Changes to mixed season 'could benefit Island teams'

Local season will focus on men's and women's competitions

A focus on men's and women's hockey instead of mixed could benefit the Isle of Man teams when they take on county sides in the UK.

Many of the top Manx teams have welcomed the changes to next season, which gets underway in September.

Before then, there are two rounds of fixtures to be completed from the previous campaign.

Manx Radio's hockey correspondent Sam Spooner says it should mean the Manx squad is more prepared when taking on English teams: