Men's side hits the right mix

The Northland men's hockey team boasts a mixture of experience and youth ahead of next weekend's opening National Hockey League match against North Harbour in Whangarei.

The team includes Northland 100 cap veterans Sam Webb and Dion Watts being joined by newcomers Harrison Lamb and James Houston.

This year's Northland team will also have guest players Zach Staples of Canterbury, Jack Humphries of North Harbour and New Zealand-born player Rowan Yeo, who has been playing club hockey in Melbourne.

International guest players this season are Joshua Mynott and Matthew Argent, who come from Queensland state teams.

Although Mynott and Argent are under 22, they come with a high level of hockey experience, with Argent being a member of Hockey Australia's future drag flick programme.

Unfortunately, 2013 and initial 2014 squad member guest player Jessie Workman ruptured his patella tendon last weekend and has been ruled out of the NHL tournament.

Also playing in the NHL is Dwayne Rowsell who will wear Auckland's jersey while former Northland representative Mike Delany will coach North Harbour.