Scottish Hockey has tested a new model of participation through an esports hockey test event at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre.
The hockey governing body has been exploring how esports can grow hockey in Scotland, while offering educational opportunities.
The organisation has been working with youth esports organisation The Brave Jnr, and national body and events company Esports Scotland, to create this first-of-its-kind offering.
The news comes as a separate esports project was nominated in Scottish Games Awards 2023.
The hockey test event saw young participants, from non-traditional hockey backgrounds, participate in a day of esports, hockey and personal development activities at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre. The participants played Rocket League, and then matched their goal-scoring exploits in the game on the hockey pitch.
In 2024, Scottish Hockey will look to deliver esports camps following the same model of the test event.
In partnership with Esports Scotland and The Brave Jnr, Scottish Hockey will create a £20,000 multi-role esports hub in the heart of Glasgow, augmenting the £5m Glasgow National Hockey Centre. The body, which has 14,500 members, also intends to launch a wider digital strategy centred around this equipment, from exploring an alternative school programme to creating a ‘Digital Brave Space for People’.
At a time where 20% of deprived communities in Scotland struggle with digital poverty, and 36% of children do not have regular access to online devices for learning, Scottish Hockey says this initiative could pioneer meaningful impact through Scottish sport.
Scottish Hockey CEO, Barry Cawte, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted by the success of this test event, and to see so many youngsters enjoying hockey, alongside gaming, shows we have a model where more people can access the sport.”
Barry Cawte, Scottish Hockey
“We’re trying to do something innovative to reach a more diverse audience for the sport, and esports is a unique and creative way to do this.
“The partnerships we’ve built with Esports Scotland and The Brave Jnr are very exciting, and this test event is just the beginning of the journey.”
Scottish Hockey’s Esports Consultant, Ben Grant, commented: “I’m extremely pleased by the progress that has been made by Scottish Hockey in a relatively short period of time to engage, stakeholders, and drive this brave initiative forward.
“At a time where Scottish sport faces mounting multi-dimensional challenges, from the value proposition of recreational facilities to participation, events like this one represent the best of efforts from sports governing bodies in the space to find innovative solutions.”
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Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
