RIVALRIES RENEWED AS TOP PLAYERS TO
COMPETE IN NORTH vs SOUTH SERIES

Vantage Black Sticks (VBS) players will get the opportunity to test their mettle for the first time in 2022.
The Sentinel Homes North vs South series will see our nation’s top players go head-to-head with
bragging rights on the line over a three matches in Hamilton on the 21st, 23rd, and 24th April. The South
men and North women will be looking to defend their respective trophies after hard fought battles in
2021.
After a long time without elite hockey on our shores we are also pleased to announce that the matches,
being played at St Paul’s Collegiate, will be open to the public free of charge. We are looking forward to
being back in the community and engaging with locals during the school holidays by offering
opportunities to meet their hockey heroes.
With a mix of ‘up and coming’ players and Vantage Black Sticks the series will be a great opportunity for
the national coaches to check in on progress, as well as eye the emerging talent, with international
matches on the horizon – including the Women’s World Cup in July and Commonwealth Games in
July/August.
Graham Shaw, Head Coach of the VBSW, says this is a fantastic opportunity to see how the team is
tracking collectively and individually.
“The series will give the players a perfect scenario to test styles of play and the areas we have been
working on. The grouphas trained incredibly hard over the past few months building an outstanding
environment.
I know the group will be looking forward to playing this series and will be looking to put their best foot
forward. North vs South can bring pressure that is similar to international hockey which is something
needed with a few big months ahead.”
VBS Men’s Head Coach Greg Nicol is thrilled at the opportunity to play some high-level, competitive
hockey.
“The series gives our players a real chance to test themselves as we build towards the Commonwealth
Games happening in a few months.
“We still have a number of players playing club hockey in Europe, so the series is also an opportunity for
the next tier of players as we build our depth for the future. The younger talent always relishes the
chance to showcase their skills alongside and against current players so I am looking forward to an
exciting week of hockey.”
The game times are 5.30pm (Women) and 7.30pm (Men) on the 21st; 2.30pm (W) and 4.30pm (M) on
the 23rd; and 12pm (W) and 2pm (M) on the 24th. All matches will be streamed live.
A National Under-21 event will run alongside the Sentinel Homes North vs South series with matches as
curtain raisers to the Senior event. National Junior Black Sticks squads will be named following the event.
[Ends]
For more information, contact:
Dom Thomas
Content & Communications Manager
Hockey New Zealand
027 388 2801
dom.thomas@hockeynz.co.nz
Team Lists – Seniors
North Men
Robert Capizzi, Dominic Dixon, Benjamin Edwards, Sean Findlay, Alexander Fraser, Connor
Greentree, Xavier Guy, Leon Hayward, Samuel Hiha, Kim Kingstone, Richmond Lum, Liam
Mortimer, George Muir, Tim Neild, Jared Panchia, Hayden Phillips, Maxwell Rasmussen, Aidan
Sarikaya, Charl Ulrich, Max Wyndham-Smith.
South Men
George Baker, Louis Beckert, David Brydon, Malachi Buschl, Jordan Cohen, Nicholas Elder,
George Enersen, Moss Jackson, Dane Lett, Nicholas Lidstone, Oliver MacIntyre, Harry
Miskimmin, Joseph Morrison, Lachlan Paton, Bradley Read, Jacob Smith, Matthew Symonds,
Dylan Thomas, Finn Ward, Simon Yorston.
North Women
Kaitlin Cotter, Stephanie Dickins, Katie Doar, Madison Doar, Izzy Gill, Ella Hyatt-Brown, Alia
Jaques, Tyler Lench, Alexandra Lukin, Hope Ralph, Kayla Reed, Deanna Ritchie, Brooke Roberts,
Arabella Sheild, Phoebe Steele, Lulu Tuilotolava, Rose Tynan, Tayla White, Eva Zijlstra.
South Women
Isabella Ambrosius, Jessica Anderson, Rebecca Baker, Amelia Calder, Casey Crowley, Anna
Crowley, Aniwaka Haumaha, Megan Hull, Tessa Jopp, Jessica Kelly, Georgina Mackay-Stewart,
Rachel McCann, Olivia Merry, Grace O’Hanlon, Holly Pearson, Olivia Shannon, Catherine
Tinning, Brittany Wang, Emily Wium