Hockey: Experience-laiden Black Sticks

Black Sticks men's coach Shane McLeod has been able to call on a wealth of experience in choosing the 24 players who will chase a place among the world's top six countries over the next 12 or so months.

Yesterday, McLeod named his national squad and a group of nine development players for what is set to be a hectic international programme.

The seven most experienced players in the Black Sticks squad have amassed 1094 caps between them, led by captain Phillip Burrows (222) and Ryan Archibald (221).

Blair Hopping, player of the tournament at last week's National Hockey League, has played 202 internationals, while 21-year-old Simon Child has already played 106.

After a break after the league, the players will be in training in three regional groups from next week, before heading to Auckland or North Harbour for three matches against the Junior Black Sticks later this month.

Seven of the players named yesterday, Child, his brother Marcus, Hugo Inglis, Arun Panchia, Nick Wilson, Stephen Jenness and Nick Ross will play for the junior side in the series. After this, McLeod will name the 18 players for next month's World Cup qualifying tournament in Invercargill.

Missing from that team will be long-serving North Harbour striker Dave Kosoof, who this week announced his retirement from international play - one game shy of reaching the 150-match milestone.

"For the first time since I came into international hockey in 2000, my body is really struggling," said Kosoof, who has played in all four national league-winning North Harbour teams. "To play for the Black Sticks, you really need to be enjoying your hockey, but I was finding I would rather be some place else."

"The biggest thing was trying to get to 150 and I thought about hanging around for the qualifying tournament, but to do that would be selfish. I would rather give the young guys a chance."

And in players like Simon Child, Inglis and Nick Wilson, McLeod is blessed with young strikers.

"I feel the balance we have come up with is very good," said McLeod. "There are enough good players to ensure there will be healthy competition within the squads which is really encouraging."

MEN'S SQUAD
Ryan Archibald, Priyesh Bhana, Joel Baker, Joseph Bartholomew, Phillip Burrows, Simon Child, Ben Collier, Dean Couzins, Steve Edwards, Stephen Graham, Nick Haig, Andy Hayward, Casey Henwood, Blair Hilton, Blair Hopping, Hugo Inglis, Shea McAleese, James Nation, Arun Panchia, Richard Petherick, Kyle Pontifex, Brad Shaw, Hayden Shaw, Nick Wilson.

Development squad
Marcus Child, David Green, Stephen Jenness, Matt L'Huillier, Shay Neal, Jason Niles, Nick Ross, Issac Staples, Blair Tarrant.