2025 Brophy McKay Awards Night

The 2025 Brophy McKay Awards night was held on Wednesday 17th September at the Canberra Labor Club. 

Hockey ACT’s annual Brophy McKay Presentation Evening celebrates all those involved in each hockey winter season by recognising and acknowledging the outstanding support and achievements of players, umpires, and volunteers.

The evening brings together the hockey community and honours those who have made massive contributions to hockey in the ACT both in the past and present.

The two most prestigious awards of the event include the Brophy and McKay Medals, which are awarded each year to the men and women who have been voted as best and fairest for the season by the rest of the hockey community.

Here are the nights award winners:

Bill Weidner Cup

The Bill Weidner Cup is for the administrator of the year and is awarded to the volunteer who contributes a significant amount to the administration of Hockey in the ACT.

Winner: Daniel Borrett - Old Canberrans

Coca Cola Bottler Award

Coca Cola Bottler Awardis awarded to a female under the age of 21 who has significantly contributed to hockey in the ACT on and off the field.

Winner: Alyssa Fisher - North Canberra Eagles

U18 Women – Significant Contribution to Hockey Award

Introduced in 2025, the U18 Women – Significant Contribution to Hockey Awardis awarded to a female under the age of 18 who has significantly contributed to hockey in the ACT on and off the field.

Winner: Alicia Firth - St Patricks

David Webb Memorial Shield

David Webb Memorial Shieldis awarded to a male under the age of 18 who has significantly contributed to hockey in the ACT on and off the field.

Winner: Cooper Evans - St Patricks

Chris Rawlinson Memorial Shield

Chris Rawlinson Memorial Shield is awarded to a male under the age of 21 who has significantly contributed to hockey in the ACT on and off the field.

Winner: Ben Slater - Central

Reconciliation Award

Introduced in 2022, the Reconciliation Awardis awarded to an individual within the Hockey ACT community who has put concerted effort into promoting Reconciliation and the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the community.

Winner: Ashleigh Rock - Central

Sue Watt Trophy

The Sue Watt Trophy is awarded to the female junior umpire who contributed the most to umpiring throughout the 2025 season.

Winner: Alicia Firth - St Patricks

Female Umpire of the Year

Umpire of the Year was donated in 1992 by Sam Topalidis and is awarded to the Umpire in the women’s competition who in the opinion of the Umpiring and Technical Committee and the Capital League clubs believe has been most consistent, approachable and has displayed the required skills and attitude expected of a CL1 umpire.

Winner: Kristy Robertson - Goulburn

Keith Harding Memorial Trophy

Keith Harding Memorial Trophy is awarded to the male junior umpire who contributed the most to umpiring throughout the 2024 season.

Winner: Cooper Evans - St Patricks

Jim Gallagher Trophy

Jim Gallagher Trophyis awarded to the umpire in the men’s competition who in the opinion of the Umpiring and Technical Committee and the Capital League clubs believe has been most consistent, approachable and has displayed the required skills and attitude expected of a CL1 umpire.

Winner: Michael McAlister - Goulburn

Lyn Rippon Award

Lyn Rippon Award is awarded to the most outstanding player at the Australian Under 18 Women’s Championships

Winner: Sofia Havas - North Canberra Eagles

Hockey Shop Player Award

The Hockey Shop Player Awardis awarded to the most outstanding player at the Australia Under 21 Women’s Championships.

Winner: Georgina West - North Canberra Eagles

Gallagher Shield

Gallagher Shield named after Les Gallagher is awarded to the most outstanding player at the Australian Under 18 Men’s Championship.

Winner: Lachlan Hopkins - United

Ted Holmes Memorial Trophy

Ted Holmes MemorialTrophy is awarded to the most outstanding player at the Australian Under 21 Men’s Championships.

Winner: Darcy Macdonald - Wests

The Edwina Bone and Andrew Charter Awards 

The Edwina Bone and Andrew Charter Awards are given each year to the female and male hockey player within the ACT Academy of Sport who have demonstrated the greatest commitment, dedication and contribution to the Academy program.

Winner: Edwina Bone - Georgina West - North Canberra Eagles

Winner: Andrew Charter Award - Dylan Brick - Central

Errol Bill Trophy

The Errol Bill Trophy is named after Olympic Hockey player Errol Bill, who was heavily involved in coaching in the ACT. This award is presented to the coach of the year in our Women’s Capital League 1 competition.

Winner: Glenn Turner - North Canberra Eagles

JR Fraser Trophy

JR Fraser Trophy is awarded to the most improved player in the Women’s Capital League 1 competition who is selected on a vote by nominations from Capital League 1 Coaches.

Winner: Zyanya Holloway - North Canberra Eagles

Peta Gallagher Award

Peta Gallagher Award is awarded to the leading goal scorer throughout the 2025 season in the Women’s Capital League 1 competition.
The women’s highest goal scorer award was donated by Peta MacKinnon (nee Gallagher). Peta is an Olympian and was a member of the Hockeyroos team from 2000 – 2004 and is well known for her goal scoring ability.

Winners: Laura Monterosso - North Canberra Eagles & Laura Reid - Tuggeranong Vikings

Peter McNally Memorial Award

The Peter McNally Memorial Male and Female Goal Keeper of the Year Awardwas donated by the McNally family in recognition of Peter McNally’s services to Hockey ACT. They are awarded to the goalkeepers who receive the most Brophy/McKay votes. This year’s female winner is

Winner: Female - Samantha White - Central

Male - Charlie Dunstan - Albury

J.E.S Mackinnon Trophy

J.E.S MacKinnon Trophy was commemorated by the United Club in recognition of John MacKinnon’s 500 first grade games for the United Club. This award is presented to the coach of the year in our Men’s Capital League 1 competition. Coaches in the Men’s Capital League 1 vote on this award.

Winner: Jamie Cummins - Central

Most Improved in CL1 Men

Most Improved in Capital League 1 Menis awarded to the most improved player in the Men’s Capital league one competition, selected on a vote by nominations from Capital League 1 Coaches.

Winner: Peter Crossman - Central

Deane McLennan Trophy

Deane McLennan Trophy is awarded to the leading goal scorer throughout the 2025 season in the Men’s Capital League 1 competition.
The Deane/McLennan trophy for the male competition was donated by Andrew Deane and Graeme McLennan who both represented the Canberra Lakers and were prolific goal scorers.

Winner: Aiden Dooley - Central

The McKay Medal

The McKay Medal is awarded to the player who is the competition’s BEST AND FAIREST. As mentioned at the start of the night points are awarded based on a 5, 3, 1 system for best and fairest on field at the end of each game.

Heather McKay donated this award in 1992. Heather McKay was born in Queanbeyan and began playing hockey at a young age with her sisters. She then took up squash to keep fit for hockey.  She was a member of the formidable women’s first grade team, the Evergreens who won 10 premierships from 1955-1967, in addition to representing NSW and the ACT. She was regarded as one of the greatest female player’s in the history of Squash, and possibly Australia's greatest-ever sportswoman. She was undefeated in competitive squash matches between 1962 and 1981 and won the British Women’s Squash Championship a record 16 times. In addition to her National representative career in Squash, she was selected as a member of the Australian Women's Hockey Team in 1967 and 1971.

McKay Third Place - Georgina West - North Canberra Eagles & Georgie Smithers - Gouburn (32 Votes)

McKay Runner Up - Mikaela Patterson - Tuggeranong Vikings (40 Votes)

McKay Winner - Mikayla Evans - St Patricks (42 Votes)

The Brophy Medal

The Brophy Medal is awarded to the player who is the competition’s BEST AND FAIREST with points awarded as per the McKay medal based on a 5, 3, 1 system for best and fairest on field at the end of each game.

This award was created in 1961 and named in honour of the Association’s long serving President Mr James Brophy. Jim Brophy first became involved in hockey in the early 1940’s and served as President of the ACT Hockey Association from 1944 to 1964. It is interesting to note that Jim Brophy never played hockey and was never affiliated with any hockey club, but wrote the game reports each Saturday for the Canberra Times right up until his death in 1969. 

Brophy Third Place - Oscar Smart - Old Canberrans (27 Votes)

Brophy Runner Up - Michael Dillon - Central (38 Votes)

Brophy Winner - Charlie Dorman - Wests (49 Votes)

CL1 Minor Premiership

Canberra Labor Club CL1 Women - North Canberra Eagles

Duncans Plumbing CL1 Men - Central

Waratah Shield

The men’s club championship trophy, the Waratah Shield, is awarded on the basis of the best average performance across all grades in the senior competitions including Capital League, State League and Canberra Cup. 

Winner: Central Hockey Club.

Central Cup Trophy

The women’s club championship, the Central Trophy, is awarded on the basis of the best average performance across all grades in the senior competitions including Capital League and State League. 

Winner: UC Stars Hockey Club.

Team/s of the Year:

We also welcomed in a new Life Member:

Robert "Bob" Pike

Read more on Bobs recognition here: https://www.hockeyact.org.au/life-members-/robert-bob-pike

Congratulations to all winners and thank you to our 2025 Sponsors and the Hockey ACT community.