A hockey academy program has hit off again this year offering young Wimmera hockey players the opportunity to find out what it takes to play in the Junior State Championships.

Sixteen players representing three clubs from the Wimmera Hockey Association are amongst one hundred and forty-five participants from across the North West Lightning region which includes hockey Associations from the Wimmera, Mildura, North Central, Shepparton and Bendigo taking part in the program this year.

The local participants will take part in three sessions on the turf at the Dimboola Health and Fitness Centre along with two sessions in Bendigo with all the other participants.

The Academy program is a five-week intensive training program that aims to improve fitness and skills to increase the chance of being selected to represent the North West Lightning at the Junior State Championships.

This tournament is the pinnacle of junior hockey in Victoria and is played in the age ranges of Under 12s, 14s, and 16s across venues in Bendigo and Shepparton in July, and the Under 81s will play in Bendigo in September.

Horsham’s Paul Mackereth and Yanac’s Charles Hassall are also involved in the academy as coaches.

Above - Some of the 16-strong squad from the Wimmera which includes five players from Dimboola, seven from Horsham, and four from Yanac, along with two local coaches, at a recent session on the turf pitch at Dimboola.