The new tournament replaces the old National Hockey League, which was wound up in 2019 in favour of an association-based tournament.
It was to be launched in 2020 but, well, those plans were scuppered by Covid.
Last year’s event was also canned.
There is no stopping it this year, though.
Otago men have a team in the tier 1 and the tier 2 competition. The tier 1 team looks a talented side but it is stuck in a tough pool.
The Otago women are in tier 1 as well and may find the level of competition challenging.
Pool play gets under way tomorrow and the tournament winds up with the various finals on September 17.
You can probably count on a Canterbury team or three featuring. North Harbour and Auckland will field very competitive teams as well.
But the week will also be about some of the smaller associations showing what they are capable of.
Central Otago, Otago Country and Southland all have a horse or two in the race, and the New Zealand Defence Force has entered a men’s and women’s team in the tier 2 competition.
The format is relatively straight forward. The initial pool phase runs from Sunday to Tuesday.
Most teams will get a day off on Wednesday before the next stage of the competition gets under way.
The top two teams from each pool will play the top two teams from the other pool. The teams will carry through their points from the earlier round-robin and the top two teams will progress to the final.
The bottom two teams from each pool will play the top two teams from the other pool and compete for the minor placings.
The top team from the second tier has the option of replacing the bottom team in tier 1.
However, an association cannot have two teams in tier 1, so the promotion slot would go to the next highest ranked team.
The promotion-relegation aspect makes those contests towards the bottom of tier 1 a lot more lively.
The city will be lively as well. There are 35 teams entered —32 of those are from outside Dunedin.
There are 18 players in each squad plus three or four support staff. Add in 49 officials and five Hockey New Zealand staff and you have a lot of beds nights.
The bars, restaurants and cafes can expect a decent trade as well.
It is an economic boost for Dunedin hosting a tournament of this size.
With a rest day scheduled for Wednesday, the visitors will be able to sample the various attractions and activities the city has to offer.
There will be some heavy-hitters about as well. The tournament has attracted a long list of really experienced coaches. Otago coaches Hymie Gill and Dave Ross will be joined by the likes of Simon Child, Aaron Panchia, Dave Kosoof, Kim Archibald, Chris Leslie, James Coughlan, Kate Trolove and Tara Pickering.
There is a lot of hockey nous in that group.
New Zealand great Emily Gaddum (nee Naylor), who played 274 tests for the Black Sticks, will be down with the Hockey New Zealand Foundation. She is also expected to come out of retirement and play some games for Hawke’s Bay.
