Spencer Gulf, Broken Hill region to show kids hockey ad

The new promotional video encouraging kids to get into hockey will reach thousands of new eyeballs thanks to the Whyalla Hockey Association (WHA).

Television audiences in South Australia’s Spencer Gulf region and the western New South Wales city of Broken Hill will see the hockey ad on their screens in a significant coup for the exposure of hockey and everything that is great about the sport.

WHA President and Hockey SA Life Member Tony Appleyard has been the driver behind getting the video on air.

“We share the same television channels as the rest of the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill so the reach of this ad will go well beyond just Whyalla,” said Appleyard.

“Producing an ad like this is normally too expensive, so having something quality made available to us is fantastic and helps reduce the cost of getting it on TV.”

Appleyard said the content in the video would strike a chord with families because it consists of kids explaining why they love being involved in hockey.

“The great thing about the ad is it features kids talking with their message aimed at other kids or parents,” said Appleyard.

“The overall message is about trying hockey and as a parent myself, the ad really hits that message.”

Adding further impetus to the ad being shown to these audiences is it coinciding with the Hockey South Australia roadshow heading to the region.

The roadshow encourages kids to ‘come and try hockey’ and culminates in a five week introductory program.

The WHA has 450 hockey players ranging from Minkey hockey (primary school age) up to the older masters players. It is this vast range of ages, the equal mix of male and female participants and the deep sense of community that makes hockey such a special game according to Appleyard.

“It is the community involvement,” answered Appleyard when asked what the best thing is about hockey.

“We’re from an area where if you come out and play, all of a sudden you have people that you know, people who care about each other.”

“One thing hockey has over other sports is that it is so gender equal. The split between men and women who play is fifty-fifty.

“If there are couples that both play their kids come and play…I would say at least half of the people that play hockey here are family connections, whether it’s mum and daughter, dad and son, dad and daughter. That is one of our biggest assets as a sport.”

Appleyard has spent over a year pushing for a second artificial pitch to be built in Whyalla.

While it is yet to receive the ‘go ahead’ from the local council, the establishment of a new community sport working group has Appleyard believing “the dream is still alive.”

“There is plenty of potential and opportunity and I’m hoping I’m still around when we get it,” said Appleyard.

“There is progress being made towards a new sporting hub being built which encompasses the hockey facilities so we are certainly closer than we were 12 months ago.”

The ad is expected to hit TV screens in the Spencer Gulf and Broken Hill region from 15 February.

To find your local hockey program and get into hockey, enter your suburb or post code into the Club Finder.