The Ric Charlesworth Classic teams for 2021 will be given a fresh injection of talent at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University this coming Monday, 22 February, with the athlete draft to be conducted by coaches that will result in re-shuffled line-ups and increased entertainment and drama for spectators. 

Coaches have been afforded the opportunity to select players to retain in each of their Ric Charlesworth Classic squads, with six players from each team nominated to go into a draft pool of free agents. The end result facilitates evenly matched squads and high-quality, competitive hockey for the players and fans alike. 

“I’m very pleased about once again staging a draft for this year’s tournament – we see it as the perfect opportunity to provide our athletes and fans with closely contested matches that provide excellent viewing and value for money,” Hockey WA General manager of Talent Development and Asian Engagement Dean Evans says. 

“The draft and trade process this year has been crafted to ensure that teams can retain their stars as core players, whilst also allowing coaches to choose players that weren’t available last year. Fans will now be able to see Liam Flynn for example, a star Thundersticks striker, who along with his other National Development Squad team mates, were ineligible for last year’s tournament as they were preparing for Olympic selection camp ” 

The 2021 Ric Charlesworth Classic draft will be run in reverse finishing order based off the 2020 tournament results, allowing the lowest-ranked teams first choice at the available talent. The final squads for this year’s competition will be revealed on Tuesday, 22 February. 

The Ric Charlesworth Classic begins Friday, 5 March at Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University, with entry to weekday matches a gold-coin donation, in support of Telethon. Entry to weekend matches is $10 for adults, with 50% of net proceeds going back to their Hockey WA club of choice. Entry for kids under 18 is free. 

Ric Charlesworth Classic Hub