Hockey: Player named in junior cup squad

Tauranga's Amy Robinson has been selected in the Junior Black Sticks side to play Australia. Photo / Planet Hockey

Amy Robinson's dream of scoring the goal to win an Olympic medal for the Black Sticks is a major step closer.

The multi-talented, 19-year-old athlete from Tauranga was named in the squad of 22 players for the Women's Junior World Cup qualifier to be held on Australia's Gold Coast from January 18-24. The top two finishers at the tournament are guaranteed a spot at the FIH Women's Junior World Cup being held in December 2016 in Santiago, Chile.

Robinson and her new teammates will get a taste for international competition with 40 players set to come to Auckland for the Junior Black Sticks training camp from December 4 to 7.

"I always wanted to make the team and am just happy that I am taking the right stepping stones," Robinson said. "I went to Holland earlier on in the year with the Future Black Sticks and then the NHL (National Hockey League) helped with selection for the Junior World Cup qualifier.

"It doesn't mean you are going to be a Black Stick but it is all about playing international games and getting that little bit more experience."

Robinson is a renowned track athlete, having represented New Zealand in long jump, hurdles and sprint events at Youth Olympics and also represented New Zealand at beach volleyball.

But rather than have to put her summer of athletics on hold, she has been encouraged by Hockey NZ to continue.

"I move up to open (age group) this summer for athletics so it is going to be hard anyway.

"I am not expecting too much this season in terms of gaining medals and stuff but I guess I can still do PBs.

"It helps my hockey so much. It is such an advantage now for me that the hockey high performance coaches want us to do athletics."

Robinson holds Tauranga's established Black Sticks Gemma Flynn, Sam Charlton and Rose Keddell as the benchmark to reach.

"I have always looked up to Gemma Flynn ever since I was young.

"She went through Tauranga Girls' and Tauranga Intermediate like I did so she was the main one.

"Then I got to play with Rose in the Tauranga rep team when I was younger and this year I was lucky enough to play with all three in the Midlands NHL team.

"How hard they work at training has been the big learning."

Robinson is in the second year of a three-year degree in Sport and Recreation at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.

Tauranga's Frances Davies was also selected for the Future Black Sticks squad but had to withdraw because of work commitments.