ACT OPEN INDOOR MEN GO BACK-TO-BACK

The ACT Open Men have been crowned 2026 Indoor National Champions, defeating Western Australia in the Gold Medal match to secure back-to-back national titles.

Played at the EPC Solar Hockey Stadium, the championship decider capped a dominant tournament campaign for the ACT side, who finished the championship undefeated and delivered a composed and decisive performance on the final day.

This result continues an outstanding run of national success for the ACT Open Men, who have contested medal matches in almost every national championship since their 2007 title, reaffirming the program’s consistency and depth at the elite indoor level.

The squad featured a strong contingent of internationally experienced athletes, including players who recently represented Australia at the Nkosi Cup in South Africa and the FIH Indoor World Cup. That experience was evident throughout the tournament, with the team combining composure, tactical discipline, and attacking efficiency across the week.

Individual honours capped off an impressive campaign, with Connor Tuddenham named Player of the Tournament and Aiden Dooley awarded Leading Goal Scorer of the Tournament.

The ACT Open Women also showed strong character throughout their campaign. After a positive start, several injuries impacted the group, however the women demonstrated resilience and determination to battle through the tournament, ultimately finishing in fifth place after narrowly missing finals qualification.

The 2026 Indoor National Championships were supported by a large contingent of ACT officials. Emily Carroll and Kristy Robertson umpired the Women’s Gold Medal match, with Wayne Gartner serving as Technical Official. Stirling Sharpe officiated the Men’s Bronze Medal match, supported by Matt Firth and Alicia Firth on scoring and timing. Maryanne Ellem and Alicia Firth officiated scoring and timing duties for the Women’s Bronze Medal match, while Maryanne Ellem and Wayne Gartner also fulfilled scoring and timing roles for the Men’s Gold Medal match.

Hockey ACT congratulates all athletes, coaches, officials, and support staff on an exceptional championship campaign and a well-deserved national title.