KEY POINTS:
Whakatane and Tauranga hardly rate as hotbeds of New Zealand hockey. But, for three boys from the Bay, the three-test series with the world-class Dutch has landed them an unexpected chance to display their skills at the highest level.
Three of the four new caps in the 18-strong
Black Sticks squad for the series - the first test is at Lloyd Elsmore Park this afternoon - have their roots in the Bay of Plenty.
Striker Jan Petersen learned his hockey in Whakatane, going on to play through the age groups for Rotorua-based Bay of Plenty. Goalkeeper Steve Graham and defender Andy Hayward first played for the Mt Maunganui-based Tauranga association.
While Petersen, Hayward and other newcomer Nick Haig will see some action in either today's first test or the second, on Tuesday night, Graham is being held back for his debut in the third test on his home ground on Friday night.
Stand-in coach Shane McLeod sees the four as the next generation as the selectors continue rebuilding after the retirement of high-profile players including Darren Smith, Umesh Parag, Dion Gosling, Wayne McIndoe and Simon Towns.
"I watched them in the NHL and was impressed enough to name them for the trials," said McLeod. "They all did well in the trials this week. This series gives us the chance to have another look before the team heads into more important games later in the year."
The newcomers found the step up from club and national league hockey a little daunting.
"It was a definite step up in intensity and pace," said Hayward, 21, who left Tauranga a couple of years ago to study chemical and process engineering at Canterbury University.
"The quality of the players is way up from what I was used to," he said.
"The experience of playing at the trials was great. I had played against a lot of the players in the NHL.
"This time it was great to play alongside them."
Petersen, 22, admitted he was stoked to play in the trials. Now, just hours from the biggest step of all, the hard work has been worthwhile.
"I have done a lot of running and the four of us [Hayward, Graham, Sean Matthews, who did not make the trials, and Petersen] did a lot of work over summer back in Tauranga," said Petersen. "The first trial was frantic. A huge step up from what I had been used to."
Named as a striker, Petersen struggled to score in the three trials - his only success coming in the last game. But he impressed with his physical presence and hard running.
McLeod said the selectors were searching for forwards. "He [Petersen] is big and showed us something."
Haig feels a little left out as the only genuine Canterbury player among the newcomers.
Like Petersen and Hayward, he started as a six-year-old and worked through the grades.
Two seasons ago he played for Central under the NHL draft and last year made his Canterbury debut, standing out as a likely replacement for Towns in the centre-half role.
"I had nothing to lose when I came up to the trials," said Haig, 19. "I wasn't well known but I had worked hard over the summer to make sure I gave myself a chance."
Like Hayward, Haig juggles hockey with his studies at Canterbury University, where he is working through a BCom in management.
"I have quickly learned that at this level you don't get as much time on the ball. Any mis-traps are quickly turned over. The basic skill level has to be so high."
So are the stakes. With big tournaments including Olympic qualifiers beckoning, such opportunities are limited. All are determined to make the most of their opportunities.
Just as quickly, they agree, it would have been a little easier if the debut outings had come against Fiji (in the Oceania qualifiers) than pitted against the classy Dutch.
But that doesn't mean they will not be giving it their all.
