Tasmania and Queensland clinch memorable U18 hockey titles

Four thrilling finals were played out on the final day of the 2023 Hockey Australia U18 Championships in Hobart as Tasmania won the Men’s competition and Queensland Maroon secured the Women’s gold medal.

Over 2,600 supporters packed into the Tasmanian Hockey Centre for the Men’s Gold Medal Match between the hosts and Queensland Maroon, who both went into the finale undefeated.

Tasmania capped off their fairy-tale run with a 5-2 win, captain Max Johnstone the star as he scored a hat-trick. With the victory, the Tassie Men etched their names into history as they became Tasmania’s first men's team to go undefeated at a national championship and claimed their state’s first ever national U18 Men’s title.

It was also a memorable tournament for Queensland Maroon’s Women’s Team who dd not lose a game. However, they were forced to dig deep to clinch the title as they came up against Pool B counterparts Victoria in the Final.

In an enthralling tussle, neither side could find a breakthrough until Jamie-Lee Surha’s diving effort in the final minute produced the winner and sank Victorian hearts.

South Australia capped off a successful tournament in the Men’s competition to claim the bronze medal after coming from 3-1 down in the 36th minute to win 4-3 against Western Australia Gold.

The Women’s bronze medal match was as nail biting as the gold medal encounter as New South Wales State and Western Australia Gold finished 1-1 at the end of regulation time, sending the match to a shootout. Western Australia Gold prevailed 3-2 in the shootout, goalkeeper Summer Greenway keeping out three NSW attempts to secure bronze.

Fittingly, Tasmania’s Oliver Stebbings was named Men’s Player of the Tournament, with Queensland Maroon’s Camryn Mathison awarded Women’s Player of the Tournament.

Queensland Maroons’ Matthew Hawthorne took out the Men’s top scorer award with 10 goals, eight of which came from penalty corners.

On the Womens’ side, Hunter Baldwin from New South Wales State finished with eight goals to lead all scorers.  

The 2023 Hockey Australia U18 National Championships was proudly supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.

2023 Hockey Australia U18 Championships - Final Standings
1-9 July 2023
Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart TAS

Under 18 Men
Men's match results and final standings
Gold Medal - Tasmania
Silver Medal - Queensland Maroon
Bronze Medal - South Australia

Player of the Tournament - Oliver Stebbings (Tasmania)
Top Goal Scorer - Matthew Hawthorne (Queensland Maroon)
Play the Whistle Award - Tasmania
Umpires of the Gold Medal Match - Hayden Newell, Oliver Chauhan
Technical Official of the Gold Medal Match - Jared Correia
Umpires of the Bronze Medal Match - Toby Power, Peter Roberts
Technical Official of the Bronze Medal Match - Christopher Harris

Under 18 Women
Women's match results and final standings
Gold Medal - Queensland Maroon
Silver Medal - Victoria
Bronze Medal - Western Australia Gold

Player of the Tournament - Camryn Mathison (Queensland Maroon)
Top Goal Scorer - Hunter Baldwin (New South Wales State)
Play the Whistle Award - Tasmania, Queensland Maroon
Umpires of the Gold Medal Match - Sarah Steinhardt, Cortney Claridge
Technical Official of the Gold Medal Match - Greer Wells
Umpires of the Bronze Medal Match - Sarah Willis, Abby Heffernan
Technical Official of the Bronze Medal Match - Hannah Stroeher