2026 PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

The countdown is on, with the Alpiners preparing to return to the Premier Hockey League (PHL) for the 2026 season as Aotearoa’s premier domestic hockey competition brings together the country’s best men’s and women’s talent.

With all four rival franchises competing across six rounds of action, the Alpiners will be looking to make their mark as the road to the Grand Final on Saturday 12 December gets underway.

The campaign begins in Hawke’s Bay on Saturday 7 November, where we take on the Falcons in the opening round. Following a three-week break, we will head to Auckland for a double-header weekend at North Harbour, facing the Falcons on Saturday 28 November before taking on the Mavericks the following day.

The action then moves to Hamilton for another back-to-back weekend, with our Alpiners meeting the Mavericks on Saturday 5 December before facing the Tridents on Sunday 6 December. The round-robin campaign concludes at home in Christchurch on Friday 11 December, as we take on the Tridents in their final opportunity to secure a place in the medal matches.

This year’s competition provides another important platform for New Zealand’s emerging hockey talent, with young players set to test themselves alongside established performers in a high-performance environment. The PHL continues to play a vital role in the development pathway, giving the next generation valuable experience against some of the country’s finest players.

The 2026 season culminates at our home in Christchurch, as the Alpiners’ region hosts the PHL Finals Weekend for the first time. With the women’s and men’s bronze medal matches followed by the gold medal matches on Saturday 12 December, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the season.