High-profile players, including Australian under-21 hockey player Aaron Kleinschimdt, under-21 Australian County player Maddy White and Brunswick state league striker Tom Kneebone have held clinics at Huntly, Lockwood South, St Killians, Speciman Hill and White Hills primary schools and will hold further clinics at Kennington and Epsom primary schools later in the week.

Hockey Victoria development manager Andrea Snow said Hockey Victoria has teamed up with the Central Victoria Hockey Association to give local children the opportunity to try hockey.

“We’re hoping to introduce kids to hockey and to also introduce them to elite level players like Maddy White, who is originally from Bendigo,” she said.

“We want to be able to introduce the game to both girls and boys and show that hockey exists and that there are pathways and opportunities.”

Ms Snow said hockey is less common in regional areas than it is in major cities, and creating a local base in regional areas is something that Hockey Victoria is focusing on.

“As far as the kids go, introducing it to them they pick it up, and only need to do it for a short time, and their skill level improves. It’s just about having the support networks in the region.”

In addition to the school clinics, CVHA will also be running free come and try clinics over the next two weeks.

The clinics, which are open to primary school aged children who are not already playing hockey, will be held at the CVHA Hockey Complex, Ashley Street, Ironbark from 4.30-5.50pm today and next Wednesday, March 24.