The Central Otago men’s team will make history tomorrow.
They are competing in the men’s third-tier section at the National Hockey Championship (NHC) for the first time.
Central Otago has previously competed at smaller tournaments and Otago County has flown the flag for the region.
But this is the first time they have contested the NHC as Central Otago.
The team has whistled in some help from outside the region.
Three Otago lads are helping out for the week.
Defender Sam Schell and the Stevens brothers, Harry and Josh, play their hockey in Dunedin.
There is another set of brothers in the team — twins Oliver and Thomas Hart.
Striker Nic Browett is one of the more experienced players in the side and midfielder Sam Fitzgerald is a seasoned player.
Schell has plenty of pace at the back and good vision.
Sam Pimm has the big pads and is trusted with keeping the goals out of the net.
Central Otago have a tough opening game against the Canterbury Cobras tomorrow evening.
They play Southland on Monday and those two teams played a couple of warm games.
The first was a high-scoring draw and Central Otago won the second 3-0.
The other two round-robin games are against Bay of Plenty on Tuesday and Tasman on Wednesday.
They are in uncharted waters, so the team's focus is on improving in every match and hopefully picking up the odd win.
Men’s NHC
Central Otago squad: Angus Drinnan, Arron Harvie, Ben Pilet, Cain Wilkinson, Cody Richardson, Harry Stevens, Jack Small, Jack Stuart, Josh Stevens, Nic Browett, Oliver Hart, Sam Fitzgerald, Sam Schell, Sam Pimm, Thomas Hart, Will Anderson.
Draw
• v Canterbury Cobras, tomorrow, 6pm
• v Southland, Monday, 2.45pm
• v Bay of Plenty, Tuesday, 9.15am
• v Tasman, Wednesday, 2.45pm
