The Auckland NHL Men’s and Women’s Teams will take on Canterbury at Lloyd Elsmore Park this weekend.
“Come along and support our NHL teams in the annual Canterbury Exchange where our teams play for the Tony Palmer Memorial trophy,” said Auckland Hockey general manager James Sutherland.
“These are capped matches for players as they build-up for the last edition of the NHL starting in Tauranga on Saturday 14 September. “
Tony Palmer was the manager of the 1976 Gold Medal winning NZ Men’s Hockey Team and an Auckland administrator from the 1970s.
In the Striking Gold book both Canterbury and Auckland players speak fondly of a well-liked and popular manager and administrator.
“The exchange and rivalry between Auckland and Canterbury teams that was strong throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s was reinstituted last year with Canterbury hosting Auckland NHL teams in Christchurch, with Canterbury taking the trophy over the four matches,” said Sutherland.
“Let’s get behind our teams as we try to wrestle back the trophy from the Red and Blacks. Go the Blue and Whites!”