2017 International Hockey Teams Announced.

Hockey Australia has announced its international squads for 2017 with both men’s and women’s teams featuring an eye towards the future.

 

The squads will form the core group of athletes identified as pathway talent for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

 

Newly appointed Kookaburras Head Coach, Colin Batch has named a squad including only nine representatives from the team selected for Rio.

 

That squad includes WA talents Aran Zalewski, Tyler Lovell and Trent Mitton.

 

Batch said, “we’ve taken a long-term view with this selection, and it’s based upon building the team through the next four-year cycle so that we are successful at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”

 

“We have gone with a squad who we think are talented individuals, and who will benefit from the development opportunities they can be given in the training environment with the national squad as we look to triumph in Tokyo.”

 

The Hockeyroos squad which will be led by new head coach Paul Gaudoin, includes WA athlete and 2016 Olympian Kathryn Slattery amongst a national team of 23 members.

 

Gaudoin said: “The 2017 squad has been chosen as we look to develop the team that we believe will give us the best possible chance of success in Tokyo 2020.

“With some of our senior Hockeyroos taking time away from the sport, it has given us the chance to call some of our development team up to the national squad and give them the opportunity to further their development as a part of the centralised training program in Perth and perform within the squad.

“It’s an exciting time for the squad, as it always is at the beginning of a new Olympic cycle, and we’ll be looking at doing things a little differently so that we become a more flexible, versatile and unpredictable team.” 

 

Both squads will assemble in Perth next March, with international competition set to commence soon after.

 

-HockeyAus