Simon Thresher has taken over from Jarrod Smith as president, after Smith's long tenure came to an end.

The association has flourished under Smith, who was president for nine years. Smith brought the association back to life, according to Thresher.

"He brought the sport back almost from the brink of extinction," the new president said.

Smith oversaw the merger of the women's and men's competitions under the Port Macquarie Hastings Hockey Association umbrella.

There are now about 400 juniors who play the game, and about 750 members in total.

Smith brought about a second field at the Koala Street complex, as well as new lights and replaced turf.

"Jarrod's built it up over the years," Thresher said of the competition.

Thresher a Port City defender would like to get more teams into the A grade competition.

"I'd like to get another two teams in there," he said.

He said it was important to make the competition as strong as possible.

"We've got to provide a quality competition," he said. "It's about consolidating what Jarrod's done."

PORT’S hockey players will play all their games at home this season, with no more Taree trips on the cards.

Four clubs will contest the A competition: Port City, Tacking Point Thunder, Camden Haven and Wauchope.

There will be six teams in men’s and women’s B and C grade competitions.

A and B grade men have a run on Saturday afternoons, after the juniors in the mornings.

Women’s A and B grade matches are on a Sunday.

There’s a possibility of rotating fixture days between the men’s and women’s A and B grades.

Women’s C grade plays on Wednesday nights and the men’s C grade players take to the field on Friday nights.

In between is the under 16s competition on Thursday nights.

The competition is due to start with women’s C grade on March 11.