Saturday, December 21, 2013

Black Sticks eves to feature in international tourney in USA

New Zealand women's hockey team will feature in a four-nation international tournament slated to be held in the United States from February 6-20 next year.

The venue of the tournament is yet to be confirmed, and the event will pit New Zealand eves alongside hosts USA, England and one more nation, whose confirmation is yet to be sealed.

Black Sticks coach Mark Hager has inducted several changes in the side, calling up veterans Emily Naylor and Bianca Russell to the national fold. Emily Naylor will bring plenty of experience to the side having made 225 international appearances. Both Emily Naylor and Bianca Russell were not part of the New Zealand side for the Hockey World League Final in Argentina.

Bianca Russell will replace fellow goalkeeper Sally Rutherford.

Stacey Michelsen, Aniwaka Roberts and Rose Keddell mark a return to the side after recovering from their respective injuries. Hager has also included the likes of strikers Michaela Curtis and Sian Fremaux.

The USA tournament assumes a lot of importance given the 2014 Women’s World Cup is just months away and quite obviously a lot of places are for grabs.

New Zealand had finished fifth at the Hockey World League Final in Argentina earlier this month.

The squad: Sam Charlton, Sophie Cocks, Michaela Curtis, Rhiannon Dennison, Krystal Forgesson, Gemma Flynn, Sian Fremaux, Amelia Gibson, Rose Keddell, Olivia Merry, Stacey Michelsen, Emily Naylor, Brooke Neal, Anita Punt, Aniwaka Roberts, Bianca Russell, Kayla Sharland, Liz Thompson, Petrea Webster.

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