HOCKEY -Core group of young players vital to squad's success

The idea of entering the National Hockey League without import players gets its first major road test tomorrow for the Northland men's team - if it succeeds then it will be down to the skills and commitment of a core group of rising young players like Dion Watts and Sam Webb.
The first round of games gets under way in Hamilton and 22-year-old Watts is confident that the absence of imports this season will be a positive in Northland's campaign.
"I think we're going to do quite well and surprise a few of the better teams that are used to playing the old Northland.
"I believe we've got as good a chance as anyone and the fact that we've got no imports this year has probably helped us rather than the other way around," he said.
Northland won't have to adapt to new players late in their preparation for the tournament which is good for team spirit, Watts believes.
"It's tough on the guys who are on the verge of making the team to get dropped to make way for imports at the last minute and at the end of the day, sometimes the Jaffas just don't fit in - it's as simple as that."
Northland will unveil a fresh playing style tomorrow, devised under new coach Richard Storey - but the plan is still under wraps.
"We're playing a little bit of a different style to what most of us are used to and that's taken a bit of getting used to but we're definitely going to keep the other teams guessing," the former Kamo High School rep said.
``Hopefully that's going to work to our advantage, we certainly think it can.'
Spirit in the team has also benefited from a concerted effort to increase the team's fitness levels.
"Compared to years gone past we are really fit because we've put a good effort into training," Watts said.
Watts has been in outstanding form all season in club hockey for Springfield and is one of a group of young players that Storey sees as indispensable to Northland's campaign this season.
"He's vital to the team this year. Dion's one of a group of players that will become the future leaders of Northland hockey," Storey said.
The return of Watts to the side for his fourth NHL season - after he sat out last year's campaign - will give Northland a serious boost.
He has been in impressive goal-scoring form for his club and will play at inside-right - if all goes to plan.
"Him, Sam Webb, David Heappey and Mark Thorne are vital because they will be the players that will step up to take over from some of the older guys who are playing well at the moment but, realistically, their bodies won't hold out forever," Storey said.
Storey is yet to name a final team for the opening games, instead the entire squad will travel to Hamilton to cover for possible last minute injury concerns.
David Heappey has been struggling with an injured shoulder and while he and Tama Jones practiced on Wednesday, Storey will wait and see how everyone is feeling tomorrow, before naming his run-on team.
Northland play Canterbury tomorrow at 9.30am and Southern at 11am on Sunday morning.
The same programme applies to the Northland women's team, who will also take their entire squad south to Hamilton. They play Canterbury tomorrow at 10am and Southern on Sunday at 9am.