Hockey: Injured Michelsen out as Black Sticks opt to go along Merry way

Stacey Michelsen injured a knee in Christchurch but the Black Sticks coaching stable decided to rest and assess her conditon after an MRI scan. PHOTO/FILE

Black Sticks captain Stacey Michelsen's Hawke's Bay Cup campaign has ended after she left for Auckland because of injury.

"She had a bit of pain in the knee after the first couple of games so, to be safer than sorry, we've sent her back to Auckland to work with our medical professionals up there to have it all checked out," Vantage Black Sticks assistant coach Sean Dancer said last night in Hastings.

Striker Olivia Merry again will lead the New Zealand team out against the Hockeyroos in round five of the four-nation tournament as defending champions.

Dancer, who has been in the role since 2014, said Michelsen had discomfort when they were in Christchurch for a weekend in hosting Team USA.

The versatile 26-year-old Northland-born Olympian had played the opening cup match at Unison Stadium but managed half of the second one before booking a flight out from Napier.

"She's had an MRI and the medical profession is just working through that so we don't have an exact timeline [on when she will be back playing but] the only thing we're aware of at the moment is she won't be back for the tournament."

In the recovery stage next week, after the cup finals are over this Sunday, the coaching stable will take stock of the 223-cap international's availability.

"Our understanding is that she rests this week and then she should be okay to start doing a little bit more next week to get ready for our World League 3 tournament later in the year," Dancer said of the women's semifinal event in Belgium in June and July.

He said captaincy was not an issue considering the team had a leadership group and it was an opportunity for Merry to wear the armband, having fulfilled the role as co-captain on the Argentina tour.

While Michelsen marshalled from the engine room he felt the other seniors would assume that mantle even though they won't be sporting leadership badges.