Former captain of the Black Sticks, Kayla Whitelock was back in Palmerston North last week letting her family, friends, coach Mark Hager and Black Sticks team mates know she is pregnant.
The Black Stick who debuted 11 years ago and has 229 caps to her name, is taking time out over the next year to start a family but has made it clear that she is not ready to hang up the stick just yet.
"It's very exciting for us both and it's been great being back here with friends and family for the week," said Kayla.
"I'm going to have a year off, at this stage the plan is to play at the 2015 Ford National Hockey League and then re-asses after that. The Rio Olympics is always in the back of my mind, but we need to see how things go over the next 12 months."
Married to Crusaders flanker George Whitelock, the couple moved to Japan following the Glasgow Commonwealth Games where George has been playing for the Panasonic Wild Knights.
