned league answers Black Sticks' wishes". rnz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
6. "Past inspires the present at New Zealand's PHL". fih.ch. International Hockey Federation. Retrieved 10 March 2021.

External links

• Hockey New Zealand
• Black Sticks
• Sentinel Homes