In 2026, the Tuggeranong Vikings Hockey Club will celebrate a remarkable milestone - 50 years of hockey in the Tuggeranong Valley.

What began in 1976 with a single team and a shared commitment to growing the game in the south has grown into a thriving club at the heart of the Tuggeranong sporting community. Officially registering with Hockey ACT on 10 March 1977 and affiliating with Vikings in 1978, the foundations laid in those early years continue to guide the club today.

As Vikings Hockey marks its golden anniversary, it does so with pride in its history, appreciation for those who built it, and confidence in the generations still to come.

Growing with the Valley

From early matches played on grass fields at Chisholm and Kambah to its current home at Tuggeranong Hockey Park, Vikings Hockey has grown alongside the community it represents.

Across five decades, the club has adapted and strengthened. From separate men’s and women’s clubs in its early years to their formal amalgamation in 2018, the result is a united organisation supporting players from Under 7s through to Masters competition.

Today, Vikings Hockey provides opportunities for players of all ages and abilities. Whether it’s a five-year-old picking up a stick for the first time in Hookin2Hockey, a junior progressing through representative pathways, or an adult returning to the sport for connection and fitness, there is a place for everyone in maroon and white.

Importantly, the club continues to invest in its future. In 2026, a new Junior Viking Grant will cover club registration fees for new and returning junior players, ensuring financial circumstances are not a barrier to participation in this milestone year. This is a clear reflection of the club’s long-standing commitment to opportunity and inclusion.

A club built on family

For many members, Vikings Hockey is not simply a club, it is part of family life.

Generations of families have worn the maroon and white, with parents, children and even grandchildren representing the club across decades.

Long-time member and Life Member Steve Lowe, who joined in 1989, reflects that the club has provided “many fond memories, not just for me but my whole family.”

His journey mirrors that of many within the club. After years supporting from the sidelines, his wife joined the playing ranks, and their son began his hockey career at age five through the junior program. What started as participation soon became deeper involvement; through coaching, committee roles and volunteering.

This culture of contribution is one of Vikings Hockey’s defining strengths. Volunteers have sustained the club for 50 years - organising teams, supporting juniors, running programs and ensuring families feel welcomed and supported.

It is this strong sense of belonging that keeps members returning year after year and generation after generation.

Strength through partnership

The club’s long-standing affiliation with Vikings has been instrumental in shaping its journey.

Since affiliating in 1978, the partnership has provided more than financial backing - it has offered stability, connection and a broader community network that continues to strengthen the club.

Support from Vikings has helped the club invest in equipment and development, host presentation nights and milestone events, and maintain accessibility for players and families. For many members, Vikings venues have also been where friendships were strengthened, through post-game gatherings, celebrations and shared memories.

As President Danielle Sweetman reflects:

“We’d like to honour Vikings for their 50 years of support to our club... being beside us for so many years has helped to enable us to engage so many in our Tuggeranong community.”

The partnership has enabled Vikings Hockey not only to survive, but to grow, ensuring the club remains strong for future generations.

Tuggeranong Valley Hockey Club, 50th Anniversary Jersey

Celebrating the milestone

The 50th anniversary in 2026 will be marked with a series of celebrations bringing together past and present members.

A Club Day at Tuggeranong Hockey Park will create a reunion atmosphere as teams take to the field, while a Gala Night will honour the people, milestones and memories that have shaped the club’s journey.

To commemorate the occasion, a retro-inspired 50th Anniversary uniform has been designed, drawing on past kits and proudly celebrating the maroon and white. Thanks to sponsor support, every registered player in 2026 will receive one as a visible symbol of pride in this milestone year.

Looking ahead

Five decades after its formation, the Tuggeranong Vikings Hockey Club has built far more than a competitive sporting program - it has built a lasting community.

The same values that guided that first team onto the grass in 1976 - inclusion, commitment and community, continue to define Vikings Hockey today.

Be part of the celebration and learn more at: https://vikings.org.au/

Celebrating 50 Years of Tuggeranong Vikings Hockey Club

Growing with the Valley

A club built on family

Strength through partnership

Celebrating the milestone

Looking ahead