The Tassie Van Demons are a nationally competing women's hockey team based in Tasmania, Australia. Coached by Ilene Carr, they compete in the Australian Hockey League. Hockey Tasmania is the only sporting association in Tasmania which supports both a men's and women's team in National league competitions and one of only three sports in the State that has a representative team in a truly national competition. Some of the former coaches of the Van Demons include David Guest, Ollie Close, Zain Wright and Ilene Carr. 3 Tasmanians have been announced in Hockey Australia's National Futures squad of future Hockeyroos, including Maddie Hinton, Ruby-Rose Haywood and Eliza Westland. Fellow Tasmanian under-18 girl's star Maddy Murphy is a member of the National Senior Development Squad. Amelia Spence has also played with the Hockeyroos, playing against China in Sydney. In April 2014, National Talent Pathway manager Michael Crooks said “Hockey Tasmania has once again hosted a fantastic tournament where athletes, coaches and parents all have the chance to enjoy junior national level hockey at a state-of-the-art facility with first-class tournament support.” during the Australian National Championships at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre.
2018 Australian Hockey League Campaign
The Van Demons participated in the final Australian Hockey League after it was announced by Hockey Australia that the national competition would be dissolved after the 2018 competition in favour of a "revamped" league in 2019. They were drawn in Pool A alongside the Canberra Strikers, NSW Arrows, and the Queensland Scorchers. The Van Demons squad for the 2018 AHL was announced on 25 July 2018 with Ilene Carr again appointed as Head Coach. Brett Withington joined the staff as Assistant Coach with Greer Wells announced as the Team Manager. Maddison Curtis and Jemma Kenworthy withdrew from the initial squad and were replaced with Molly Haas and Laura Spandler. The squad was notable for being 100 per cent Tasmanian, with no international or out-of-state imports selected for the first time in years.
No.
Position
Name
Age*
Club
2018 Games
2018 Goals
1
Midfielder
Sofie McLeod
33
OHA
6
0
4
Defender
Nicole Geeves
34
DiamondBacks
3
0
5
Forward
Molly Haas
19
Derwent
0
0
7
Defender
Madeleine Hinton
21
University
6
0
9
Defender
Jessica Tremayne
32
Derwent
6
0
10
Midfielder
Blair Patten
27
Curtin Trinity
6
0
11
Forward
Laura Spandler
18
OHA
6
0
12
Forward
Ashleigh Arthur
23
North West Graduates
6
1
13
Midfielder
Samantha Lawrence
28
West Devonport
6
0
14
Defender
Louisa Jacobson
28
North West Graduates
6
0
15
Defender
Jean Flanagan
27
OHA
5
0
16
Forward
Nellie Paynter
20
OHA
4
0
18
Midfielder
Sarah McCambridge
30
OHA
6
0
19
Midfielder
Eliza Westland
21
Derwent
6
0
24
Forward
Phillida Bridley
17
DiamondBacks
6
0
25
Forward
Julia Gunn
16
OHA
5
2
26
Goalkeeper
Evelyn Dalton
16
OHA
0
0
31
Goalkeeper
Ruby-Rose Haywood
21
DiamondBacks
6
0
*when announced.
Round 1 (Tasmanian Hockey Centre, Hobart)
The Van Demons played their first pool match against Canberra on Saturday, 6 October 2018 at their home ground the Tasmanian Hockey Centre in Hobart, Tasmania. The Strikers won 3–0 with HockeyrooNaomi Evans scoring a field goal in the 12th minute, and Meredith Bone scoring a field goal and a field goal conversion in the 55th minute.
Their second pool match was against New South Wales on Sunday, 14 October 2018, again at their home ground the Tasmanian Hockey Centre. The Arrows fielded a strong team featuring five Australian national team representatives, compared to Tasmania's zero, and won comfortably 8–1. Jessica Watterson scored a field goal and a field goal conversion in the 13th minute, Kate Jenner scored from a penalty corner in the 26th minute, and Grace Stewart scored a field goal and a field goal conversion in the 30th minute to give the Arrows a 5–0 lead at half-time. Sarah Johnston scored from a penalty corner in the 54th minute and Grace Stewart again scored a field goal and conversion in the 55th minute, before Samantha Lawrence scored a consolation goal for the Van Demons in the 60th minute.
Tasmania's final pool match was away against Queensland on Saturday, 20 October 2018 at the State Hockey Centre in Brisbane, Queensland. The Scorchers fielded a star-studded team featuring eight Australian national team representatives, easily accounting for the Van Demons with a 15–0 win. Stephanie Kershaw scored a field goal and conversion in the 3rd minute, Rosie Malone did the same in the 10th minute, and Rebecca Greiner also scored a field goal and conversion in the 23rd minute. Queensland had their PumpPlay, where all goals are worth 2, in the final five minutes of the first half, and during that period Malone scored a PumpPlay field goal and conversion, and Jodie Kenny scored a PumpPlay penalty stroke and conversion, to balloon the half-time score out to 12–0 in favour of the Scorchers. In the second half Queensland added only three more goals to their total, with Jordyn Holzberger scoring from a penalty corner in the 39th minute before Malone took her match tally to 7 with a field goal and conversion in the 46th minute.
Finals Week (Gold Coast Hockey Centre, Gold Coast)
The Van Demons finished last in Pool A and went into the finals week at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre with a difficult path towards a title challenge, needing to beat the Victorian Vipers in the quarter-final.
Quarter-final: Van Demons vs Vipers, Thursday 25 October 2018
Victoria scored in the 5th minute with Hayley Padget scoring a field goal and conversion. In the second quarter they were awarded two penalty strokes in quick succession, in the 18th and 20th minutes, and these were converted by Madi Ratcliffe and Lily Brazel respectively. Brazel scored a field goal and conversion in the 41st minute to deliver Victoria a 6–0 win over Tasmania.
Classification Match: Van Demons vs Diamonds, Saturday 27 October 2018
Having each lost their Quarter Finals the Van Demons faced the WA Diamonds in a classification match to determine their opponents for the final day of the AHL. Kathryn Slattery scored from a penalty corner in the 4th minute, as did Roos Broek in the 11th minute and Penny Squibb in the 20th minute to give WA an early 3–0 lead. Danielle Bestall scored a field goal and conversion in the 27th minute to make the score 5–0 at half-time. Slattery scored a field goal and field goal conversion in the 46th minute and Broek scored a PumpPlay field goal and conversion in the 59th minute to give the Diamonds a 10–0 win.
7v8 Playoff: Van Demons vs Pearls, Sunday 28 October 2018
Tasmania and the Northern Territory, having lost all of their matches in the AHL, played off in the final classification match to decide their final competition standing. The Van Demons took the lead early, with young Australian Futures Squad player Julia Gunn scoring a field goal and field goal conversion in the 6th minute. Jacqueline Graf equalised for the Pearls in the 18th minute with her own field goal and conversion to send the teams into half-time locked at 2–2. Erin Lidbetter put the NT ahead in the 33rd minute, with a field goal and conversion, and Georgia Graf scored a field goal in the 41st minute to have the Pearls 5–2 ahead at three-quarter time. Ashleigh Arthur scored from a penalty corner in the 55th minute to give the Van Demons a late chance, but there were no goals scored in the final PumpPlay to deliver the NT Pearls a 5–3 win, consigning the Van Demons to an eighth-placed finish in the AHL.
2017 Australian Hockey League Campaign
The 2017 Australian Hockey League was held from 28 September to 8 October 2017 at the Perth Hockey Stadium. In addition to the eight traditional teams from the Australian States and Territories two national development sides from India and New Zealand competed in the tournament. Tasmania were drawn in Pool B with India, NSW Arrows, SA Suns, and VIC Vipers. The Van Demons squad for the 2017 AHL was announced on 1 September 2017, with Ilene Carr reappointed as Head Coach, Phil Marshall appointed as Assistant Coach, and Kathryn Arneman appointed as Team Manager. The squad was heavily supplemented with non-Tasmanian imports.
No.
Position
Name
Age*
Club
2017 Games
2017 Goals
4
Defender
Nicole Geeves
33
DiamondBacks
7
0
5
Forward
Molly Haas
18
Derwent
7
0
6
Defender
Jemma Kenworthy
20
City Marians
7
0
7
Defender
Madeleine Hinton
20
University
7
0
8
Forward
Fiona Cock
26
Hale
7
0
10
Midfielder
Blair Patten
26
Curtin Trinity
7
0
12
Forward
Ashleigh Arthur
22
North West Graduates
7
0
13
Forward
Catherine Webster
23
University
7
0
14
Defender
Louisa Jacobson
27
North West Graduates
7
0
16
Forward
Tanya Britz
23
Southern River HC
7
0
17
Midfielder
Tayla Britton
24
Hale
7
0
18
Midfielder
Sarah McCambridge
29
OHA
7
1
19
Midfielder
Eliza Westland
20
Derwent
7
0
20
Midfielder
Layla Eleison
19
Hancock Brothers
7
0
24
Forward
Teisha King
23
Mentone
7
1
25
Defender
Michelle Harvey
28
Pegasus
7
0
31
Goalkeeper
Ruby-Rose Haywood
20
DiamondBacks
7
0
32
Goalkeeper
Merinda Sainty
25
University
1
0
*when announced.
Pool Matches
Tasmania lost their first match against New South Wales 2–0, their second match against South Australia 5–0, their third match against Victoria 4–0, and their final pool match against the Indian development side 1–0 to finish bottom of their pool.
Classification Matches
Missing out on the finals the Van Demons went into the second phase of the competition for final classification. They lost their first classification match against Canberra 1–0, lost their second match against Western Australia 3–1 despite Sarah McCambridge scoring a field goal in the 33rd minute, and then lost their final match against the Northern Territory 2–1 despite Teisha King scoring from a penalty corner in the 17th minute, to finish last overall.
2016 Australian Hockey League Campaign
The 2016 Australian Hockey League was held from 29 September 2016 to 9 October 2016 at the Perth Hockey Stadium in Perth, Western Australia. In addition to the eight traditional State and Territory teams two additional teams participated in the tournament: a New Zealand development side and a Malaysian development side. The Van Demons were drawn in Pool A alongside the Canberra Strikers, Queensland Scorchers, Western Australia Diamonds, and the New Zealand development side. The Van Demons 2016 AHL squad was announced on 12 September 2016, with Ilene Carr again appointed as Head Coach, Paul Ancher continuing as Assistant Coach, and Melitta Smith again serving as Team Manager.
No.
Position
Name
Age*
Club
2016 Games
2016 Goals
2
Midfielder
Amelia Spence
23
YMCC
7
1
3
Forward
Eleanor Brennan
22
North West Graduates
7
1
4
Defender
Nicole Geeves
32
DiamondBacks
7
1
6
Defender
Jemma Kenworthy
19
City Marians
7
0
7
Forward
Madeleine Hinton
19
University
7
0
8
Goalkeeper
Holly Bonde
31
Derwent
4
0
9
Defender
Jessica Tremayne
30
Derwent
7
0
10
Midfielder
Blair Patten
25
Curtin Trinity
7
0
11
Forward
Brigit Ikin
25
North West Graduates
7
0
12
Forward
Ashleigh Arthur
21
North West Graduates
7
0
15
Midfielder
Stephanie Blackwell
25
Mudgeeraba
7
1
16
Midfielder
Ainsley McCallister
24
Whitfords
7
1
17
Midfielder
Tayla Britton
23
Hale
7
0
18
Midfielder
Sarah McCambridge
28
OHA
7
0
19
Defender
Eliza Westland
19
Derwent
7
0
21
Midfielder
Madeleine Murphy
19
OHA
7
1
26
Forward
Hannah Calvert
26
Canterbury
7
0
31
Goalkeeper
Ruby-Rose Haywood
19
DiamondBacks
3
0
*when announced.
Pool Matches
Van Demons vs Scorchers, Thursday 29 September 2016
Tasmania lost their opening match 2–0 in a tight contest against Queensland. Renee Taylor scored a field goal in the 19th minute for the Scorchers, then Jodie Kenny scored from a penalty corner in the 21st minute.
Van Demons vs Strikers, Saturday 1 October 2016
Canberra defeated Tasmania in the second pool match 4–0. Naomi Evans scored a field goal in the 2nd minute, Meredith Bone scored a field goal in the 18th minute, and Anna Flanagan scored from a penalty corner in the 27th minute to give the Strikers a 3–0 lead at half-time. Laura Gray scored a field goal in the 44th minute to complete the scoring.
Van Demons vs Vipers, Monday 3 October 2016
Tasmania played Pool B opponent Victoria in a cross-over match, losing 2–0 in a tough match. Madi Ratcliffe scored for the Vipers in the 9th minute to give them an early lead, but they had to wait until 44th minute to score their second, when Lily Brazel converted a penalty corner.
Van Demons vs Diamonds, Tuesday 4 October 2016
Tasmania lost their fourth pool match against Western Australia in heart-breaking fashion, conceding a goal in the final minute of play. Caitlin Pascov scored a field goal for the Diamonds in the 9th minute, before Ainsley McCallister equalised in the 15th minute by scoring from a penalty corner. Annie Gibbs put WA back in front, scoring a penalty corner in the 24th minute, to make the score 2–1 at half-time. Van Demons Captain and former Australian National squad member Amelia Spence scored from a penalty corner in the 34th minute, just after half-time, but Melissa Luff scored from a penalty corner at the end of the game to deliver WA a narrow victory.
Van Demons vs New Zealand Futures, Wednesday 5 October 2016
In their final pool match Tasmania drew 1–1 against the New Zealand development squad. Deanna Ritchie scored a field goal in the 15th minute for NZ, while Nicole Geeves scored from a penalty corner in the 29th minute for the Van Demons.
Failing to qualify for the finals Tasmania faced Northern Territory in their first classification match. They started strongly, with young star Madeleine Murphy scoring from a penalty corner in the 21st minute to give the Van Demons a 1–0 lead at half-time. However, Natasha Fitzsimmons scored twice in the second half for the Pearls, the first was from a penalty corner in the 37th minute, and the second was again from a penalty corner, this time in the final minute of the game, to give NT a 2–1 victory.
Van Demons vs Suns, Saturday 8 October 2016
Tasmania played South Australia in their final classification match. Eleanor Brennan scored a field goal in the 27th minute, and Stephanie Blackwell scored a field goal in the 54th minute to give the Van Demons a 2–0 win that delivered them an eighth-placed finish out of ten teams.
2015 Australian Hockey League Campaign
The 2015 Australian Hockey League was held from 25 September 2015 to 2 October 2015 in Sydney, New South Wales. The Van Demons were drawn in Pool A with the NSW Arrows, Canberra Strikers, and WA Diamonds. Ilene Carr was appointed as the Van Demons new Head Coach, with Paul Ancher joining her as Assistant Coach and Melitta Smith joining as Team Manager.
No.
Position
Name
Age*
Club
2015 Games
2015 Goals
2
Midfielder
Amelia Spence ^
22
YMCC
6
1
3
Forward
Eleanor Brennan
21
North West Graduates
6
1
4
Defender
Nicole Geeves
31
DiamondBacks
6
0
5
Forward
Madeleine Newlyn
20
Loughborough
6
1
7
Forward
Madeleine Hinton
18
University
6
1
8
Goalkeeper
Holly Bonde
30
Derwent
3
0
9
Defender
Jessica Tremayne
29
Derwent
6
0
10
Midfielder
Blair Patten
24
Curtin Trinity
6
0
11
Defender
Andrea Gillard
18
Lithgow
6
0
12
Forward
Ashleigh Arthur
20
North West Graduates
6
0
13
Midfielder
Nicola Hammond
19
Greensborough
6
0
17
Forward
Lily Kirkland
19
DiamondBacks
6
0
18
Midfielder
Sarah McCambridge
27
OHA
6
1
19
Defender
Eliza Westland
18
Derwent
6
0
21
Midfielder
Madeleine Murphy
18
OHA
6
0
22
Forward
Hannah Calvert ^
25
Canterbury
6
0
23
Midfielder
Emily Donovan
26
DiamondBacks
6
0
31
Goalkeeper
Ruby-Rose Haywood
18
DiamondBacks
3
0
*as of start of tournament. ^Co-Captains.
Pool Matches
Van Demons vs Diamonds, Friday 25 September 2015
Tasmania lost their opening pool match against Western Australia 2–0. Kim Lammers scored a field goal in the 45th minute and Kathryn Slattery scored from a penalty corner in the 52nd minute for the Diamonds.
Van Demons vs Arrows, Saturday 26 September 2015
New South Wales delivered Tasmania a heavy 7–0 defeat in their second pool match. Greta Hayes scored from a penalty corner in the 4th minute and Emily Smith scored a field goal in the 6th minute to give NSW a 2–0 lead at half-time. Mariah Williams scored from a penalty corner in the 36th minute to give NSW a 3–0 lead at three-quarter time, before the Arrows took the game away with four goals in the final seven minutes. Cara Simpson scored a field goal in the 53rd minute, Emily Smith scored another field goal in the 54th minute, Grace Stewart scored a field goal in the 56th minute, and Lily Brazel completed the scoring with a field goal in the 60th minute.
Van Demons vs Strikers, Monday 28 September 2015
Tasmania faced Canberra in their final pool match, losing 4–1. Anna Flanagan scored a hat-trick of penalty corner goals, in the 1st minute, the 34th minute, and the 37th minute. Sarah McCambridge dragged one back for the Van Demons with a field goal in the 44th minute, but Edwina Bone scored from a penalty corner in the 57th minute to give the Strikers the victory.
Classification Matches
Van Demons vs Pearls, Tuesday 29 September 2015
Tasmania played their first classification match against the Northern Territory. The Van Demons won 1–0, with Eleanor Brennan scoring a field goal in the 12th minute.
Van Demons vs Suns, Thursday 1 October 2015
South Australia defeated Tasmania 2–1 in the second classification match. Charlotte Van Bodegom scored from a penalty corner in the 9th minute for the Suns, and Karri McMahon doubled their lead from a penalty corner in the 20th minute, with Madeleine Hinton scoring for Tasmania with a field goal in the 48th minute.
Van Demons vs Pearls, Friday 2 October 2015
The final classification match, to determine seventh and eighth place, saw Tasmania play the Northern Territory again. Madeleine Newlyn scored a field goal in the 29th minute to give the Van Demons a 1–0 lead at half-time. Amy Swann equalised with a field goal in the 35th minute, and Mikaela Patterson scored from a penalty corner in the 45th minute to give the Pearls the lead, before Amelia Spence dramatically equalised for Tasmania from a penalty corner in the final minute, forcing the match to be decided by a penalty one-on-one shootout. Hannah Calvert for Tasmania and Rachel Divall for Northern Territory were the only players to score from the initial five rounds of the shootout, forcing a golden goal shootout. Calvert missed this time for the Van Demons, and Brooke Peris scored her attempt to end the match and give the Pearls a 2–2 win, meaning the Van Demons finished the tournament in eighth place.
2014 Australian Hockey League Campaign
The 2014 Australian Hockey League was held from 4 October 2014 to 11 October 2014 in Brisbane, Queensland. The Van Demons were drawn in Pool B along with the NSW Arrows, SA Southern Suns, and the WA Diamonds. Former Australian Men's National team player Zain Wright was announced as the Head Coach, with Stewart Pither taking on the role of Assistant Coach and Marina Oakley taking the role of Team Manager.
No.
Position
Name
Age*
Club
2014 Games
2014 Goals
1
Goalkeeper
Amelia Gibson
23
6
0
2
Midfielder
Amelia Spence
21
YMCC
6
0
5
Madeline James
20
6
0
6
Defender
Michelle Cooling
27
North West Graduates
4
0
7
Renee Taylor
18
6
1
8
Defender
Abby Penfold
29
OHA
6
0
9
Defender
Jessica Tremayne ^
28
Derwent
6
0
10
Midfielder
Blair Patten
23
Curtin Trinity
6
1
11
Forward
Brigit Ikin ^
23
North West Graduates
6
0
12
Cara Evans
26
6
0
13
Claire Williams
17
6
0
14
Defender
Louisa Jacobson
24
North West Graduates
6
0
17
Goalkeeper
Emily Harvey
19
North West Graduates
3
0
18
Midfielder
Sarah McCambridge
26
OHA
6
1
21
Midfielder
Madeleine Murphy
17
OHA
6
0
22
Forward
Hannah Calvert ^
24
Canterbury
6
0
24
Hannah Reid
26
6
1
25
Forward
Grace Calvert
19
Canterbury
6
0
*at the start of the tournament. ^Co-Captains.
Pool Matches
Tasmania started their campaign well with a 1–1 draw against South Australia, with Sarah McCambridge scoring their goal. However, they lost their second match against NSW 6–0, and their final pool match against Western Australia 7–0, to finish bottom of their group.
Classification Matches
The Van Demons progressed into the 5–8 classification group. Their first match was against the Northern Territory, winning 2–0 thanks to penalty corner goals to Renee Taylor and Hannah Reid. They then lost their second classification match against Canberra 6–1, with Blair Patten scoring their only goal from a penalty corner, sending them into the 7v8 playoff.
7v8 Playoff
Tasmania met the Northern Territory again, this time playing off for the seventh and eighth place final classifications. The NT Pearls won 1–0, consigning the Van Demons to and eighth placed finish in the tournament.
Previous Squads
2013 Van Demons AHL squad
Oliver Close was appointed as Head Coach, Zain Wright, Larry Mills, and Stewart Pither were announced as Assistant Coaches. Jenny Geeves served as Team Manager.
Name
Tayla Britton
Emily Divin
Emily Donovan
Jean Flanagan
Nicole Geeves
Amelia Gibson
Brigit Ikin
Louisa Jacobson
Jackie Jones
Emily Lawson
Alyssa Marmion
Sarah McCambridge
Sofie McLeod
Isabelle O'Conor
Julia Reid
Ashley Robertson
Jessica Tremayne
Anne Woolford
2012 Van Demons AHL squad
Craig Williams was appointed as the Van Demons Head Coach for 2011, with Dougal Middleton and Jeff Aldridge joining as Assistant Coaches, and Jenny Geeves serving as Team Manager.
Name
Emma Hutchinson
Fiona Cock
Louise Mitterdorfer
Sarah Grey
Nicole Geeves
Tara Moore
Alysha Borg
Louisa Jacobson
Danica Mazzini
Kirstie Denning
Hannah Calvert
Emily Harvey
Kate Savory
Blair Patten
Amelia Spence
Nicky O’Donnell
Kim Hill
Michelle Cooling
2011 Van Demons AHL squad
was announced as the Van Demons Head Coach for the 2011 tournament, with Larry Mills as the Assistant Coach and Marina Oakley as the Team Manager.
