Jack Burns has the ball on a string in the Under-12 Boys team, remaining undefeated at the half-way mark of the season.
Photo by
Ian Johnson
CR United Hockey Club has won more Hockey Albury Wodonga premierships, across all divisions, than any other club since 2011.
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With the past 10 Flo Joynson Memorial Club of the Year Awards under their belts, they’re showing why they’re not just a club, they’re a dynasty.
In 2011, the Corowa and Rutherglen hockey clubs joined forces, becoming CR United Hockey Club Inc.
Individually, both clubs had a proud history of successful hockey teams in both junior and senior competitions.
Now united, they’re a little club with a big heart taking on the strong Albury/Wodonga teams and succeeding.
President Alex Macqueen has been playing since before the merger, and he said the club owed a lot of its success to the culture built up over the years, focusing on a family friendly environment.
“We've been very lucky with the talent we've managed to keep in the club,” Alex said.
“Everyone here has been a part of the club since they were a kid.
“We lose players when they go off to uni, but they come back.
“Drawing on two towns to continually produce high quality players definitely works in our favour.”
Sienna Davis comes from a family of hockey players and has been making waves at representative level for her schools and Hockey Albury Wodonga.
The young talent coming through the junior teams is undeniable, with premierships won on a regular basis and several girls and boys representing at regional and state level.
Last year, Sienna Davis was instrumental in the Hockey Albury Wodonga Under-14s team that won the NSW Division 3 State Championships, while also captaining CR United’s Under-12 Girls to a premiership victory.
In the Under-12 Boys team Jack Burns can be seen carving up opposition lines with ease while his teammates hold strong as the best defensive unit in that division.
And former junior Tanner Cull is currently in Darwin competing with the ACT Under-18s team at the National Championships.
“One thing we're passionate about is building good young players and playing them as a team,” Alex said.
“We teach them the basics from day one then build going forward on how the game works and how we structure our team.”
On field isn’t the only place the club sees success.
Senior player Mark Peter saw a gap in the market and started his own brand of hockey gear; Rogue.
Knowing that quality products are extremely expensive, Mark set out to cut out the middleman and make equipment more affordable for families.
“To build skills in hockey if you want to succeed, you do need the higher-end sticks,” Alex said.
“They are definitely worth buying, but they are very expensive and Mark’s vision is to help make that more affordable.”
Mark has branched out since starting with hockey sticks, and now sells his own stick bags and balls, as well as exploring training products.
The club also has a long history of catering for community events and fundraising for charitable organisations such as PanKind, Albury Cancer Centre and the Cancer Council, where they have raised more than $25,000.
Over-70s player Mark Hulme with club president Alex Maqueen at training.
Flying the flag for older players, Mark Hulme plays over-70s representative hockey in Victoria and is a member of the Southern Cross Masters over-70s team.
“I’m still young enough to move,” Mark said.
“There are guys in their 80s still playing that move the ball so easily you can’t touch it.
“Earlier this year we played in the Masters National Championships and defeated a South Sydney team comprising of nine national players.
“This club is successful because it’s a family friendly club that gives everyone a go.
“It has the best culture I’ve ever seen at a club.”
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