Albany set to host popular Great Southern Hockey Carnival as North Coast Raiders return to defend title

The Lower Great Southern Hockey Association is bracing for the annual Great Southern Hockey Carnival bringing about 20 teams from a variety of areas to Albany for a festival of hockey. The carnival, which rotates between hosting towns, has been running for more than 50 years and will bring teams from as far as York, Perth and Esperance to Albany for the first time since 2017. Among the travelling teams is a strong contingent of Great Southern outfits including two Central Great Southern Hockey Association sides, a combined LGSHA and CGSHA team, an LGSHA men’s team and an Ongerup Hockey Association women’s team. Eleven men’s sides will be split into two pools with the winners of each advancing through to the final as North Coast Raiders return to defend their 2023 title. The women’s competition features one pool of six and Central Great Southern will defend their women’s title at the two-day carnival. There will be four separate hockey fields — three grass and one turf — running games throughout Saturday and Sunday in the Centennial Park sporting precinct. LGSHA marketing and promotions coordinator Matt Heberle said the weekend would be a brilliant spectacle for all players and spectators. “It will be a fun festival-style carnival with a lot of fun times had by all and you might see something you’ve never seen before on the hockey pitch,” he said. “The bar and canteen facilities will be open all weekend and all are welcome. “There will be a DJ on at night time with music and drinks available so it will be a good event.”