Calling All Hockey Community Members: Help Us Tell the Story of Hockey, Stick by Stick, Ball by Ball

Do you have a hockey stick that’s seen better days? Have you chased down a ball on a pitch that no longer exists? Have you come home from an Olympic or World Cup campaign with pockets full of pins and memories? Hockey WA wants to hear from you.

As the Australian Hockey Centre takes shape, the memorabilia consultant and their team are building something special behind the scenes, bringing the story of hockey to life, not just through trophies and timelines but through the items of current and bygone eras.

Submissions will be accepted throughout the next four weeks to allow time for designing.

A Stick Through Time

We’re on the lookout for hockey sticks of any era, type, or condition. Whether they’re made of wood, fiberglass or carbon taped, and whether they’re cracked, pristine or proudly worn down, each stick tells a story of how the game has evolved.

These sticks will form a permanent and secure display within public areas of the Australian Hockey Centre, giving players, fans, kids, and the curious a chance to see firsthand how the tools of the game have changed across generations.

If you’re prepared to part with a stick on a permanent loan basis, we would love to consider it. Recognition will be provided where appropriate but more importantly, your stick becomes part of hockey’s shared history. If there is a story attached? Even better! Whether it was your first goal, your last cap or the stick you simply couldn’t give up – that’s gold to us!

From Leather to Dimpled Perfection

Like hockey sticks, hockey balls have undergone a remarkable transformation. From heavier, simpler designs to the highly engineered balls of today, they chart the changing speed and style of the game.

We’re keen to collect hockey balls from a range of eras, again in any condition, to help visually track this evolution. Seeing the journey laid out side by side with real items collected from players will be a powerful way to connect today’s game with its roots.

WA, the Olympics, and the World Stage

Western Australia’s link to the Olympics and World Cups runs deep and we want to celebrate it properly.

In the new Indoor Centre, a dedicated wall will showcase Hockey in WA and its remarkable connections to the world’s biggest stages. We’re seeking small memorabilia items such as pins, badges and small keepsakes – the kinds of things that inevitably accumulate when you’re lucky enough to attend an Olympic or World Cup tournament.

These items will be displayed in small (circa 20cm to 30cm) display domes, forming a visual patchwork of WA’s presence on the global hockey map. Once again, the magic really happens when there’s a story attached – where it came from, who traded it, and what it meant at the time.

Your Story Makes it Real

This project isn’t just about equipment or souvenirs. It’s about human moments, the nerves, the pride, the friendships, and the journeys that make hockey special.

If you or a family member is a former or current Olympian, World Cup representative, or involved at any level and have items you’d be willing to see displayed, we would genuinely love to hear from you.

By sharing your pieces and your stories you help ensure the next generation doesn’t just see hockey’s history but feel it. The Australian Hockey Centre is being built for the future, but its heart will always be shaped by the past.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, get in touch with Graeme Hall, General Manager -Australian Hockey Centre at Graeme.hall@hockeywa.org.au or 0466 381 464.