Hockey: Kiwis in race for top prize

Charlotte Harrison. Photo / NZPA

New Zealand's charge up the international rankings has been recognised with two Black Sticks among the five finalists for Young Woman Player of the Year.

Charlotte Harrison and Stacey Michelsen, strikers in Mark Hager's national side, are joined on the shortlist by Dutch goalkeeper Joyce Sombroek, American Katelyn Falgowski, and Willemijn Bos (Netherlands), who was named the most promising player at July's FIH Champions Trophy in Amsterdam.

New Zealand also have Black Sticks striker Nick Wilson in contention for the men's Young Player of the Year.

All nominees apart from van Aubel are playing here at the Owen G Glenn FIH Champions Trophy.

Also in action this week are three of the men's player of the year finalists - Australians Jamie Dwyer and Eddie Ockenden and Dutch master Teun de Nooijer. Dwyer (4) and de Nooijer (3) have won seven of the last eight awards.

FINALISTS

Young women: Willing Boss (Netherlands), Katelyn Falgowski (United States), Charlotte Harrison (NZ), Stacey Michelsen (NZ), Joyce Sombroek (Netherlands).

Young men: Florent van Aubel (Belgium), Billy Bakker (Netherlands), Florian Fuchs (Germany), Matthew Swann (Australia), Nick Wilson (NZ).

Women: Luciana Aymar (Argentina), Pietie Coetzee (South Africa), Li Hongxia (China), Natascha Keller (Germany), Maartje Paumen (Netherlands).

Men: Jamie Dwyer (Australia), Moritz Furste (Germany), Max Muller (Germany), Teun de Nooijer (Netherlands), Eddie Ockenden (Australia).