Hockey: From Rangitoto to Argentina

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Rangitoto College seventh-former Karlie Maloney is in for a busy time as she juggles her schoolwork with hockey practice for the next few weeks.

The 18-year-old inside-forward was yesterday named in the Black Sticks squad for next month's Champions Trophy tournament in Rosario, Argentina.

But before she joins her team-mates on the long flight, she must get her art assignments out of the way.

Maloney forced her way into the national side with some solid games for North Harbour in the just-completed NHL.

She is one of three newcomers in the Black Stix for the six-nation tournament, joining Auckland striker Jess Brewster, 20, and Canterbury striker Honor Dillon, 22.

They were selected purely on NHL form, says national coach Ian Rutledge.

National squad-members Anita Wawatai (Manawatu, goalkeeper), Sheree Phillips (Manawatu, defender) and Canterbury half Jo Galletly, who missed selection for the Athens Olympics, have been recalled after last playing for New Zealand last year.

Moira Senior, a 2000 Olympian who took an injury break but returned to play a key role in Central's NHL win over Wellington in Sunday's final, has earned a recall and joins Roberts-Lang, Brewster, Kayla Sharland and Dillon in an exciting attacking quintet.

Missing from the Olympic squad are Helen Clarke (retired), Leisen Jobe (retired from international hockey), Suzie Muirhead and Lisa Walton (unavailable), and Jaimee Provan (not selected).

In Muirhead's absence, Canterbury defender Di Weavers will captain the team, and will have Lizzy Igasan, Rachel Sutherland and Niniwa Roberts-Lang as her vice-captains.

Igasan resigned last week as a sports co-ordinator at Rangitoto College to concentrate on her hockey.

She and Maloney are products of the school's hockey excellence programme.

In introducing some younger players and recalling others, Rutledge is using the tournament as the starting point of a four-year plan aimed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

National team

Goalkeepers: Beth Jurgeleit (Wellington), Anita Wawatai (Manawatu).

Defenders: Lizzy Igasan (North Harbour), Sheree Phillips (Manawatu), Di Weavers (Canterbury).

Halfbacks: Jo Galletly (Canterbury), Emily Naylor (Manawatu), Rachel Sutherland (Manawatu), Rachel Robertson (Canterbury).

Inside forwards: Stacey Carr (Canterbury), Tara Drysdale (Manawatu), Meredith Orr (Auckland), Karlie Maloney (North Harbour).

Strikers: Jess Brewster (Auckland), Honor Dillon (Canterbury), Niniwa Roberts-Lang (Wellington), Kayla Sharland (Manawatu), Moira Senior (Manawatu).