The men's 1st team 2016/17 season gets under way this Saturday with an away trip to Edinburgh to play top 4 side Grange. A difficult opening fixture but one that the new look squad of players are very excited about.

The squad has welcomed some new comers, following quite a few departures over the off season. Departures included Andrew Webb and Robbie Shepherdson, Andrew is travelling down to Loughborough University to start his studies and Robbie is continuing his course there after a year’s work placement in Aberdeen. Mike McKay has made the decision to take the first half of the season away from hockey due to work commitments and Phil Moon has moved across the city to enjoy a new start with Aberdeen University. Alex Morrision who was with the 1st team for the second half of last season is now playing in Glasgow with national league side Western Wildcats as he begins his university studies. Mark Ramage has now moved onto a new Director of Hockey role at Marlborough College in England so will no longer be working with the 1st team or the clubs youth section. The club would like to take this opportunity to thank Mark and all of the outgoing players for their commitment and hard work over the last year or more.

New arrivals this year include Craig Falconer who has come back to the club following a year back at home with Menzieshill, his experience in a top 4 fight last season will be invaluable to a young Gordonians 1st team squad. Jack Collister has joined the club from Grange, he is in Aberdeen to study at Robert Gordon's University, a very promising and enthusiastic young player for the future. John Hamilton will make a return to the 1st team squad after a year of playing lower down the club due to work commitments. All 3 players are put straight into the match day squad for the opening fixture this weekend. The squad will continue to be captained by Ian Livingstone and Ian Coffey for the coming season, with a big amount of responsibility placed on experienced players Stuart Allan, Adam Walker, Graham Pittendrigh and Rory McCann. The squad and club has been hit with the disappointing news of injury to number 1 goalkeeper Tom O’Kelly, a re-occurrence of the knee injury he sustained last season has halted his league campaign before it even started. Sam McGrath will step in as the clubs first choice goal keeper until Tom recovers.

With all of the changes in the 1st team playing squad this year it will take time for new players to settle and performances to reach the level that are expected for the season ahead. The aims for this season will remain as high as ever, but also realistic. National league 1 survival is the main priority this season and something the coaching staff and players are all committed to achieve.

The men’s 1st team have their first home fixture on Saturday 8th October versus national league 1 new comers Watsonains. The game will start at 2.30pm.