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The 2020 Vantage Black Sticks
Development squads have been named, both sides see a great
combination of youth and experience in what is going to be an
incredibly important season for both programs as they head into the
FIH Pro League Season 2 and the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Graham Shaw has named several
uncapped in his first development squad which sees Ella
Hyatt-Brown, Kate Ivory, Tyler Lench, Hope Ralph and Tayla White
being named as the uncapped players in the squad. The most
experienced player in the group is Madi Doar who has amassed 31
caps in her international career in which she has won a Gold Medal
at the 2018 Commonwealth Games as well as a Silver Medal at the
Hockey World League in 2017.
The Black Sticks Men’s Development
Squad features several experienced players who will be looking to
take their opportunities and press for selection in the National
Team in the lead up to the Olympic Games. Hayden Phillips with 89
caps will be desperate to push his case as Darren Smith looks to
narrow his side down ahead of Tokyo 2020. Sam Hiha, Tim Neild and
Benji Edwards are the uncapped players in the Men’s squad. Both
Neild and Edwards were part of the 2019 U21 NZ team that contested
the Sultan of Johor Cup.
Darren Smith commented on the
squad “We wanted to have a squad that had some upward pressure on
the national team, we believe the players in this squad are capable
of doing this and pushing their case for Olympic Selection”.
“The 10 players that have been
selected were either recently part of the National Squad or the U21
Johor teams. The players have been selected after some outstanding
performances at the 2019 Ford NHL, I am looking forward to working
with all of them”
Graham Shaw commented on the youth
in the squad “We have been fortunate to name several up and coming
players in our squad, the experience that these players will
receive in training with the national squad will be valuable in
ensuring that we continue to develop world-class players”.
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