Having lost several players from 2014, Kinross-CYMS would be unable to field a competitive enough team to justify playing the top tier competition.

“It’s a shame, it’s very disappointing. We aren’t giving up hope though,” CYMS Hockey Club president Janene Toner said.

“Girls were going away to uni, and a couple went over to (Orange) Ex-Services, and realistically the juniors us and Kinross have coming through just aren’t ready yet.

“They’re 13 and 14 on the Kinross side of things and that’s just too young. We will be looking at getting back into Premier League in the future.”

The women’s competition, despite losing Kinross-CYMS, will remain a 10-team tournament thanks to the inclusion of a second Parkes team, reportedly to be named Parkes Coachman. 

The women’s competition will once again boast a five-team finals series, as per usual.

Orange Ex-Services, Confederates, Bathurst City, Bathurst Souths, Bathurst St Pat’s, Lithgow Panthers, Lithgow Zig Zag and the Dubbo Blue Jays will join the two Parkes sides in vying for the women’s title.

In huge news for the development of hockey in the central west, the men’s Premier League Hockey competition is set to grow to eight teams in 2015, up from six.

Dubbo - formerly the Crows - will re-enter the competition, reportedly as Dubbo United, while Bathurst City will also compete in 2015.

Along with Orange Wanderers, Bathurst Souths, Bathurst St Pat’s, Lithgow Panthers, Lithgow Zig Zag and Parkes United, the men’s competition will also revert to a five-team finals series.

“Obviously Dubbo was in the competition in the past. They were strong too, so hopefully they’re putting a very competitive side on the park,” newly elected Premier League Hockey president Kent Bestwick, of Bathurst, said.

“It’s very exciting to have Dubbo back in the men’s competition, it gives some variety and another away trip. It’s good to have a third Bathurst side in as well, although I think they will be a bit of a development team.

“They have several fringe guys who were at other clubs, and a few older guys from what I’m told. It’s very exciting to see the competition grow like this.”

While only a draft draw is available at the moment, the men’s competition is scheduled to start on Saturday, May 5, while the women will kick off approximately six weeks prior to that.

As the draft is now, Wanderers will host Parkes United in round one, while Ex-Services and Confederates will face first-up away games against Parkes United and Dubbo Blues Jays respectively.

Parkes is also set to host gala days for both competitions, but the dates of which are yet to be confirmed.