HOCKEY - Returned and ready, keen for stepping-stone success

Recently returned from a stint playing hockey in Europe, David Samuels is hoping to help the Northland men's team claim some scalps when the National Hockey League starts on Friday.
For Samuels, known as "Dover" to his teammates, heading back to where it all started for him in Whangarei is a great way to get back into New Zealand hockey.
"The chance to play for Northland has been great because my roots are here, so it's good to be able to pass that experience back to Northland hockey. I think I have a little bit to add now that I've played overseas and for Auckland," he said.
Facing the 27-year-old, and the rest of the Northland men's side, is the challenge to lose the wooden spoon that they've earned for the past two seasons. Samuels believes that the tournament format of the National Hockey League this year will help them achieve their goal.
"Anything can happen during this tournament. I think you'll find that the top teams won't have things all their own way and there will be some major upsets by the end of the week," he said.
The entire 2008 tournament, which in recent times was over five weeks, will this year be completed in just 10 days at Lloyd Elsmore Park in Auckland.
The high intensity of the tournament will offer the lower-rated teams some chances, particularly against teams struggling with their fitness.
"Opportunities will present themselves, particularly later on in the week, to pick off the bigger teams," Samuels predicts.
"If we could sneak into the top four it would be great. But I think coming fifth would be a good result after the last few years, and act as a stepping-stone for the following season."
Samuels remembers the day he earned his first senior cap for Northland when he was 15, and the team then went on to win the national league - the last time they won the competition, in 1996.
The team has shown flashes of cohesion and real competitiveness during their pre-season programme but has still to produce their best. Samuels is hoping that the atmosphere at tournament will bring out their best.
"We've got a good balance with a few imported players and the best of the local players so the skill's there. It's just a matter of formulating a team plan that we can stick to on the field. If we can do that, we can look for weaknesses in the opposition and capitalise on that."
Samuels left Whangarei to go to university in Auckland in 1998, playing for Auckland in the NHL before completing his studies and playing hockey in Cardiff for two seasons.
"The hockey over there was pretty interesting - it wasn't as rough as New Zealand hockey, that's for sure," he said.
Coach Pat Barry said Samuels demonstrated his experience and leadership on and off the turf.
"Dover brings a lot of experience as a national league player and understands the game technically and can analyse it ... His position in the midfield is vital because we're still struggling to get that area right," he said.