WAIS Pair Selected in Junior Men’s Hockey Squad

Two WAIS athletes have been named in Hockey Australia’s Junior World Cup Qualifier squad for matches against New Zealand in December.

Chris Bausor and Justin Knapp were both named in the squad whilst former WAIS preparatory squad member Trent Mitton was selected in Hockey Australia’s youth Olympic Festival squad.

The Junior World Cup Qualifier squad will take on New Zealand in a three test qualification series in Brisbane from December 11-14, 2008.

A squad of 16 will also compete against India, Malaysia and Great Britain at the AYOF in Sydney from January 6-18, 2009.

Nine players will compete in both squads. As per the situation with the women’s junior squads which were announced last week, several players were unable to be selected for the AYOF squad due to age restrictions as players turning 22 or over during the year of competition are ineligible.

The squad competing at the Junior World Cup Qualifier will first be put through their paces at a training camp a week prior.

Former Kookaburras player Jason Duff will coach both squads and says his overall aim is to develop a squad capable of winning the 2009 Junior World Cup in Malaysia and Singapore in June 2009.

“While it may be in the back of the players minds to try and impress the newly appointed national coach in Ric Charlesworth, from a coaching point of view the focus will be on squad and team development for the Junior World Cup.” Said Duff.

“All the players have been in our system for some time now, so they are aware of our processes and the way we like to play,”