Spice on Ice: Indian Influence in Australia’s Hockey One League

In a groundbreaking initiative, Hockey One—Australia’s top domestic league for both men and women—will introduce a team boasting nearly one-third Indian or Indian-origin players.

The Melbourne Cobras will become the eighth team in Hockey One for both leagues, marking Victoria’s second team after Hockey Club Melbourne. The Cobras will debut in Punjab in October followed by their Melbourne introduction in November post-competition.

From a squad of 25, eight players are required to be of Indian or Indian descent. Hockey Victoria aims to attract top international players, emerging talent, and recent retirees from India, appealing to Victoria’s growing Indian diaspora.

“Our last six local clubs in Melbourne were all Indian-founded. Many in our Indian community hail from Punjab. We wish to create a franchise that captivates an international audience while boosting participation among Victoria’s South Asian community,” expressed Andrew Skillern, CEO of Hockey Victoria and facilitator of Hockey One’s launch in 2019.

“National players might not play a full season, yet they present a prime promotional opportunity, energizing the team’s brand across both India and the global Indian community.”

Skillern and his team have engaged various stakeholders, including Hockey India, on collaboration possibilities. While top Indian internationals might face scheduling conflicts, there’s potential for India A team members or junior players to participate.

Skillern remains optimistic about involving players like Manpreet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh. During their recent journey to Australia, several discussions occurred, including ideas exchanged with India’s chief coach Craig Fulton regarding strategic player participation.

“Craig desires game-time for both national and emerging players. The feedback we’ve gathered shows strong interest from Indian players in joining our franchise, appreciating the flexibility to balance national commitments with playing for Cobras,” Skillern added.

While engaging current players remains complex, the likelihood of participation from emerging talent and retired players is high. Rupinder Pal Singh, a bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, successfully played in Hockey One after retirement. India’s Shilanand Lakra joined HC Melbourne last year during his break from the core group.

“We’ve engaged with numerous Indian academies to explore opportunities for young male and female talents to immerse in Australia’s high-performance environment, gaining experience against global competition,” Skillern stated.

For players nearing the end of their careers like Manpreet, post-retirement could mean an enriching experience in Melbourne, playing before a passionate Indian audience in Australia.

Hockey Victoria is also exploring collaborations with HIL franchises, eyeing a Cobras franchise in HIL, with aspirations to establish multiple Cobras franchises worldwide.

Intriguingly, the Hockey One framework permits players to partake in sponsorship programs, where 75% of revenue is shared among the squad. Players can secure up to four sponsors under this arrangement.

“We’ll offer players a share of Cobras merchandise revenue, a pioneering step in world hockey,” Skillern concluded.