Northern Hockey Celebrates 2026 Award Winners and Premiers

Published Sun 13 Sep 2026

The northern hockey community has celebrated the leading players, coaches, officials and volunteers of the 2026 season, alongside the teams that secured premiership success across the junior and senior competitions.

Launceston City enjoyed an outstanding season, claiming both the Junior and Senior Club Champion awards. The club also collected six premierships across the northern competitions, including a clean sweep of the Division 2 and Division 3 titles.

Queechy Penguins were another of the season’s major success stories. The club won both Greater Northern League premierships, with the women completing a three-peat and the men defeating the previously unbeaten Burnie Baptist in a shoot-out. Queechy also secured the Under 14 Boys, Under 14 Girls and Under 16 Girls premierships.

Individual honours were presented across the junior and senior grades, recognising the competitions’ leading goalscorers and best and fairest performers.

Tamar Churinga’s Liam Cullen shared the Under 16 Boys leading goalscorer award with teammate Daegan Withington before also winning the grade’s best and fairest award. Withington added the Under 18 Boys leading goalscorer award, while Tamar Churinga’s Michaela Swindells completed an impressive double by topping the Under 18 Girls scoring and winning the best and fairest award.

In the senior competitions, Launceston City’s Michael Jacobs was the Division 3 Men’s leading goalscorer and shared the best and fairest award with Tamar Churinga pair Kurt Lintner and Ben Nicholson.

Christie McLeod of Suns won the Division 2 Women’s best and fairest award, while Tamar Churinga’s Xavier Bates took out the men’s honour.

The local Greater Northern League awards recognised the leading Launceston-based players in the competition. Alistair McBain of Suns won the men’s best and fairest award, while Queechy Penguins’ Millie Smith secured both the women’s best and fairest and leading goalscorer awards. Lochie Murfet of Queechy Penguins was the men’s leading goalscorer.

A number of important contributions away from the playing field were also recognised. Hamish Crisp and Jamie Pinner were named the Junior and Senior Club Coaches of the Year respectively, while Zoe Hingston and Angus Freeman received the Junior Umpire of the Year awards.

Charli Smith received the Janette Nielsen Shield as the Junior Encouragement Award recipient for Technical Officiating, with Liz Cornelius awarded the Gai Cross Shield as Senior Technical Official.

The President’s Shield, recognising an outstanding contribution to hockey in the region, was presented to Liv Mitchell.

2026 Northern Award Winners

Under 16 Boys

Leading goalscorers: Daegan Withington and Liam Cullen – Tamar Churinga, 21 goals
Best and fairest: Liam Cullen – Tamar Churinga, 28 votes

Under 16 Girls

Leading goalscorers: Millie Sutcliffe – Queechy Penguins and Milla Van Der Walt – Launceston City, 12 goals
Best and fairest: Georgia Crisp – Launceston City, 21 votes

Under 18 Boys

Leading goalscorer: Daegan Withington – Tamar Churinga, 26 goals
Tim Deavin Medal for best and fairest: Oscar Mann – Scotch Oakburn, 28 votes

Under 18 Girls

Leading goalscorer: Michaela Swindells – Tamar Churinga, 28 goals
Best and fairest: Michaela Swindells – Tamar Churinga, 30 votes

Division 3 Men

Leading goalscorer: Michael Jacobs – Launceston City, 27 goals
Best and fairest: Michael Jacobs – Launceston City, Kurt Lintner – Tamar Churinga and Ben Nicholson – Tamar Churinga, 20 votes

Division 3 Women

Leading goalscorer: Lucy Temple-Smith – Launceston City Blue, 13 goals
Best and fairest: Alex Cavanough – Queechy Penguins, 29 votes

Division 2 Men

Leading goalscorer: Chris Pearse – Launceston City, 22 goals
Best and fairest: Xavier Bates – Tamar Churinga, 29 votes

Division 2 Women

Leading goalscorer: Nerida Schulz – Launceston City, 12 goals
Best and fairest: Christie McLeod – Suns, 37 votes

Greater Northern League Men

Fred White Shield: Queechy Penguins
Leading Launceston-based goalscorer: Lochie Murfet – Queechy Penguins, 15 goals
Best and fairest Launceston-based player: Alistair McBain – Suns, 42 votes

Greater Northern League Women

Examiner Shield: Queechy Penguins
Leading Launceston-based goalscorer: Millie Smith – Queechy Penguins, 21 goals
Best and fairest Launceston-based player: Millie Smith – Queechy Penguins, 27 votes

Association Awards

Junior Club Champion: Launceston City
Senior Club Champion: Launceston City
Junior Male Player: Miles Chandler
Junior Female Players: Gwen McLoughlin and Maya Almenara
Junior Female Umpire of the Year: Zoe Hingston
Junior Male Umpire of the Year: Angus Freeman
Junior Encouragement Award for Technical Officiating – Janette Nielsen Shield: Charli Smith
Senior Technical Official – Gai Cross Shield: Liz Cornelius
Junior Club Coach of the Year: Hamish Crisp
Senior Club Coach of the Year: Jamie Pinner
President’s Shield: Liv Mitchell