The Hockeyroos squad for next week’s Oceania Cup in New Zealand has been announced.
Following strong performances in the recent test series in Perth, National Junior Squad athletes Brooke Peris (NT) and Mathilda Carmichael (NSW) have been called up to take part in their first overseas tour with the Hockeyroos. Both were members of the Jillaroos side that competed at the Junior World Cup in Germany in August.
For the Hockeyroos, the tournament marks another important step in their journey up the international rankings and will play a significant part in the team’s preparation for the World League Finals in Argentina in four weeks. The Hockeyroos sit sixth in the world, just behind Germany and England who finished first and second in Europe’s continental championships in August. And while 2014 World Cup qualification is already assured, Head Coach Adam Commens is particularly keen to pitch his side against the tournament hosts and favourites, New Zealand, who have risen to third in the rankings on the back of a strong Olympic Games campaign in 2012.
“The Oceania Cup is a really important tournament for us,” said Commens. “We desperately want to regain the title having lost out in 2011, ‘09 and ‘07 and there are important ranking points at stake.
“New Zealand are number three in the world right now and are always really strong at home. But I think we’ve proved with our performances over the past month - against Argentina, at the International Super Series and against Canada - that we’re emerging.”
“We’ve named a strong line-up; one that will allow us to continue building depth within our squad. And while we’re missing a number of athletes we’ll look forward to welcoming back the likes of Teneal Attard [hamstring injury], Georgia Nanscawen [knee injury] and Kobie McGurk [personal commitments] soon.”
The Hockeyroos’ campaign begins with a mouth-watering trans-Tasman clash with the Black Sticks before matches against Samoa and Papua New Guinea. The tournament gets underway in Stratford, Taranki on New Zealand’s north island on Wednesday 30 October with the medal matches taking place on Sunday 3 November.
Australia’s men’s team, the Kookaburras, are also in action at the Oceania Cup against the same opponents. They open against Samoa before playing New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Australia’s matches against New Zealand plus the medal matches will be live streamed online by Hockey New Zealand.
Hockeyroos squad for Oceania Cup
Madonna Blyth (Brisbane, QLD)
Edwina Bone (Evatt, ACT)
Mathilda Carmichael (Willoughby, NSW)
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA)
Casey Eastham (Albion Park, NSW)
Anna Flanagan (Canberra, ACT)
Jordyn Holzberger (Ipswich, QLD)
Kate Jenner (Tamworth, NSW)
Kirstin Johnson (Mackay, QLD)
Rachael Lynch (Melbourne, VIC)
Claire Messent (Melbourne, VIC)
Ashleigh Nelson (Wagin, WA)
Georgie Parker (Adelaide, SA)
Brooke Peris (Darwin, NT)
Jodie Schulz (Wamuran, QLD)
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW)
Ashlee Wells (GK) (Moe, VIC)
Kellie White (Crookwell, NSW)
Source: Hockey Australia
