News 24 June 2014
All the news for Tuesday 24 June 2014
Squads named for Glasgow
Australian men's and women's teams announced for Commonwealth Games
The Australian Commonwealth Games Association is pleased to announce the Australian men’s and women’s hockey teams nominated by Hockey Australia for the Commonwealth Games, which begin next month in Glasgow. Both teams are looking to defend the titles won four years ago.
Perry Crosswhite, Australian Commonwealth Games Association CEO, said, "Hockey has been one of our most successful sports since it came onto the program in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, the men winning all four gold medals and the women three gold and one bronze.
"The sport enjoyed great results at its recent World Cup. Despite some changes after that success, our expectations remain high for both the men's and women's teams."
For many of the athletes selected, Glasgow 2014 will provide a first taste of the Commonwealth Games with nine men and nine women in the two squads of 16 set to compete at their first Commonwealth Games.
Trish Heberle, Hockey Australia High Performance Director, said, “The Commonwealth Games is a benchmark event and we have set high targets around achieving gold medals with our men’s and women’s teams.
“For those athletes and coaches selected it’s a tremendous honour to be part of a larger Australian team comprising multiple sports and I know that they will feel enormous pride when representing Australia on this global stage.
“As always, nominating our squads has involved difficult decisions. The men’s group is a mix of experienced leadership and fresh young legs with several athletes coming in who were unfortunate to miss out on World Cup selection earlier in the year. For our women’s squad the Commonwealth Games represents a great opportunity to consolidate the excellent progress made in the past 18 months and continue the journey, building on the confidence that the World Cup silver medal has delivered.
“We’re very grateful for the invaluable support that Hockey Australia receives from the Australian Commonwealth Games Association in helping to prepare our athletes at senior and junior levels.”
Mark Knowles leads a team that contains 12 of the World Cup winning side that triumphed in The Hague recently with Australian junior captain Daniel Beale from Queensland, Western Australian Trent Mitton, Victorian Andrew Philpott and New South Wales’ Tristan White the four new faces.
Knowles competed at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the 2010 tournament in New Delhi while Chris Ciriello, Fergus Kavanagh, Trent Mitton, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard and Matthew Swann were also part of the side that beat India 8-0 in the 2010 final.
Northern Territory youngster Jeremy Hayward, 21, is selected having made his senior international debut in March and after being named Young Player of the Tournament at the World Cup. Beale, Andrew Charter, Matthew Gohdes, Kieran Govers, Philpott, Jake Whetton, White and Aran Zalewski will all compete in their first Commonwealth Games.
Graham Reid and Paul Gaudoin have been appointed joint Head Coaches for the men’s team at the Commonwealth Games following Ric Charlesworth’s decision to finish his commitments with the team prior to the Games.
Cam Vale, Hockey Australia Chief Executive, said, “Both Graham and Paul have worked under Ric over the last five years and, alongside Assistant Coach Ben Bishop, have been an integral part of the team’s achievements, whilst also coaching in their own right in the last 12 months at the Oceania Cup and Junior World Cup respectively. With a short turnaround between the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games this approach is the one that will give us the best chance of maximising our chances of success in Glasgow.”
Women’s captain Madonna Blyth is also set to compete at her third Commonwealth Games having won gold at the 2006 and 2010 tournaments. She leads a team containing 15 of the side that recently won the silver medal at the World Cup.
21 year-old NT forward Brooke Peris is one of those set to make her Commonwealth Games debut and is the one addition to the World Cup group. Peris is the cousin of Senator Nova Peris who won two gold medals in athletics at the 1998 Games in Kuala Lumpur and an Olympic gold medal for hockey at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games. Edwina Bone, Jane Claxton, Jodie Kenny, Karri McMahon, Georgia Nanscawen, Georgie Parker, Emily Smith and Kellie White will make their maiden Commonwealth Games appearances in Glasgow.
Seven of their teammates were part of the side that beat New Zealand on penalties four years ago to clinch gold. Alongside Blyth, Casey Eastham, Anna Flanagan, Kate Jenner, Rachael Lynch, Ashleigh Nelson and Jayde Taylor all featured in the 2-2 draw with Nelson scoring in the match.
Australia’s coaching teams also have strong Commonwealth Games history with women’s Head Coach Adam Commens and his assistants Jason Duff and Mark Hickman having won the gold medal at the inaugural hockey tournament in 1998 while playing alongside men’s coach Paul Gaudoin. Hickman, Gaudoin and women's Assistant Coach Craig Victory also won the gold medal in 2002.
Australian men’s hockey team for the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014
Athlete, (Hometown), Commonwealth Games history
Daniel Beale (Brisbane, QLD) Debut
Andrew Charter (GK) (Canberra, ACT) Debut
Chris Ciriello (Melbourne, VIC) 2010
Matt Gohdes (Rockhampton, QLD) Debut
Kieran Govers (Wollongong, NSW) Debut
Jeremy Hayward (Darwin, NT) Debut
Fergus Kavanagh (Geraldton, WA) 2010
Mark Knowles (Rockhampton, QLD) 2006, 2010
Trent Mitton (Perth, WA) 2010
Eddie Ockenden (Hobart, TAS) 2010
Simon Orchard (Maitland, NSW) 2010
Andrew Philpott (Melbourne, VIC) Debut
Matthew Swann (Mackay, QLD) 2010
Jake Whetton (Brisbane, QLD) Debut
Tristan White (Wollongong, NSW) Debut
Aran Zalewski (Margaret River, WA) Debut
Men’s Commonwealth Games Hockey
Year, Location, Gold | Silver | Bronze
1998 Kuala Lumpur, MAS, Australia | Malaysia | England
2002 Manchester, ENG, Australia | New Zealand | Pakistan
2006 Melbourne, AUS, Australia | Pakistan | Malaysia
2010 New Delhi, IND, Australia | India | New Zealand
Australian women’s hockey team for the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014
Athlete, (Hometown), Commonwealth Games history
Madonna Blyth (Brisbane, QLD) 2006, 2010
Edwina Bone (Evatt, ACT) Debut
Jane Claxton (Adelaide, SA) Debut
Casey Eastham (South Coast, NSW) 2010
Anna Flanagan (Canberra, ACT) 2010
Kate Jenner (Tamworth, NSW) 2010
Jodie Kenny (Wamuran, QLD) Debut
Rachael Lynch (GK) (Melbourne, VIC) 2010
Karri McMahon (Berri, SA) Debut
Georgia Nanscawen (Melbourne, VIC) Debut
Ashleigh Nelson (Wagin, WA) 2010
Georgie Parker (Berri, SA) Debut
Brooke Peris (Darwin, NT) Debut
Emily Smith (Crookwell, NSW) Debut
Jayde Taylor (Bunbury, WA) 2010
Kellie White (Crookwell, NSW) Debut
Women’s Commonwealth Games Hockey
Year, Location, Gold | Silver | Bronze
1998 Kuala Lumpur, MAS, Australia | England | New Zealand
2002 Manchester, ENG, India | England | Australia
2006 Melbourne, AUS, Australia | India | England
2010 New Delhi, IND, Australia | New Zealand | England
Hockey Australia media release
Emily Hurtz retires
World Cup silver medallist to leave international hockey for study
After 85 appearances and 30 goals for the Hockeyroos, Emily Hurtz has announced her decision to retire from international hockey with immediate effect.
The 24 year-old forward from Camden, NSW, made the decision after winning the World Cup silver medal with the Hockeyroos and informed team management last week ahead of selection for the Commonwealth Games.
She said, “It hasn’t been an easy decision for me to make, especially considering the recent successes of the Hockeyroos, however, I strongly feel that this is the correct decision for myself at this point in time as I plan to recommence my studies full time and pursue other aspects of my life.”
Since her debut against South Africa in 2009 Hurtz has won a Commonwealth Games gold medal, World Cup silver medal, Champions Trophy silver, gold at the World League semi-final tournament and gold at the 2012 Champions Challenge.
Hockey Australia media release
Five Canberra hockey stars off to Commonwealth Games, but Turner misses
David Polkinghorne
Canberra's Andrew Charter has become one of the world's best goalkeepers. Photo: Grant Treeby
Canberra Lakers striker Glenn Turner is disappointed he missed out on the Kookaburras' Commonwealth Games squad, but if Australia's emphatic World Cup victory is his last international appearance then he couldn't ask for a better send-off.
Five hockey players from the Canberra region have been selected to represent Australia at next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, but Turner's omission wasn't the only major shock with Kookaburras legend Jamie Dwyer also overlooked.
Dwyer's absence sparked fears the international career of one of the game's all-time greats could be over after the 35-year-old recently expressed his desire to go to Glasgow.
Crookwell's Emily Smith. Photo: Brendan Esposito
The five-time world player of the year needs just one more appearance to set a new Kookaburras record of 322 caps.
Canberra goalkeeper Andrew Charter, who experienced heartache when he narrowly missed out on the London Olympic Games team two years ago, was picked for the Kookaburras, while superstar Anna Flanagan, Edwina Bone, Kellie White and Emily Smith will all suit up for the Hockeyroos, who finished with silver at the World Cup.
Both teams will be shooting for gold in Glasgow as they look to defend their Commonwealth Games crowns following gold medals in Delhi in 2010.
Goulburn's Glenn Turner has been left out of the Commonwealth Games squad.
Turner, who scored a goal in the Kookaburras' 6-1 rout of The Netherlands in the World Cup final less than two weeks ago, said the door was still open and he'll make a decision on whether he wants to press on to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro later in the year.
While the 30-year-old wanted to go to Glasgow, he understood the reasons behind his omission, with a younger squad selected with one eye on the future.
His mum, dad and aunty were all planning to go to Scotland before Turner warned them changes could be afoot.
Canberra's Edwina Bone. Photo: Getty Images
But there was one massive positive for Turner. He's only spent four weeks at his Goulburn home with his young family so far this year and will now get to spend more time with his 15-month-old son Bodhi.
"I'd love to go, but after I knew I wasn't going it's hard to top what we did [at the World Cup]," Turner said.
"Going to the Comm Games would be so much fun and hopefully the guys will win.
Canberra's Anna Flanagan and father Fred. Photo: Graham Tidy
"To me, we're top of the world at the moment ... if I don't ever play for Australia again I'll be happy. But who knows, a couple of month's rest and I could get the bug back."
Turner was looking forward to playing club hockey with Goulburn in the Hockey ACT's capital league 1, with an eye on helping the Lakers to an Australian Hockey League title in Melbourne in September.
He said retired super coach Ric Charlesworth had left big boots to fill, but was confident he's left a good system in place to ensure ongoing Kookaburras success.
Kellie White.
Turner said Charter had clearly established himself as Australia's, if not the world's, best keeper.
"At the World Cup it was just so good to watch him perform the way we know he can," Turner said.
"He was most people's pick as the goalkeeper of the tournament, he didn't get the award, but he was definitely my pick."
KOOKABURRAS SQUAD: Daniel Beale, Andrew Charter (GK), Chris Ciriello, Matt Gohdes, Kieran Govers, Jeremy Hayward, Fergus Kavanagh, Mark Knowles, Trent Mitton, Eddie Ockenden, Simon Orchard, Andrew Philpott, Matthew Swann, Jake Whetton, Tristan White, Aran Zalewski.
HOCKEYROOS SQUAD: Madonna Blyth, Edwina Bone, Jane Claxton, Casey Eastham, Anna Flanagan, Kate Jenner, Jodie Kenny, Rachael Lynch (GK), Karri McMahon, Georgia Nanscawen, Ashleigh Nelson, Georgie Parker, Brooke Peris, Emily Smith, Jayde Taylor, Kellie White.
Canberra Times
England hockey star Ashleigh Ball suffers knee ligament injury
By Graham Wilson-484306.jpg)
Ashleigh Ball (c) is out for nine months with a knee ligament injury[GETTY]
ASHLEIGH BALL is out for nine months after tearing knee ligaments in the final match of England’s World Cup in The Hague.
Ball went down after an innocuous tackle against Belgium in the play-off for 11th place which England won on a penalty shootout.
She will miss the Investec London Cup at the new Lee Valley stadium at the Olympic Park, in east London, which takes place from Wednesday, July 9 to Sunday, July 13, and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Lee Valley stadium, an Olympic legacy facility, was officially opened last week and the Investec Cup will feature England women, Scotland, South Africa and Wales, while England men, who finished fourth in the World Cup, will be playing Ireland, South Africa and Scotland.
Daily Express
St Germain the French champs; Racing into EHL too
Image: C Simoneau/Fédération Française de Hockey
Saint Germain claimed the French title last Sunday as they saw off Racing Club 4-1 in a powerful performance, picking up the title for the sixth time in their history.
It meant they qualified for the Euro Hockey League along with Racing taking the place of Lille - last weekend's final hosts - in the marquee club competition in the continent.
Racing got off to a great start as Jean David Koch scored a penalty corner but were son pegged back when Hugo Genestet reacted quickest to equalise, shooting a corner into the top left corner.
Blaise Rogeau then put the navy side in front and they were 3-1 ahead courtesy of Charles Verrier's goal at half-time. Fifteen minutes from the end, the towering Jean-Baptiste Pauchet completed the victory.
Speaking about the win, St Germain coach Pascal Poulenc said: "We had a difficult first quarter but we ended having control over the final. It is a bit like the regular season when we had the power.
"We have indeed benefited from the return of Tom Genestet who started the year in Belgium and the arrival of some players. With this expanded squad, we raised our game.
"This is our sixth title in under ten years and it is a family affair but it will probably be harder next year with the departure of several players to the Belgian league, making it the start of a new cycle."
Euro Hockey League media release
Michailidis enjoys time at Masters Field Hockey
Rich DePreta
Mary Michailidis travelled thousands of miles to find the answer to a simple question.
"My life has come full circle. Field Hockey is bringing me joy again," Michailidis said. "I found out I still love field hockey."
Michailidis, currently an assistant principal at Brien McMahon High School and a former Stamford High field hockey coach, participated on the USA Masters age 50 Women's Team at the 2014 FIH Masters Field Hockey World Cup in Rotterdam, Holland.
"Holland is a field hockey hotbed. Soccer is the No. 1 team sport but field hockey is No. 2," Michailidis said. "The Masters Cup was played at the Hockey Club of Rotterdam. They have Field Hockey Country Clubs like we have golf country clubs in the U.S. There were seven artificial turf fields in this complex."
Michailidis, who was an All-American field hockey player at the University of North Carolina, worked out since January to be part of the U.S. squad that faced Australia, England, Ireland, Wales, New Zealand and the Netherlands in the tourney.
"Our team finished 0-6, but our best score was a 4-1 loss," Michailidis said. "The other countries have well-established field hockey programs. We were the first USA women's team to compete at this international venue. We were clearly in the Lions' Den."
At the same time the Masters Cup was being played, the Rabobank Field Hockey World Cup was taking place about 45 minutes away at The Hague.
"I did get to see the U.S. National Field Hockey team play three games at the World Cup at The Hague. The Dutch team won that gold medal," Michailidis said. "It was so refreshing to be in a country where field hockey is important. It was emotional to see people my age playing field hockey. At times for me it was like watching a dream unfold. For most people, being age 50 means go buy a sports car. For me, it meant try out and play for the U.S. National Masters Field Hockey team."
Michailidis returned from her two weeks in Holland in time for McMahon High's graduation ceremonies.
And she has a few resolutions going forward.
"I worked so hard to get in shape that I'm not going to regress. I'm at the gym every day maintaining my fitness," Michailidis said. "I want to be ready to go when the next opportunity appears. The next field hockey Masters Cup is in two years in Australia. We'll see how the future goes in the interim. It is something to think about."
The Stamford Advocate
South Africa’s oldest living Springbok hockey player turns 91
JONATHAN COOK
Stephen “Steve” de Wet, the last surviving member of the first Springbok team, with his daughter Karen who also represented Natal for many years. Photo: SUPPLIED
South Africa’s oldest living Springbok hockey player turned 91 on May 25.
Stephen “Steve” de Wet is the last surviving member of the first Springbok team, which played Tests in 1948.
Stephen was a land surveyor and represented Natal as a player and manager and selector.
He recently moved from Pietermaritzburg to a retirement home in Pinetown with his wife Joy.
Still spritely and in good health, hockey must be good for you!
South African Hockey Union XI 4 September 1948
Back Row (L to R): C.G.Mitchell, R. Pearse, G.P.Fenwick, W.R. Endean, P.A.Dobson.
Front Row: G.H.Surtees, J.H.M.Pickerill, C.V.Irvine (Capt.), H.E.Parker (Manager), S.F. De Wet. H.Downey, F.G.Hilder. Photo: Martin Gibbs