Hockey: Black Sticks realistic despite medal win

The New Zealand women's hockey team know their bronze medal at the Champions Trophy this week has raised expectations about their prospects at the Olympic Games.

But coach Mark Hager sees the race to get on the podium in London next year as being wide open.

"You could throw a blanket over No 3 to 12 in the rankings," he said.

"It depends on who comes into a tournament with the right frame of mind, gets a bit of confidence, a little bit of luck. They're the ones who are going to win the medals."

During Hager's 2-1/2 years in the job, the Black Sticks have risen from outside the top 10 to their present ranking of No 6, their highest since the end of 2005 and above traditional rivals Australia.

Their bronze medal in Amsterdam, which followed their silver at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October, was the best result by a New Zealand women's team in a major hockey tournament.

However, Hager had his feet on the ground, while also encouraging his charges to continue to aim high.

He felt they hadn't been at their best in the second half of the Champions Trophy, citing too many turnovers in the third-place playoff against South Korea, who weren't able to take full advantage.

Hager said there was still a big gap to the Netherlands and Argentina, who finished with gold and silver respectively.

"They're a level up from every other team, but we feel we getting a little bit closer."

What had particularly pleased him was how the younger members of his squad stood up, so it wasn't a case of waiting for seniors players such as co-captains Kayla Sharland and Emily Naylor, or striker Krystal Forgesson to come up with the goods.

"We had a real team performance, rather than an individual one this time," he said.

"All the young ones had to put in as well and it was fantastic they were able to do it."

Hager said the message to the squad when they first arrived in Europe was "no more hiding behind excuses, no more hiding behind we're a young team".

He was impressed with their positive spirit and how they raised the bar in terms of what they wanted to achieve.

"They love to have a go, they love to score goals, they're very competitive and they don't like losing," he said.

"I think in the past we've just accepted it and that's something a lot of girls have said to me, that they felt fifth's good enough or fourth's good enough.

"This group have had a bit of bit of success in medals. They've had a taste. They want to continue it, so hopefully we can."

The players now turn their attention to next month's national hockey league, after which a preliminary 25-strong Olympic squad will be announced.

A test series against the United States in San Diego will follow, before the Oceania Cup in Tasmania in October, the latter doubling as the regional qualifying event for the Olympics.

With two spots for London up for grabs in a three-way contest in Hobart, New Zealand and Australia look virtual certainties to get through ahead of Fiji.

The Black Sticks' next assignment after that is a return to the Champions Trophy, which will begin in Argentina in late January.

- NZPA