Vantage Black Sticks squads confirmed

The Vantage Black Sticks National and Development Squads for both men and women have been confirmed.

Its a crucial year for both New Zealand squads ahead of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games from 5-14 April along with Womens Hockey World Cup (21 July - 5 Aug, London) and Mens Hockey World Cup (28 Nov - 16 Dec, Bhubaneswar).

VANTAGE BLACK STICKS MEN

The Mens National Squad retains plenty of strength with an experienced core of players who have more than 200 tests to their name in Shea McAleese (258), Arun Panchia (248), Hugo Inglis (203) and Stephen Jenness (201).

Dane Lett has been brought back into the National Squad while young forwards Daniel Harris and Aidan Sarikaya are included for the first time.

Experienced midfielders Simon Child and Blair Hilton are both recovering from long term injuries and have been retained as an extension to the National Squad.

Neither Child (hip) or Hilton (knee/leg) have played for the Vantage Black Sticks since the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, but will continue to be supported in their road back to the turf.

Its also a new-look Development Squad which includes seven uncapped players alongside striker Mac Wilcox (15 tests).

2018 MENS NATIONAL SQUAD

PLAYER NAME / REGION / POSITION / AGE / CAPS

Cory BENNETT / North Harbour / Defender / 26 / 62

David BRYDON / Canterbury / Defender / 21 / 35

Marcus CHILD / Auckland / Midfielder / 26 / 120

George ENERSEN / Canterbury / Goalkeeper / 26 / 34

Daniel HARRIS / North Harbour / Striker / 21 / 9

Hugo INGLIS / Southern / Striker / 27 / 203

Stephen JENNESS / Capital / Striker / 27 / 201

Richard JOYCE / North Harbour / Goalkeeper / 25 / 39

Sam LANE / Canterbury / Striker / 20 / 27

Dane LETT / Capital / Defender / 27 / 17

Devon MANCHESTER / Auckland / Goalkeeper / 28 / 115

Shea McALEESE / Central / Midfielder / 33 / 258

Harry MISKIMMIN / Capital / Defender / 23 / 29

Leo MITAI-WELLS / Midlands / Striker / 22 / 42

George MUIR / North Harbour / Midfielder / 23 / 89

Dominic NEWMAN / Canterbury / Striker / 21 / 22

Arun PANCHIA / Auckland / Midfielder / 28 / 243

Jared PANCHIA / Auckland / Striker / 24 / 80

Hayden PHILLIPS / Central / Midfielder / 20 / 47

Brad READ / Capital / Defender / 22 / 14

Nick ROSS / Southern / Midfielder / 27 / 79

Kane RUSSELL / Southern / Defender / 25 / 112

Aidan SARIKAYA / Midlands / Midfielder / 21 / 10

Blair TARRANT / Southern / Defender / 27 / 179

Nic WOODS / Midlands / Defender / 22 / 77

EXTENDED NATIONAL SQUAD

PLAYER NAME / REGION / POSITION / AGE / CAPS

Simon CHILD / Auckland / Midfielder / 29 / 274

Blair HILTON / Capital / Midfielder / 28 / 167

2018 MENS DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

Reuben ANDREWS (Midlands), Malachi BUSCHL (Southern), Dominic DIXON (Southern), Connor GREENTREE (North Harbour), Kalyan JERAM (North Harbour), Kieran OConnor (Southern), Dylan THOMAS (Central), Mac WILCOX (Central)

VANTAGE BLACK STICKS WOMEN

The Womens National Squad is highlighted by the return of Anita McLaren, who was recently named in the Vantage Black Sticks team to play Argentina in February.

McLaren (nee Punt), with 247 internationals, is the Vantage Black Sticks Womens leading all-time goal scorer having found the back of the net 96 times.

Striker Michaela Curtis has earned a re-call to the squad while 19-year-old North Harbour defender Kate Ivory will also be part of the group.

2018 WOMENS NATIONAL SQUAD

PLAYER NAME / REGION / POSITION / AGE / CAPS

Sam CHARLTON / Midlands / Defender / 26 / 208

Michaela CURTIS / Central / Striker / 24 / 46

Tarryn DAVEY / Midlands / Defender/Midfielder / 21 / 16

Frances DAVIES / Midlands / Defender / 21 / 34

Steph DICKINS / North Harbour / Defender / 23 / 10

Madison DOAR / Auckland / Striker / 18 / 8

Shiloh GLOYN / Midlands / Midfielder / 28 / 52

Ella GUNSON / Northland / Defender / 28 / 174

Sam HARRISON / Auckland / Striker / 26 / 133

Pippa HAYWARD / Canterbury / Defender / 27 / 148

Kate IVORY / North Harbour / Defender / 19 / -

Tessa JOPP / Southern / Midfielder / 22 / 17

Rose KEDDELL / Midlands / Defender / 24 / 159

Anita McLAREN / Capital / Midfielder / 30 / 247

Olivia MERRY / Canterbury / Striker / 25 / 181

Stacey MICHELSEN / Northland / Defender / 26 / 244

Brooke NEAL / Northland / Defender / 25 / 131

Grace OHANLON / TBC / Goalkeeper / 25 / 24

Kirsten PEARCE / North Harbour / Striker / 26/ 93

Amy ROBINSON / Midlands / Striker / 21 / 40

Sally RUTHERFORD / Midlands / Goalkeeper / 36 / 155

Kelsey SMITH / Capital / Striker / 23 / 65

Kim TANNER / Midlands / Defender / 25 / 24

Liz THOMPSON / Auckland / Defender / 23 / 160

2018 WOMENS DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

Megan HULL (Midlands), Alia JAQUES (Midlands), Rachel McCANN (Canterbury), Felicity REIDY (Capital), Deanna RITCHIE (Auckland), Brooke ROBERTS (North Harbour), Catherine TINNING (Canterbury), Lulu TUILOTOLAVA (Auckland), Madeleine WILLIAMSON (North Harbour)



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