1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: You know, I love sports, so I love finding out 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: when Territorians are doing well. And the Territory Stingers are 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: preparing to head overseas for the Malaysian Hockey League two sides, 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: the men's and women's sides and the women's side. As 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: I understand, it's certainly boasting a young core surrounded by 6 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: some experienced leaders, which is great to hear. The squad 7 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: are set to make history when they debut in the league. 8 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 1: It's marking the first time that a Northern Territory Australian 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: based team has competed in an international competition of this scale. 10 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: It's phenomenal stuff and it is phenomenal that we've got 11 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: Territory athletes that are going to be able to head 12 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: overseas to be able to do this. Now joining me 13 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 1: in the studio is a voice you recognized, Hockey and 14 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: t CEO Jason Butcher. Good morning to you, morning, Katie. 15 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 1: How are you very well? Thank you, and we've also 16 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: gotten the studio. Zeita Vara Vanagen, Good morning to you. 17 00:00:57,960 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 1: I tried hard to get that right. I think I 18 00:00:59,880 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: got I got your surname wrong, though, Warareth the Nagan, 19 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: Varethraj the Rajan I do apologize. I think it's I 20 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,360 Speaker 1: think it is important that we get that surname right though. 21 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: Because you're a phenomenal hockey player and you're about to 22 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 1: head overseas to play first off, you must be pretty 23 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: excited and nervous, are you. 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 2: Yeah, very excited, very nervous, But I think excitement's kind 25 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: of winning at this stage a couple of days out. 26 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 1: So yeah, that is awesome and it's going to be 27 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: a fantastic, fantastic thing to head away and play at 28 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: this level now, butch, can you remind us a little 29 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: bit more about this league and why we're heading across 30 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:38,120 Speaker 1: to Malaysia. 31 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 3: Yeah? Thanks, I'll give you the short version. So we 32 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 3: made a decision and were essentially not involved in the 33 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 3: Israel Hockey League of twenty eighteen. We went through a 34 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 3: period of somewhat decline I would think as a sport, 35 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 3: and part of that resurgent has been about us putting 36 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 3: those aspirational pieces back in place and also the pathway pieces. 37 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 3: We put a submission into Hockey One, which is the 38 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 3: new Australian Hockey League, and they decided that based on 39 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 3: a number of criteria, but including the fact that it 40 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 3: was expensive to get here, we're too far away and 41 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 3: we were too small. They wouldn't admit us into the league, 42 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 3: and we had a number of options, and obviously we're 43 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 3: very disappointed around that perspective of us considering our heritage 44 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 3: and our history and our birthright to be involved and 45 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 3: not be excluded from the pathway, and we pivoted really quickly. 46 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 3: And now, you know, I think this is history, but 47 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 3: I think we're the first Australian franchise at a national 48 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,679 Speaker 3: league level to defect from its own country and plan 49 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 3: in another countries national league. 50 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: Do you know what. I think it's so important because 51 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: I firmly believe that whether you live in the Northern 52 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: Territory with no matter where you live, you should have 53 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: the opportunity to play sport, and particularly to try and 54 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: play that sport at a higher level. So I love 55 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 1: that you guys are doing this. I love that you 56 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: did not take no for an answer, you thought, what 57 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: are my other options? Yeah? 58 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 3: And look, we've had amazing support from our community and 59 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 3: our partner's sponsors and also the territory government, which we're 60 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 3: really grateful for. But the conversation we've had with all 61 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 3: of them, which were really appreciate, they listen. They understand 62 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 3: is that territory kids deserve the same opportunities that everyone 63 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 3: else gets in Australia, their peers, and we know that 64 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 3: that doesn't always happen. And what I'm seeing emerge, and 65 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 3: certainly what we've learned in the last two years, is 66 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 3: that you have to fight for that and you have 67 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 3: to get people on side to fight for that with you. 68 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 3: And so it's a bigger picture story for us, Katie. 69 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,360 Speaker 3: This is about the Northern Territory, our rights and not 70 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 3: being excluded from opportunities, particularly for our kids. 71 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: Well, and you've got quite a young women's side from 72 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 1: what I can gather, Zeta. Is that correct, Yeah, So 73 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: tell me a little bit about that, tell me a 74 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: bit about your core and you know, and about the 75 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 1: different players in your side. 76 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've got like a range. So we've got a 77 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 2: lot of the younger girls. We've got I think sixteen 78 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 2: is probably our youngest, a few of them, and then 79 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 2: some who have just graduated high school, some have just 80 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 2: started UNI. And then we've got a few of our 81 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 2: more experienced players like taking on that mental role. So 82 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 2: we've got I think one of the black sticks. 83 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 3: Yes, we have eleven under twenty one players given this opportunity, 84 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 3: and so that's a young group. And yeah, yes, Zeita 85 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 3: is alluding to we brought some fire power in from 86 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 3: probably my previous world. But Naomi Evans ex Hockey Room 87 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 3: was also the Cambridchill captain two years ago and they 88 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 3: played in the Grand Final. And Julia King, who's an 89 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,839 Speaker 3: exceptional legacy blackstick, is flying across to fast track the 90 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:35,479 Speaker 3: development of our kids as well, which is going to 91 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 3: be exciting, Zata, very exciting. 92 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: How cool? Like how excited are you? But how excited 93 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: are some of the you know, Like I mean, are 94 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: you under twenty one? How old are you? 95 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 2: I'm twenty A legend. 96 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: I like to be going across and playing at this 97 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:53,760 Speaker 1: level and to then have you know, other players coming 98 00:04:53,839 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: across to join the team with you as well, and 99 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: to know that you've got like such a young side 100 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: that will continue to develop and continue to get better. 101 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 1: Like it's a wonderful pathway for kids playing hockey in 102 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, isn't it? Yeah? 103 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And I know that like for myself, I've been 104 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 2: playing for the Northern Territory for a very long time 105 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 2: and I think once we kind of lost the pearls 106 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 2: and we got out of the AHL, there wasn't really 107 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 2: anything to aspire to. So like, for me, it's such 108 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 2: a privilege to be in this squad and playing and 109 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 2: going to Malaysia and kind of being that person that 110 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 2: I didn't have when I was growing up. 111 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: So that's so cool. That's so cool. Which that's been 112 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,680 Speaker 1: a big thing for you, hasn't it since taking over 113 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: as the CEO, Like you do want to see those 114 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:40,240 Speaker 1: pathways for young territori ands, and not just in the 115 00:05:40,240 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 1: women's leg but also the men as well. Yeah. 116 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 3: Look, I have a small part of the heritage of 117 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 3: Norn Territory hockey, which is a big part of my life, 118 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 3: something I'm really proud of and is really important to me, 119 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 3: and I want to make sure that these kids get 120 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 3: the same opportunity to live their story and take their time. 121 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 3: When was just talking then it was giving me goosebumps. Yeah, 122 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,440 Speaker 3: it's starting to become real. It's going to be very 123 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:06,239 Speaker 3: cool for these kids. 124 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: It is going to be so cool. Now, tell me 125 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,359 Speaker 1: a little bit about the men's squad as well. Is 126 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: it quite a young squad too? 127 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 3: It is a young squad. Katie. The women's squad is 128 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 3: probably three or four years behind in an age demographic 129 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 3: sort of coming. They've come through our eighteen's program that 130 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 3: just started playing sort of twenty ones the core future group. 131 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 3: The boys have done that ahead of time, so they're 132 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 3: sort of just moving through twenty ones. So it's a 133 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 3: little bit of an older group. And we've also got 134 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,280 Speaker 3: the likes of Joel Carroll, Leon Hayward, Ex Kokobarras Lee 135 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 3: on play for the Black Six and the Last Olympics 136 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 3: type thing. So we've got our own Territory alumni who 137 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 3: are at the end of their time, but they recognize 138 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 3: how significant this is to pass on the bat and 139 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 3: make sure they support the opportunity for our kids in 140 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 3: our future as well. 141 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,360 Speaker 1: So well, as you touched on, it's history making and 142 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,839 Speaker 1: it's also I guess it's quite an important step now 143 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: as well for hockey in the Northern Territory in the 144 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: sense that you know you want to do well. Obviously 145 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: it's the first do it taking part, so there'll be 146 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: some unknowns, but you want to do really well and 147 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,119 Speaker 1: you want to like, look, I'm the kind of person 148 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: who I wants I like to prove people wrong. Particularly 149 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: in terms of not being in the other comp I go, well, 150 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: gn know what, watch this, so I'm hoping you guys 151 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: are going to do that as well. I'm sure you will. 152 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: But it's all about gaining that experience too. 153 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, Look, it's about aspiration and opportunity. But part 154 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 3: of our proud heritage and history is that we've successfully 155 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 3: and amazingly punched way above our weight for decades, whether 156 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 3: it's on the Olympic platform, the players we produced, or 157 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 3: surviving in the AHL. So you know, I've been watching 158 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 3: these guys that are working extremely hard and we're going 159 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 3: over there to try and win it. Awesome experience, opportunity, development, 160 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 3: those things are all part of the bigger package. But 161 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 3: if you're not trying to win, then you shouldn't. 162 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: Be in the league, mate. I totally you speaking my language. 163 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: I love this. I just think it's awesome. I think 164 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: it's so wonderful what's happening. And I think it's so 165 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,840 Speaker 1: great right to see to see the Stingers going across 166 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: and and you know, and competing at this level and 167 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: what it's going to do. I think for hockey in 168 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory too, and for the young ones you know, 169 00:08:11,280 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: watching you guys go away, seeing those pathways. It's phenomenal stuff. 170 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,679 Speaker 1: Now when do you leave Saturday? 171 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: When is it Monday? 172 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: Monday? I fly Saturday, you fly out Saturday, you fly 173 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: out Monday day. Oh I feel like I need to 174 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 1: come across as your cheerleader just to jump around on 175 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: the flexibility. 176 00:08:29,560 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 3: Now we're sending sixty four of our best and brightest 177 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 3: over for three weeks. That's so good, amazingly massive logistical exos. 178 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:40,720 Speaker 1: That's going to be huge. Hey, you like, how is 179 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:42,719 Speaker 1: that all being managed? Is that down to you? But 180 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: I was doing that. 181 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,719 Speaker 3: You've got a good team, amazing team that have put 182 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 3: their heart and so onto this. They're done a great job. 183 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:50,520 Speaker 1: So where exactly are you going to be based while 184 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: you're over there? 185 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,480 Speaker 3: So our home ground is book at Jalil, which is 186 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 3: the state. It's a massive stadium, houses twelve thousand people. 187 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 3: It was built for the Common Games, last com Games 188 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 3: in Malay I can't remember the year. It's an amazing satium. 189 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 3: So that's our home ground, and so we're essentially Kuala 190 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 3: Lumpei is our de facto home. We do play some 191 00:09:10,760 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 3: games outside of the city a few times, but essentially 192 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 3: that's our. 193 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: Base, and so is there a way that people here 194 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory can watch while you're over there. 195 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, So we're going to send out the live stream details. 196 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:23,559 Speaker 3: So a lot of our game is going to be 197 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 3: live stream. They're shown on Malaysian TV and then live streamed, 198 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 3: which we'll push through Facebook and so forth. And we're 199 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 3: going to advertise that in the next couple of days. 200 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, we'll make sure we share that for our 201 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: listeners as well. Look, I'll be cheering for you guys. 202 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 1: I hope you go so well. I really appreciate you 203 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 1: coming into the studio with me this morning and having 204 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: a chat about it all the very best. Hope you 205 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 1: smash it. Thanks Katie, thank you.