📣 TASMAN DISTRICTS HOCKEY – U18 WOMEN’S FINAL TRIAL THIS THURSDAY Nelson Hockey Association wishes…
HNZ-PREMIER LEAGUE-World-class players to feature in new Premier Hockey League
| WORLD-CLASS PLAYERS FEATURE IN FIRST PREMIER HOCKEY LEAGUE |
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| 7 October 2020 The Vantage Black Sticks players and many former internationals will go head-to-head in the inaugural Premier Hockey League starting next month. The eight-team (four men and four women) round-robin competition will run over four extended weekends from 12 November, and will now be held in Hamilton to ensure the wellbeing of all participants. The league was postponed from an August start date due to the recent Covid-19 outbreak in Auckland. Hockey New Zealand has today announced the squads and the team names for the new league. The four teams will be called the Northern Tridents, the Hauraki Mavericks, the Central Falcons and the Southern Alpiners. Hockey New Zealand Performance Network Manager Simon Brill says the league is focused on progressing our top players as well as bridging the gap between domestic and international hockey. “The quality of players in this league is of the highest calibre with a vast array of international performers as well as proven local and developing players spread across the eight squads.” All Vantage Black Sticks players, except a couple who are injured, are available for the league and will be pushing for selection alongside former internationals and future stars for next year’s postponed FIH Pro League and the Tokyo Olympics. Nick Wilson returns to elite hockey, having not featured for the Vantage Black Sticks since the Rio Olympics he will be pushing the case for selection for the Tokyo Games in 2021. The women’s league will also see several former Vantage Black Sticks looking to push their case for a recall to the national side with experienced internationals Michaela Curtis (Central Falcons), Kirsten Pearce, Lulu Tuilotolava (both Northern Tridents) and Tessa Jopp (Southern Alpiners) making themselves available. Hockey NZ wanted a Kiwi feel to the team names with a connection to our land and our people. Brill says they consulted with senior players, administrators, coaches and former players to help choose the Tridents, Mavericks, Falcons and Alpiners names. The Northern Tridents have been inspired by the stunning stretch of water from the Bay of Islands to the mighty Hauraki Gulf, and they are named after the weapon of choice of Poseidon – the legendary God of Sea. This team covers the region from Northland to Auckland. The Hauraki Mavericks cover the middle of the North Island, and the name represents the bringing together of such a large area of people who will break with tradition and come up with the unexpected. The Central Falcons span the lower North Island, an area which is woven together through the central mountain range where you’ll find the fastest predator on earth – the Falcon or mighty Kārearea. Our fourth team is the Southern Alpiners, the first time we have had a team encompassing the entire South Island, connected through the majestic Southern Alps. Hockey NZ decided to move the league from Auckland to a fully controllable venue in Hamilton to reduce the risk to both our participants and to the event of fluctuating Covid-19 alert levels, particularly in Auckland. If the country returned to alert level 2 during the league, the bubble being created at the Hamilton venue would protect the health and wellbeing of the players as it would not be used for any other hockey at the time. “It is disappointing to have to move the league from the new purpose-built National Hockey Centre in Albany but in securing our ability to deliver the competition – the safety of all our participants must come first,” says Brill. All 28 matches in the Premier Hockey League will be available free on Sky Sport NEXT and are also able to be viewed on Sky Sport 9. The full draw will be released next week, and it will be determined closer to the time whether spectators can attend based on alert levels. Premier Hockey League 2020 dates 12-15 November: Women rounds 1-3 19-22 November: Men rounds 1-3 25-29 November: Women rounds 4-6 and final 2-6 December: Men rounds 4-6 and final Premier Hockey League 2020 men’s squads Northern Tridents Men: Cory Bennett (N), Ruan Bezuidenhout, Robbie Capizzi, James Coughlan, Benji Edwards, Steve Edwards (N), Connor Greentree, Angus Griffin, Xavier Guy, Mitch Hayde, Kim Kingstone, Isaac Houlbrooke, Sam Houston, Richard Joyce (N), Richmond Lum, Liam Mortimer, George Muir (N), Netesh Sukha, Matthew Symonds, Kieran O’Connor, Charl Ulrich. Head Coach: Bryce Collins Assistant Coach: Graham Shaw Manager: Casey Henwood Hauraki Mavericks Men: Marcus Child (N), Simon Child (N), Taylor Craigie, Malcolm Curley, Garrick du Toit, Zander Frazer, Cam Hayde, Leon Haywood (N), Shae Iswar, Jonty Keaney, Campbell Maclean, Tim Neild, Arun Panchia (N), Daniel Panchia, Jared Panchia (N), Matt Rees-Gibbs, Dwayne Rowsell (N), Aidan Sarikaya (N), Jacob Soo Choon, Nicholas Woods (N), Maks Wyndham-Smith. Head Coach: Dean Couzins Assistant Coach: Colin Stewart Manager: Hugh Biss Central Falcons Men: Jordan Cohen, Dominic Dixon, Sean Findlay, Stephen Jenness (N), Joe Hanks, Sam Hiha, Harry Lawson, Dane Lett (N), Trent Lett, Patrick Madder , Shea McAleese (N), Harry Miskimmin, Callum Olsen, Brad Read (N), Jacob Smith (N), Dylan Thomas (N), Mackenzie Wilcox, Nicholas Wilson, Matt van Aardt, Benedict van Woerkom. Head Coach: Peter Miskimmin Assistant Coach: Mark Borgers Manager: Umesh Parag Southern Alpiners Men: Louis Beckett, Malachi Buschl, David Brydon (N), George Connell, Nick Elder, George Enersen (N), Hugo Inglis (N), Moss Jackson, Sam Lane (N), Nick Lidstone, Joseph Morrison, Dominic Newman, Nick Ross (N), Blair Tarrant (N), Dylan Thomas, Gus Wakeling, Finn Ward, Jordan Ward, Simon Yorston, Kane Russell (N), Maxwell Rasmussen Head Coach: Grant Edwards Assistant Coach: Aaron Ford Manager: Campbell Stewart Premier Hockey League 2020 women’s squads Northern Tridents Women: Olivia Crum, Stephanie Dickins (N), Katie Doar (N), Madison Doar, Izzy Gill, Erin Goad, Ella Gunsun (N), Sophie Hildesley, Ella Hyatt Brown, Kate Ivory, Tyler Lench, Clodagh McCullough, Stacey Michelsen (N), Kathryn Moffit, Kirsten Pearce, Jess Plimer, Samantha Polovnikoff, Kayla Reed, Brooke Roberts (N), Rose Tynan, Maddie Williamson. Head Coach: Jude Menezes Assistant Coach: Colin Stewart Assistant Coach: Sandie Mackie Manager: Kim Jordan Hauraki Mavericks Women: Breanna Catley, Tarryn Davey (N), Maddie Dowe, Ali Hunt, Alia Jaques (N), Rose Keddell (N), Julia King (N), Alex Lukin, Amelia Marlow, Alice McIlory-Forrester, Sophie Morrison, Grace O’Hanlon (N), Kendra Peat-Anderson, Deanna Ritchie, Amy Robinson (N), Tori Robinson, Kim Tanner, Liz Thompson (N), Lulu Tuilotolava, Tayla White, Lydia Woods, Eva Zylstra. Head Coach: Mark Borgers Assistant Coach: Chris Arthur Assistant Coach: Danielle Cranston Manager: Jenny Duck Central Falcons Women: Georgia Barnett (N), Kelly Carline , Kaitlin Cotter (N), Casey Crowley, Michaela Curtis, Rebecca Baker, Megan Hull (N), Jessica Kelly, Rileigh Knapp, Ruby Logan, Estelle Macadre, Holly Pearson (N), Felicity Reidy, Jenna Rae-McIntye, Emma Rainey, Hope Ralph, Aniwaka Roberts, Olivia Shannon (N), Kelsey Smith (N), Kirana Wairau-Hunter, Kayla Whitelock (N). Head Coach: Darren Smith Assistant Coach: Verity Sharland Assistant Coach: Henry Wong Manager: Dani Lett Southern Alpiners Women: Isabella Ambrosius, Jessie Anderson, Leah Butt, Amelia Calder, Hayley Cox, Anna Crowley, Frances Davies (N), Tessa Jopp, Charlotte Lee, Georgie Mackay-Stewart, Saasha Masters, Rachel McCann (N), Olivia Merry (N), Kirsty Nation, Arabella Shield, Belinda Smith, Phoebe Steele, Catherine Tinning, Brittany Wang, Margot Willis, Emily Wium. Head Coach: Aaron Ford Assistant Coach: Reiner Vellinga Assistant Coach: Kate Trolove Manager: Rachel Williams Ends N – Represents a player who is currently in the Vantage Black Sticks squad. Note to editors: Vantage Black Sticks Men’s Head Coach Darren Smith, who is coaching the Central Falcons women in the Premier Hockey League, is available for media interviews today. Please contact Hockey New Zealand Media and Communication Manager Matthew Williams on 022 063 5705 to set up an interview. |
| CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE TEAM LOGOS |
| Hockey New Zealand invites you to the launch of the Premier Hockey League on Monday, where you will be able to interview the captains of our eight teams. When: 1-3pm on Wednesday 4 November. Where: TBC Please respond below if you would like to attend. |
| CLICK HERE TO RSVP TO THE EVENT |
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