Hockey: Men take on Black Sticks name

Kevin Towns

On a day when some things changed, Hockey New Zealand's move for greater safety in their game did not.

After 16 years as the New Zealand Hockey Federation - a change which acknowledged the merging of the men's and women's national associations - the sport yesterday became Hockey New Zealand.

At the same time, and in a move which might not be met with the same enthusiasm, the national men's team became the Black Sticks.

In taking the same name the women have played under for the past five or so years, HNZ chief executive Ramesh Patel defended the decision saying the men and women were treated as equals on the world stage.

"We looked at alternatives, but in consultation with [marketing people] felt there was no reason why they could not share the same name," said Patel. "When we looked at it, there was no logical reason to have a different name."*

Patel agreed that if the women had initially been branded as the "Silver Sticks" or even the "White Sticks" it might have been easier to give the men the Black Sticks tag.

The challenge will be for the teams to retain their own identities especially at Olympic and Commonwealth Games where often both are involved.

"They usually play on different days at those tournaments," said Patel. "So that shouldn't be a problem. If there is any clash, we will just revert to calling them the Black Sticks men's or women's teams."

As well as the new name, the country's 42,000 registered players will play under a new stylised logo which was also launched yesterday.

"The cornerstone of our strategic plan is to turn hockey into a marketable spectator sport and to increase sponsorship and television coverage," said Patel.

Two of the upcoming tests (in Wellington) against the American women will be televised live.

On the moves to bring more safety into the game, especially at the penalty corner, Patel said HNZ had already petitioned the international body.

"After receiving a letter from an individual in our game, we asked the FIH to look strongly at the drag-flick. They came back to us and said they were considering it. We firmly believe as it stands it is dangerous."

Men's coach Kevin Towns agrees.

"I hope we don't have to wait until someone is killed before something is done about it," said Towns. "It all happens so quickly it won't be long before a player is seriously hurt."

Unlike a normal strike at a penalty corner which must hit the backboard, a flick can fly into the goal at any height.

"If a straight hit has to hit the backboard why not a drag-flick? The FIH have already made changes at the corner, including rules which stop a speciality drag-flick expert being allowed to run on; a change of stick for the drag flick; and now a restriction to the amount of bow in a player's stick [from 50mm to 25mm].

"They just have to take it further," said Towns. "We pride ourselves in having a game which keeps flowing but with the amount of time defenders use to put on protective equipment to defend corners we are wasting up to two minutes every time.

"I have spoken to Australians about this and they agree. We have spent time and money on getting players like Hayden Shaw proficient at the drag flick, but we can now see the dangers."

The drag-flick has developed into the most efficient scoring method in the past dozen years, since the Germans and the Dutch used it at the Barcelona Olympics.

New Zealand goalkeeper Paul Woolford said he could see the dangers and added that by eliminating the drag-flick, the emphasis would be on scoring field goals.

"I would not like to be the defender on the left post when a drag flick comes whistling past," said Woolford. "The new stick rule will help but won't eliminate the danger."

* Clarification: Network Communications was not involved in rebranding the NZHF as HNZ as suggested in an earlier version of this quote from Mr Patel.