Hockey: NZ back to full strength for Champions Trophy

Northland’s Ella Gunson. Photo / Northern Advocate

The inclusion of several players currently overseas will see the New Zealand women's hockey team back to full strength for the Champions Trophy in England in July.

Black Sticks coach Mark Hager today included several key players, whose commitments to overseas clubs forced them to miss three recent test series, including the loss to India last week.

"The 11 test games against Australia, Argentina and India have been key in making the final selection, as these gave some of the younger players the opportunity to stake a claim for the Champions Trophy team," he said.

"These series also made it clear that we need our more experienced players on hand for the next five months as we compete in the three biggest hockey events for women this year."

Aside from the elite Champions Trophy tournament, New Zealand are also preparing for the World Cup in Argentina in September then the Commonwealth Games in India the following month.

Hager said he had monitored the form of his overseas-based players by maintaining contact with their respective coaches.

The team include all those presently playing in European leagues in Olympians Kayla Sharland and Emily Naylor, along with Krystal Forgesson, Katie Glynn and Gemma Flynn.

As well, Ella Gunson has been included on the basis she proves her fitness after an injury break.

Notable omissions include the experienced Kate Saunders, Stacey Carr and Kate Mahon.

Hager said Saunders had been placed on standby in case of injuries, and Mahon had personal commitments in July which precluded her selection.

Carr is recovering from injury and Hager believes the Champions Trophy will be too demanding at this stage in her recovery.

The New Zealanders, ranked ninth in the world, qualified for the six-nation Champions Trophy by winning the Champions Challenge in South Africa last December.

They will play the Netherlands, Argentina, China, Germany and England at Nottingham on July 10-18.

New Zealand
Kayla Sharland (Central), Emily Naylor (Central), Krystal Forgesson (Auckland), Katie Glynn (Auckland), Piki Hamahona (Central), Ella Gunson (Northland), Beth Jurgeleit (Wellington), Clarissa Eshuis (Midlands), Lucy Talbot (Auckland), Sam Harrison (Auckland), Gemma Flynn (Midlands), Anna Thorpe (Northland), Charlotte Harrison (Northland), Bianca Russell (North Harbour), Stacey Michelsen (North Harbour), Natasha Fitzsimons (North Harbour), Laura Douglas (Northland), Anita Punt (Wellington).

- NZPA