NHA would like to take this opportunity to remind all Schools that Nelson Hockey offers…
Exciting 2020 Men’s National Squad Announced
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Exciting
2020 Men’s National Squad Announced
Media
Availability
Vantage
Black Sticks Men’s Coach Darren Smith will be available for
interviews on Wednesday 27th November from 9 am-10 am. Shea
McAleese will be available for phone interviews on Tuesday 26th
November from 3-5 pm. If you would like to book in an interview with
these people please contact through to Matthew Williams on matthew.williams@hockeynz.co.nz
or 022 063 5705.
RELEASE BEGINS
The
Vantage Black Sticks Men’s National Squad for 2020 has been named
with Coach Darren Smith recalling several Olympians for the
naming of the 25 strong group. The exciting squad will contest
the second season of the FIH Hockey Pro League as the New Zealand
Men begin their quest for Olympic success. The squad features six players with more than 200 caps for the Black Sticks as well as 20 of the 25 named players have more than 50 caps, the experience in this team is going to be critical for the program which will be striving to earn their first medal at the Olympic Games since 1976. The 2020 season could be one that will feature plenty of milestones in the men’s program with both Arun Panchia and Simon Child looking like they could bring up 300 caps for the side. Phil Burrows currently holds the New Zealand goalscoring record where he amassed a whopping 150 goals throughout his career, Simon Child is within touching distance of this record as he currently sits at 142 heading into the news season. Darren Smith commented on the 2020 season “We get to play the FIH Hockey Pro League where we will be able to match up against the best teams in the world including playing matches against Australia, Argentina, India and Spain who are in our pool at Tokyo, testing ourselves against these teams is going to be great preparation for the Olympic Games in July”. The team has been able to recall a number of players into the squad in the hopes of pushing the team towards Olympic Glory, Smith commented “We have been able to reintroduce Simon (Child) and Steve (Edwards) into the squad throughout the later stages of 2019, both players have been in outstanding form and have been selected as their skill and experience will be indispensable for the 2020 season”. Having been overseas for the past few seasons Jacob Smith worked his way back into the squad in 2019, Smith was rewarded after showing some outstanding consistency throughout the latter part of the year. Dwayne Rowsell and Leon Hayward have been selected for their first national contract, both were in outstanding form for Auckland at the 2019 Ford National Hockey League where the Auckland Men would go onto finish as the runners up. Leon Hayward was then selected in the Black Sticks squad to take on Japan and Korea in Stratford where he performed with great distinction in goal. Coach Smith commented on the quality of the side “We are really happy with the quality, experience and potential of the team that we have named. We will be adding a further 10 players in the development squad which will make up a fantastic group of players where competition for Olympic places will be high”. The Vantage Black Sticks Men will next return to the turf on February 1st when North Harbour Hockey will play host to the World Champion Belgium Men as the sides will look to match the epic 4-4 draw they played out in 2019. Vantage Black Sticks Men’s and Women’s Home Schedule 1st February vs Belgium Men and Women – *National Hockey Centre 2nd February vs Belgium Men and Women – * National Hockey Centre 8th February vs Great Britain Men and Women – * National Hockey Centre 9th February vs Great Britain Men and Women – * National Hockey Centre 15th February vs USA Women and Spain Men – Ngå Puna Wai 16th February vs USA Women and Spain Men – Ngå Puna Wai 28th February vs Argentina Men and Women – Ngå Puna Wai 1st March vs Argentina Men and Women – Ngå Puna Wai *North Harbour Hockey will be shifting to the National Hockey Centre where the Belgium and Great Britain games will be held for the 2020 FIH Pro League. Vantage Black Sticks Men’s and Women’s Away Schedule 19th March vs Netherlands Women 20th March vs Netherlands Men 22nd March vs Netherlands Men and Women 28th March vs Germany Men and Women 29th Match vs Germany Men and Women 16th May vs Australia Men and Women 17th May vs Australia Men and Women 23rd May vs India Men and China Women 24th May vs India Men and China Women CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE SCHEDULE Hockey New Zealand 14 Normanby Road 1024, Auckland support@hockeynz.co.nz This email was sent to manager@nelsonhockey.org.nz You received this email because you are registered with Hockey New Zealand Unsubscribe here © 2019 Hockey New Zealand |
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