27 Sep 2017

Experienced Black Sticks squad named

12:39 pm on 27 September 2017

Head coach Mark Hager has named an experienced Black Sticks Women's side to contest next month's Oceania Cup in Sydney.

The team of 18 includes 11 players who competed in Sunday's National Hockey League final between Midlands and Northland.

Players celebrates Olivia Merry's goal.

Players celebrates Olivia Merry's goal. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Versatile defender Stacey Michelsen is the most capped player with 235 tests to her name while she is joined by eight others who have played over 100 games.

There are likely to be two significant milestones chalked up during the event with Samantha Charlton just one match away from her 200th test while goalkeeper Sally Rutherford is currently on 147 caps.

North Harbour defender Stephanie Dickins and Midlands defender/midfielder Tarryn Davey have both been rewarded for an impressive performance throughout the week at the NHL.

"We have a few changes from our team which played at the World League Semi Final in Belgium and I think it shows the quality of depth we have with competition for spots," Hager said.

"Steph Dickins and Tarryn Davey in particular were great contributors for their teams at the Ford NHL and they will bring athleticism for us along with fitness, speed and versatility.

"While we have already qualified for the World Cup we will be going to the Oceania Cup with plenty of motivation and team goals in the lead up to the Hockey World League Final in Auckland this November."

The Oceania Cup runs from 11-15 October at the Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre where New Zealand will be joined by hosts Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Held every two years, the Oceania Cup is the continental championship for the Oceania region with the winner of each gender automatically qualifying for the 2018 Hockey World Cup.

Both the Vantage Black Sticks Women and Men have already qualified for the World Cup, with the women's event in London (July, 2018) and the men's in India (November, 2018).

Each nation will play each other in the pool rounds before the top two ranked nations face off in the gold medal match for the Oceania Cup title.

CLICK HERE for more on the 2017 Oceania Cup

BLACK STICKS WOMEN - OCEANIA CUP

11-15 October - Sydney, Australia

PLAYER NAME REGION POSITION AGE CAPS

Sam CHARLTON Midlands Defender 25 199

Frances DAVIES Midlands Defender 21 25

Tarryn DAVEY Midlands Def/Midfielder 21 7

Steph DICKINS North Harbour Defender 22 7

Natasha FITZSIMONS Midlands Defender 28 86

Shiloh GLOYN Midlands Striker/Midr 28 43

Ella GUNSON Northland Defender 27 168

Sam HARRISON Auckland Striker 25 124

Rose KEDDELL Midlands Defender 22 151

Rachel McCANN Canterbury Striker 23 62

Olivia MERRY Canterbury Striker 24 172

Stacey MICHELSEN Northland Defender 25 235

Brooke NEAL Northland Defender 24 122

Grace O'HANLON Auckland Goalkeeper 24 17

Amy ROBINSON Midlands Midfielder/Striker 21 31

Sally RUTHERFORD Midlands Goalkeeper 35 147

Kelsey SMITH Capital Midfielder/Striker 22 57

Liz THOMPSON Auckland Defender/Midfielder 22 151