Four WAIS athletes have been named in Hockey Australia’s squad of 25 for the up-coming 2009 Junior World Cup, which is to be held in Singapore and Malaysia during June.
Midfielders Travis Taylor, Chris Bausor and Matt Boyce will be joined in the squad by striker Trent Mitton as the team looks to emulate the success that much of the squad recently enjoyed at the 2009 AYOF in Sydney.
25 of Australia’s best young players were given extra incentive on the eve of the 2009 Australian Hockey League, following the announcement of the squad.
Whilst 25 players have been selected in the squad, that number will be reduced to 18-20 before Australia departs for the tournament which will be held from 7-21 June.
WAIS men’s Head hockey Coach David Bell said that it was encouraging to see members of the WAIS elite squad continuing their development through representative ranks.
“It certainly was brilliant to see four WAIS squad members included in the squad of 25,” he said. “Travis and Trent have come through under 18’s and it is a positive reflection of their ongoing development.”
“Chris has shown continual improvement whilst selectors have held faith in Matt Boyce, knowing what he can do, as he has had injury concerns recently.”
“Matt will now need to show that he is fit and ready to go to keep himself in the squad,” said Bell.
Bell was quick to point out that a lot can happen between the time of squads being announced and competition commencing.
“I think they’re all aware that this is just stage one, it’s equally important they enjoy a strong AHL campaign and put in a solid effort at the training camp in Darwin,” said Bell.
The former Kookaburras defender also revealed how the announcement came as a mixed blessing after WAIS athlete Justin Knapp was overlooked, having been a regular addition in previous squads.
“The boys will be hurting that Justin was not included in the squad, they are a tight squad and they will feel his exclusion,” he said.
The players will be given an opportunity to impress selectors at the upcoming 2009 Australian Hockey League competition, with round one for the men to begin on Friday 6th March and conclude during a finals week in Hobart from April 6-12.
Concluding the AHL, the players will be put through their final paces
during an intensive training and selection camp in Darwin from April
23 – May 1, allowing them an opportunity to acclimatise to the humidity expected throughout the Junior World Cup.
“The Kookaburras played a tournament against China, India and Korea in Darwin prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and it provided them with a
good example of the weather conditions they were expected to face at the Beijing Olympics, so we expect to achieve something similar with
our camp in Darwin,” said National men’s junior coach Jason Duff.
While the squad has three debutants in David Collins, Todd Devlin and Travis Taylor, the remainder players have recently gained much needed
experience through the 2009 Junior World Cup Qualifier against New
Zealand in late 2008.
Furthermore, several players in the squad were part of the Australian gold medal winning Australian Youth Olympic Festival squad who competed recently in Sydney.
“Although the players are young, they have been well prepared and know what it takes to compete at a world level,” said Duff.
