Long hockey links do Northland proud

There's just something about Northlanders and hockey that seems to click.

For years we've had a number of talented athletes appearing in national teams, doing not only themselves proud but also the region.

Having the Black Sticks in Northland last week gave locals a chance to see not only top international hockey but our New Zealand representatives, including Charlotte Harrison's comeback to the international arena after a short, self-imposed break to play hockey in Belgium, alongside her younger sister Sam.

One of the hidden gems amongst the New Zealand team was an ex-Northland representative by the name of Sian Fremaux. The 20-year-old has said she still identifies with the region, therefore I claim her as being a Northlander.

And so she should, after making Northland teams as an 11-year-old alongside fellow Black Stick squad member Brooke Neal.

Following in Harrison's goal-scoring footsteps, Fremaux was named top goal scorer for the Four Nations Tournament in Whangarei.

Adding Fremaux and Neal to the mix, we have four Northlanders in the Black Sticks training squad.

If we were to include London Olympic members Ella Gunson and Sam Harrison, who are playing in Boston and Belgium, we'd have six - possibly seven when, or if, Alana Millington returns from her self-imposed break from hockey.

That's pretty good and that's just in the women's squad.

The women's squad is purely the focus of the above non-scientific observation due to their appearance and success in Whangarei last weekend. Having such a tournament come to us is great for the region, with Hockey New Zealand and Hockey Northland breaking even by the half-way stage of the tournament.

With the tournament being the first which has been held in Northland, I think the region did a fantastic job at supporting our visiting teams and getting behind the matches.

Who knows, maybe more Northlanders in the squad will bring more tournaments to the north?