Hockey: Four Northlanders crack Black Sticks squad

Ella Gunson is one of four Northlanders named in the Vantage Black Sticks squad for the Oceania Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Northland have been rewarded for their finals appearance at the Ford National Hockey League with three selections in the Vantage Black Sticks.

Head coach Mark Hager has named an in-form Vantage Black Sticks Women's side to contest next month's Oceania Cup in Sydney.

The team of 18 include 11 players who competed in Sunday's Ford National Hockey League final between Midlands and Northland.

Ella Gunson, Stacey Michelsen and Brooke Neal all competed in that match for Northland, while Sam Harrison plies her trade for Auckland.

A versatile defender, Michelsen is the most capped player with 235 tests to her name and she is joined by eight others who have played more than 100 games.

There are likely to be two significant milestones chalked up during the event, with Samantha Charlton just one match away from her 200th test while goalkeeper Sally Rutherford is currently on 147 caps.

North Harbour defender Stephanie Dickins and Midlands defender/midfielder Tarryn Davey have both been rewarded for an impressive performance throughout the week at the Ford NHL.

"We have a few changes from our team which played at the World League semifinal in Belgium and I think it shows the quality of depth we have with competition for spots," Hager said.

"Steph Dickins and Tarryn Davey in particular were great contributors for their teams at the Ford NHL and they will bring athleticism for us along with fitness, speed and versatility.

"While we have already qualified for the World Cup we will be going to the Oceania Cup with plenty of motivation and team goals in the lead up to the Hockey World League final in Auckland this November."

The Oceania Cup runs from October 11-15 at the Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre where New Zealand will be joined by hosts Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Held every two years, the Oceania Cup is the continental championship for the Oceania region with the winner of each gender automatically qualifying for the 2018 Hockey World Cup.

Both the Vantage Black Sticks women and men have already qualified for the World Cup, with the women's event in London (July 2018) and the men's in India (November 2018).

Each nation will play each other in the pool rounds before the two top-ranked nations face off in the gold medal match for the Oceania Cup title.

Vantage Black Sticks squad:
Sam Charlton (Midlands)
Frances Davies (Midlands)
Tarryn Davey (Midlands)
Steph Dickins (North Harbour)
Natasha Fitzsimmons (Midlands)
Shiloh Gloyn (Midlands)
Ella Gunson (Northland)
Sam Harrison (Auckland)
Rose Keddell (Midlands)
Rachel McCann (Canterbury)
Olivia Merry (Canterbury)
Stacey Michelsen (Northland)
Brooke Neal (Northland)
Grace O'Hanlon (Auckland)
Amy Robinson (Midlands)
Sally Rutherford (Midlands)
Kelsey Smith (Capital)
Liz Thompson (Auckland)