Otago school pupils Nick Elder (18) and Jeremy Morris (18) are the latest talent to emerge.
The New Zealand under-18 pair hope to follow in the footsteps of Hugo Inglis, Blair Tarrant and Kane Russell and make their way into the Black Sticks squad eventually.
For now they will have to settle for a chance to stick it to their Australian equivalents in a three-game series in Australia next month. But if they continue to work hard their dream of playing international hockey may become a reality sooner rather than later.
Both hail from Eastern Southland but moved to Dunedin to attend secondary school. Elder, who goes to Otago Boys High School, has been part of the New Zealand under-18 team for three years and has also played for the Southern Men for the past two seasons.
The midfielder first picked up a hockey stick when he was about 10 and has dreamed of playing international hockey ever since.
"Playing alongside Hugo, Blair and Kane this year was such a good learning experience," Nick said. "They taught me so much."
Morris, who attends John McGlashan College, is a striker and was called into the New Zealand under-18 side last month.
"It was pretty unexpected."
He has played alongside Russell for his club side Albion for the past three years and hopes to follow his team-mate into the national team.
