Black Sticks open Doar for teenage talent

Madison Doar has risen through the ranks to debut for the Vantage Black Sticks at just 17. Photo/Photosport.nz

The most coveted door in New Zealand women's hockey has opened for one of Northland's top young talents.

Madison Doar, 17, made her Vantage Black Sticks debut during the recent five match home series against India and looked right at home on the international stage.

It was a call up the former Kamo Intermediate and Whangarei Girls' High School pupil was not listening out for.

"I was definitely not expecting the call up at all," she said.

"I got an email from Mark (Hager, the Black Sticks coach) inviting me to come along to some trainings and then, after some injuries came up, they put me in the side which was really exciting."

Doar got to take the field alongside fellow Northlanders Ella Gunson, Stacey Michelsen, Brooke Neal and Sam Harrison in the series.

She said it was crazy playing alongside players she watched growing up in front of her family and friends.

"It was amazing playing with them because I grew up watching these girls play. I'm quite good family friends with a few of the girls so playing alongside them was a fantastic experience," Doar said.

"My family came down for all of the games. My grandparents came down for them, my parents, everyone was there which was great.

"I had a lot of mates watching the game on Facebook as well which was really cool."

Madison Doar celebrates her first international goal with her new teammates. Photo/Photosport.nz

It took just two outings for the (insert position here) for Doar to score her first goal in the black uniform.

After gathering possession, Doar spun around and slammed the goal in much to the delight of her and her teammates.

Nothing too complicated was going through Doar's mind when the ball shot towards her in the circle.

"I was just thinking 'hit the ball and worry about the rest later'.

"I wasn't really expecting it to come to me and then it went in and I was in shock. It was so cool!"

Doar put a lot of credence on Northland in her development into a top young hockey player, saying it gave her the bug.

"When I was in Northland I really honed my passion for the game," she said.

"I really loved hockey when I was young. I had Stacey's (Michelsen) mum coach me when I was in intermediate. We went to AIMS Games together.

"We had Stacey at some of the trainings and it really put a fire inside of me. It made me want to get better and be as good as the Northland girls."

Doar is now finishing her final year at school at St Cuthbert's in Auckland, training six times a week and has her sights on university and more hockey.

As for her hockey future, she has goals.

"I'd love to play more games for the Black Sticks and going to the Olympics is a dream of mine but yeah, we'll have to wait and see."