Tigers Lock In Read and Tremayne for 2026 Hockey One Campaign

The Tassie Tigers have today announced the reappointment of Ben Read as Head Coach of the Men’s Program for the 2026 Hockey One season.

Read will lead the side for a third consecutive year after guiding the Tigers to a silver medal in 2025. He will again be supported by Assistant Coach Nick Tremayne, who has also been reappointed following his role in last season’s campaign.

Hockey Tasmania CEO, Damian Smith, praised the work of the coaching duo and expressed confidence in the direction of the program.

“Ben’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping a high-performance environment and driving the continued development of our playing group.

“Nic’s support and contribution across the program has been equally important in ensuring a well-aligned and professional coaching environment.

“As we look ahead to 2026, there is a clear opportunity to build on the momentum of last season’s silver medal and take the next step as a program. I am confident that under their leadership, the team is well placed to continue to grow and perform at a high level.”

Read said the Tigers program had played a major role throughout his life, making the opportunity to continue coaching the side especially meaningful.

“It’s a prestigious role. I’ve been involved with the Tigers for quite some time. As a young person watching them, my dad was coaching them at the time, I was able to go along to training sessions and see guys like Matthew Wells, Eddie Ockenden when he was young, and Deavo, who is still here, training!”

“Then I was able to play myself for a while, and now to be involved coaching, it’s very important to me being a part of Tasmania’s flagship team.”

Read said expectations within the program had shifted significantly in recent years, with finals appearances now considered the standard.

“I think it’s now just a really firm expectation in Tassie hockey that we finish in the top four and compete for medals. Gone are the days of us making up the numbers.

“That’s not what we do. We don’t turn up to try and beat the big teams, we are a big team now, and we expect to beat every team we come up against.”

The Tigers fell just short of a championship in 2025, leading the grand final 1-0 before eventually going down 3-1 to HC Melbourne in a thrilling decider.

Read admitted the loss was difficult to process, despite the pride that came with winning a national silver medal.

“I’m incredibly proud. Anytime you win a silver medal at a national championship, you should be proud of it.

“It was difficult in some ways because of just how close we were. Getting 1-0 up early on, it was in the balance and right where we wanted it, and then things didn’t quite go our way.

“But in big games like that, you’ve got to take your chances, and they did that.”

Read said creating a positive and connected environment remained central to his coaching philosophy.

“Bringing people along for the ride and bringing people together, for a long time there was a thought in professional sport that coaches needed to yell a lot and be really, really tough on people to get results.

“That approach never really resonated with me when I was playing, and I wanted to change that. I think you can get so much more out of people when people are happy and you bring them along for the ride.”

The Tigers developed a reputation for exciting, attacking hockey throughout the 2025 season, and Read said that style would continue to define the team in 2026.

“I 100% try to get the boys to play an attacking brand of hockey. I think we’ve got a real responsibility to promote the sport.

“For a sport that is trying to get itself on the map, get funding, get players paid, and attract sponsorships, we have to play an attacking brand of hockey. We have to score goals and make it look good.“That will definitely be what we are going for.”

Read recently coached the Under 21 State side at the National Championships, where Tasmania finished runners-up after an epic 4–4 draw with five-time champions Western Australia, eventually falling in a penalty shootout.

He said Tigers fans could expect to see several of those players pushing into senior contention.

“I’d expect to see quite a few of them, certainly in the extended squad. The beautiful thing about the Tigers is that just because you’ve had a great Under 21s campaign or made a national junior squad, it doesn’t guarantee you a game.

The strength of the squad means players only get opportunities when they’ve really earned them. So if you see anyone out there playing, they will thoroughly deserve it. I think we’ll see a few of them play, and I fully expect them to take their chance.”

Read also encouraged supporters to get behind the club and its emerging talent.

“Hop on board, because we’ve got a fantastic generation of players coming through. They’re going out there to play a really exciting brand of hockey, so get along, watch, and support the fellas, because I’m sure you’ll really enjoy what you see.”

Nominations for the 2026 Tassie Tigers program are now open and can be submitted here.