Black Sticks Women make two late changes for Champions Trophy

Injuries have forced two late changes to the Black Sticks Womens team for the FIH Champions Trophy in London.

Veteran Emily Gaddum will miss the tournament due to a back injury while Samantha Charlton is recovering from a hairline fracture in her hand picked up during the International Hockey Open in Darwin.

Capital midfielder Kelsey Smith (13 test caps) has been called into the team following an impressive performance in Darwin, while Aucklands Julia King (105 caps) also slots in as cover.

The Black Sticks go up against the Netherlands, Argentina, Australia, Great Britain and USA at the Champions Trophy from 19-27 June, in what serves as the final major tournament before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Despite injuries, the team is still hugely experienced and led by the likes of Kayla Whitelock (243 tests), Anita McLaren (232), Gemma Flynn (231), Stacey Michelsen (201) and Charlotte Harrison (207).

The Black Sticks open their campaign against world number one Netherlands on Sunday 19 June at 3am (NZ time), with a rematch of the Darwin final against Australia the following day.

All Black Sticks games will be broadcast live and replayed on SKY Sport.

The team has flown out of the country today for one-off games against Netherlands and Belgium before heading to London for the Champions Trophy.

The New Zealand Womens Olympic team will be selected following the conclusion of the tournament.

BLACK STICKS WOMEN

Champions Trophy, London

SHIRT # / PLAYER NAME / REGION / POSITION / AGE / CAPS

17 / Sophie COCKS / Canterbury / Striker/Midfielder / 21 / 100

22 / Gemma FLYNN / Midlands / Midfielder/Striker / 26 / 231

10 / Amelia GIBSON / Auckland / Goalkeeper / 24 / 54

12 / Ella GUNSON / Northland / Midfielder/Defender / 26 / 142

23 / Charlotte HARRISON / Auckland / Striker / 26 / 207

26 / Pippa HAYWARD / Canterbury / Defender/Midfielder / 25 / 102

24 / Rose KEDDELL / Midlands / Defender/Midfielder / 22 / 121

15 / Julia KING / Auckland / Midfielder/Striker / 23 / 105

32 / Anita McLAREN / Capital / Midfielder / 28 / 232

4 / Olivia MERRY / Canterbury / Striker / 24 / 125

31 / Stacey MICHELSEN / Northland / Midfielder/Defender / 25 / 201

9 / Brooke NEAL / Northland / Defender / 23 / 81

18 / Kirsten PEARCE / North Harbour / Striker / 25 / 46

8 / Sally RUTHERFORD / Midlands / Goalkeeper / 34 / 111

25 / Kelsey SMITH / Capital / Midfielder / 21 / 13

16 / Liz THOMPSON / Auckland / Defender / 21 / 109

6 / Petrea WEBSTER / North Harbour / Striker/Midfielder / 26 / 137

1 / Kayla WHITELOCK / Central / Midfielder/Striker / 30 / 24

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Hockey NZ