Nic Woods and Ella Gunson wore broad smiles yesterday when the New Zealand hockey squads for the coming year were named yesterday.
For Woods, a gifted 19-year-old midfielder, it was for his first inclusion in the national group; for Gunson, however, it was different.
She won the last of her 84 caps at the London Olympics in 2012, but has been absent since.
Gunson took a year out to enjoy a change of scene, studying at university in Boston. Last year she wasn't ready to return but, as a standout in a Northland side who reached the final at the National League finals last month, is back to bolster the midfield, and chuffed about it.
"Last year I wasn't fit enough but it fuelled the fire not being in the team and being out of the programme. I really missed it, and realised how much I loved it," Gunson, 25, said. Gunson is a good selection, considering coach Mark Hager has lost experience at both ends of the field, with the retirements of goalkeeper Bianca Russell and striker Krystal Forgesson, and the period of leave taken by classy veterans captain Kayla Whitelock and Emily Naylor.
"They are due to give a decision in a month or two whether they're prepared to commit to the programme for the next 12 months," Hager said of good friends Whitelock and Naylor.
"Both have indicated they're very keen to go to the Olympics in 2016."
Woods was among the standouts in a Midlands side who reached the men's national final. His promotion from the development group had seemed a matter of when, not if.
"He's got good strength about him," men's coach Colin Batch said. "His ability to receive the ball and come forward from midfield is something we want in the team and I think he can provide that."
Woods called his elevation "unreal. Even now I can't wipe the smile off my face".
The Wintec student from Hamilton knows he needs to take advantage of every opportunity.
The same would apply to the other new men's cap, Canterbury goalkeeper George Enerson.
There's an intriguing name in the 21-strong development group too, with the inclusion of 274-cap world class veteran Ryan Archibald.
He has been unavailable thanks to work and study commitments for the last couple of years, but has indicated to Batch his off-field obligations have eased in the coming year.
"He's getting to the older stage of international player and he needs to satisfy us from a physical point of view," Batch said of the 34-year-old. "But he's a pretty determined guy and he's well planned, so we've thrown him in the mix and we'll see what happens."
The women have a six-test series against the United States next month, and the 20-strong squad, co- captained by experienced Anita Punt and Sam Charlton, contains a good sprinkling of up-and-comers.
Three tests against Australia follow, plus the Champions Trophy in Argentina in December, the eight-nation international tournament in Hawkes Bay early next year, all work towards securing Olympic qualification in Belgium next year.
The men have four tests against Japan in the Wellington region next month, another home series in December, the regular Azlan Shan tournament in Malaysia in March, leading to the World League 3 event in Argentina in June, which is also an Olympic qualifier.
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NZ SQUADS
* Men: Marcus Child, Simon Child, Devon Manchester, Arun Panchia, Jared Panchia (Auckland), James Coughlan, Steve Edwards, George Muir (North Harbour), George Enersen, Nick Haig, Bradley Shaw (Canterbury). Andy Hayward, Nic Woods (Midlands), Blair Hilton, Stephen Jenness, Alex Shaw, Phil Burrows (Capital), Hugo Inglis, Blair Tarrant (Southern), Shea McAleese, Nick Wilson (Central).
* Women: Julia King, Katie Glynn, Liz Thompson (Auckland), Sam Charlton, Gemma Flynn, Rose Keddell, Sally Rutherford (Midlands), Sophie Cocks, Amelia Gibson, Jordan Grant, Olivia Merry (Canterbury), Stacey Michelsen, Ella Gunson, Brooke Neal (Northland), Rhiannon Dennison, Petrea Webster (North Harbour), Anita Punt, Anikawa Roberts (Capital), Michaela Curtis (Central).
* New Zealand women's squad to play United States in six-game series this month: Punt and Charlton (co-c), King, Thompson, Natasha Fitzsimons, Flynn, Shiloh Gloyn, Keddell (Midlands), Georgia Barnett (Central), Curtis, Cocks, Gibson, Grant, Merry, Pippa Hayward (Canterbury), Gunson, Neal, Kathryn Henry (North Harbour), Webster, Roberts.
NZH mb
