NZ Women set to shine on Gold Coast

The New Zealand Womens hockey team has been named to compete at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games next month.

Players were welcomed to the New Zealand team at an announcement event co-hosted by the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Hockey New Zealand on Monday.

The team is spearheaded by the vastly experienced duo of captain Stacey Michelsen and Anita McLaren, who will both be competing at their third successive Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next month.

Michelsen, recently named a finalist for World Player of the Year, carries immense talent and experience having amassed 248 test caps for New Zealand while McLaren (252 caps) brings genuine firepower as the womens all-time leading goal scorer, currently just one shy of her 100th goal.

Both players will be hungry to complete their set of Commonwealth Games medals having won silver at Delhi 2010 and bronze at Glasgow 2014.

Northland striker Madison Doar is the youngest player named in the side at 18 years of age, earning selection thanks to her performance over the past 12 months.

Head coach Mark Hager said confidence is high within the group that they have what it takes to bring home a medal.

"We know all teams will arrive well prepared at the Commonwealth Games and we certainly arent taking anything for granted, but our expectations on ourselves are very high," Hager said.

"Weve put our faith in the majority of players who played and finished second at the World League Final in December, and are confident we have the necessary talent in this side.

"Given our performances over recent years there will rightly be an expectation on us to win a medal and I think its healthy to have that pressure, but also knowing we have great support from everyone cheering us on at Gold Coast and back home."

New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith passed on her congratulations to the womens side as their inclusion now boosts the New Zealand team on the Gold Coast to 188 athletes.

"We're thrilled to name a strong women's hockey team for Gold Coast 2018," said Smith.

"This is a team bristling with talent and the games will be a must watch as these athletes take on the best in the Commonwealth.

"Well done to all of the athletes selected and I'm looking forward to watching this group of talented women represent New Zealand with pride and honour in just over three weeks."

Sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the 10 competing nations for both mens and womens competitions are divided into two pools of five based on their FIH World Rankings.

The hockey competition runs from 5-14 April at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre and sees each side play all other pool opponents before the top two from each pool progress to the semi-finals and medal matches.

Each team consists of 18 players, with a total of 360 athletes participating in the GC2018 hockey competition.

Pool B is headlined by the New Zealand Women along with trans-Tasman rivals Australia, Scotland, Canada and Ghana while Pool A includes England, India, South Africa, Malaysia and Wales.

The Kiwis open their Commonwealth Games campaign against Scotland at 1:30pm (NZ time) on Thursday 5th April.

The New Zealand Women have won three medals at past Commonwealth Games including bronze at Kuala Lumpur 1998, silver at Delhi 2010 and bronze at Glasgow 2014.

NEW ZEALAND WOMENS TEAM

GOLD COAST COMMONWEALTH GAMES

5-14 APRIL, 2018

PLAYER NAME / REGION / POSITION / AGE / CAPS

Sam CHARLTON / Midlands / Defender / 26 / 213

Tarryn DAVEY / Midlands / Defender/Midfielder / 22 / 20

Frances DAVIES / Midlands / Defender / 21 / 39

Madison DOAR / Northland / Striker / 18 / 11

Shiloh GLOYN / Midlands / Midfielder / 28 / 56

Ella GUNSON / Northland / Defender / 28 / 179

Sam HARRISON / Auckland / Striker / 26 / 137

Pippa HAYWARD / Canterbury / Defender / 27 / 152

Tessa JOPP / Southern / Midfielder / 22 / 17

Rose KEDDELL / Midlands / Defender / 24 / 164

Anita McLAREN / Capital / Midfielder / 30 / 252

Olivia MERRY / Canterbury / Striker / 25 / 186

Stacey MICHELSEN (capt) / Northland / Defender / 27 / 248

Brooke NEAL / Northland / Defender / 25 / 135

Grace OHANLON / Auckland / Goalkeeper / 25 / 28

Sally RUTHERFORD / Midlands / Goalkeeper / 36 / 155

Kelsey SMITH / Capital / Striker / 23 / 69

Liz THOMPSON / Auckland / Defender / 23 / 160

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Hockey NZ