The Road Ahead: Perth Thundersticks' 2025 Hockey One season

With the 2025 Liberty Hockey One season fixtures now locked in, it’s time to look ahead—get ready for a thrilling new chapter as we preview what’s in store for the Perth Thundersticks.

Round 1

Forget easing into the season—the Perth Thundersticks are diving straight into the fire with a high-stakes double-header against fierce rivals Brisbane Blaze on Friday 10 October at the Queensland State Hockey Centre.

This isn’t just any season opener. It’s a rematch double feature:

• The 2024 Women’s Grand Final showdown.
• The 2024 Men’s Bronze Medal clash.

All eyes will be on the Women’s match, where two new coaching dynamos make their debut: Steph Andrews for the Thundersticks and Angie Lambert for the Blaze. Expect fireworks as both teams look to make a statement from the very first whistle.

Since the launch of Hockey One in 2019, the Blaze have been a persistent challenge for the Thundersticks. But the tide may be turning. The Thundersticks Men edged out a 3–2 win in 2022 and only lost by a single goal in the 2024 Men’s Bronze medal clash, while the Women’s team broke through in 2024 with a thrilling 6–6 (5–4 SO) victory in Round 6, followed by a commanding 4–1 win in the Grand Final.

Round 2

After a fiery season opener, the Perth Thundersticks are back on home turf at Perth Hockey Stadium on Sunday 19 October, ready to close out Round 2 with a bang against the Canberra Chill.

The Men’s team will be out for redemption after a narrow 3–4 loss in Round 1 of 2024, looking to flip the script and build momentum early in the season. Their history with the Chill has been anything but predictable—from a heartbreaking 3–3 (1–3 SO) loss in 2019, to a dominant 6–3 Semi Final win in 2022, and a confident 4–1 victory in 2023. Expect a fierce contest as they aim to settle the score.

On the Women’s side, it’s another exciting coaching showdown—Steph Andrews vs. Marcelle Keet—as the Thundersticks look to continue their strong form against the Chill. This rivalry has seen some unforgettable moments, including a gritty 1–1 (1–0 SO) win in 2019 and a record-breaking 10–3 demolition in Round 1 of 2024, the highest winning score in Hockey One history.

With home support behind them and scores to settle, the Thundersticks are primed to put on a show.

Round 3

Next stop: Adelaide. The Perth Thundersticks are bringing the storm to the City of Churches as they face off against Adelaide Fire on Saturday 25 October at the State Hockey Centre.

Both Thundersticks squads have a strong track record against the Fire—and they’ll be looking to keep that streak alive.

The Women’s team has been nothing short of dominant, posting back-to-back clean sheet victories in 2023 (4–0) and 2024 (5–0). With their defensive wall holding firm and attacking firepower in full force, they’ll be aiming for a third straight shutout.

The Men’s team will also be looking to extend their winning run, having edged out a tight 3–2 win in 2024. With momentum building and confidence high, they’ll be keen to assert their authority early and keep Adelaide on the back foot.

With history on their side and eyes on another double win, the Thundersticks are ready to turn up the heat in Round 3.

Round 4

The Perth Thundersticks are back at Perth Hockey Stadium on Sunday 2 November, ready to light it up against Hockey Club Melbourne in what promises to be another thrilling chapter in this growing rivalry.

The Women’s team will be looking to extend their strong form against HC Melbourne, having delivered a commanding 6–2 win in Round 3 of 2024. In five previous encounters, the Thundersticks have only fallen once—to Melbourne back in 2019. Since then, they’ve bounced back with two clean sheet victories in 2022, including one that secured their first-ever bronze medal.

Meanwhile, the Men’s team are eyeing a statement performance. After pulling off a dramatic last-quarter comeback to win 5–4 in Round 3 of 2024, they narrowly missed out on repeating the feat in the Semi Finals against the eventual premiers. With three wins to Melbourne’s two in their head-to-head history, the Thundersticks will be hungry to tip the balance further in their favour.

With home fans behind them and momentum building, this Round 4 clash is shaping up to be a must-watch.

Round 5

The Perth Thundersticks hit the road one last time in the regular season, heading to the Tasmanian Hockey Centre on Saturday 8 November to take on the Tassie Tigers in a high-stakes Round 5 clash.

The Men’s team will be looking to build on their breakthrough performance in 2024, where they claimed a tense 0–0 (3–2 SO) victory—their first-ever win over the Tigers. After falling short in 2019, 2022, and 2023, the Thundersticks are determined to keep the momentum going and flip the script on this rivalry for good.

The Women’s team will aim to extend their dominance over the Tigers, following a commanding 6–3 win in Round 2 of 2024 and a 3–1 Semi Final triumph that spoiled Tasmania’s finals hopes on their home turf. The Tasmanian Hockey Centre holds special meaning for the Thundersticks—it’s where they captured their maiden title, and they’ll be eager to add another memorable chapter to their story.

With history, pride, and finals implications on the line, this final away fixture promises to be a fiery encounter.

Round 6

After a high-energy run through the first half of the season, the Perth Thundersticks will enjoy a well-earned break in Round 6, with a scheduled bye offering the perfect chance to rest, reset, and refocus.

With just one regular season match remaining—and a potential finals berth on the horizon—this pause comes at a crucial time. The Thundersticks will be looking to return refreshed and re-energised, ready to make a strong final push on home turf.

Round 7

The Perth Thundersticks are set to close out their regular season campaign in front of a home crowd at Perth Hockey Stadium on Sunday 23 November, taking on long-time rivals NSW Pride in a blockbuster Round 7 showdown.

The Men’s team will be looking to build on their breakthrough 3–1 win in Round 5 of 2024, which marked their first-ever victory over the Pride. After tough losses in previous years—including a heartbreaking 0–2 defeat in the 2022 Gold Medal match—the Thundersticks are determined to keep the momentum going and finish the regular season on a high.

The Women’s team will be aiming for a third straight win over the Pride, having edged them out 2–1 for the bronze medal in 2023 and followed up with a 3–1 win in Round 5 of 2024. With both teams locked at three wins apiece in their head-to-head history, this match is more than just a season closer—it’s a chance to tip the rivalry in the Thundersticks’ favour.

With finals on the horizon and pride on the line, this final home fixture promises to deliver fireworks.

With a season full of epic matchups and unforgettable moments on the horizon, now’s the time to join the Thundersticks family and be part of the action. Let’s bring the thunder together in the 2025 Liberty Hockey One season!

🎟️ Stay tuned—membership and ticket info are coming soon!