WAIS Duo Selected in Women’s Junior World Cup Squad

Hockey Australia recently announced the women’s Junior World Cup squad consisting of twenty four players. WAIS scholarship holders Paige Collins (19) and Kate Denning (18) were both included in the talent squad.

From this squad of twenty four, a team will be selected to compete at the 2009 Junior World Cup in Boston, USA from August 4-16. Even Despite the relative inexperience of the squad, women’s junior coach Katrina Powell says she believes the squad is well prepared for the junior cup.

Nine of the twenty four players recently competed in the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival and Junior World Cup Qualifier which demonstrates the high experience and preparation level of many of the squad members.

“We have recently exposed several players to high pressure tournaments in order to prepare them for what they can expect at the Junior World Cup. With this in mind, the players have preformed quite well at these tournaments, and I believe we have had a great build up to the event which will continue as we approach August,” said Powell.

Kate Denning will be emulating her mother Elspeth Denning, who won gold as part of the Hockeyroos squad at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Collins will be hoping to cement a spot in goals for the team, following a series of strong performances in the recent AHL competition for the WA Diamonds.

There is no doubt the ability and young talent of the selected team will help lead them to success in the upcoming Junior World Cup in August this year.