More than 200 hockey players descended on the Latrobe Valley Hockey Association synthetic hockey field at Churchill last Saturday to battle it out for the annual Lightening Premiership.
Since the new field was commissioned last winter, it has been well received with player numbers growing strongly in the area.
The LVHA season begins this weekend with juniors and women playing on Saturdays and the men on Sunday afternoons.
The women’s competition will be strong with eight teams vying for the premiership.
Junior games will start this Saturday.
Under 11s will begin proceedings with their first game from 10am and the under 15s will play from 11.15am.
The first women’s game will be at 12.30pm Saturday with Churchill going up against Traralgon Blue, Moe and Yallourn going head-to-head, Traralgon Yellow and Rovers Thunder toughing it out and Rovers Lightning taking on Traralgon Black.
The men’s competition will also be tough this year with Yallourn entering a side for the first time and Churchill combining its two teams into one stronger side.
Competition this Sunday begins with Churchill and Traralgon playing from 2pm and Moe and Yallourn playing from 3.30pm.
Last year’s premiers Moe will be keen to defend its flag while Traralgon, Yallourn and Churchill have all worked hard during the pre-season to improve and press their claims.
