Hockey: National coaches eye international prospects

By TERRY MADDAFORD

With a vital international programme looming, national men's and women's coaches Kevin Towns and Ian Rutledge will take much more than just a passing interest in this season's national league, which starts today. Both coaches, who also head their respective selection panels, will name 35-strong squads after next month's NHL finals in Wellington.

They will be looking for a core of around 24 players to prepare for upcoming internationals - including appearances at Olympic qualifying tournaments - as well as a group of 11 back-up/developmental players.

"I'm keen to see if we have teams bringing through young players," Towns said. "I hope these players get time on the turf. We have to be ready to move on after Athens."

Towns has already spoken to his current international players and expects most to play in the league.

"But three players will not appear until we are satisfied they are completely free of injury. Ryan Archibald and Dion Gosling almost certainly will not play for Auckland initially and Mitesh Patel will be missing from Wellington until he has recovered from his hamstring injury.

"Archibald is the major concern," Towns said. "He has a groin injury which needs a scan."

Auckland coach Keith Rowley will be keen to go one better than last season when the only game they lost was the final when they went down 5-1 to Wellington, who had finished the round-robin in third place.

Wellington will be the team to beat this year.

In James Nation, Wellington have a player capable of scoring at vital penalty corners. They can also call on the strikepower of Phillip Burrows and the country's most experienced international, Umesh Parag.

Hayden Shaw, who led the goalscoring last season with 10, will again spearhead Canterbury's bid for a first national league title.

Outside the top three, North Harbour rate the best chance of reaching the semifinals. Rutledge will travel the country to watch many current and prospective women internationals.

"Our first camp is planned for October so we will be naming our squad as soon as we can. We have used 27 players already this year, but that doesn't mean the door is closed.

"We also have to look ahead to Junior World Cup qualifying which will follow the Olympics next year."

Canterbury will start favourites, with most of last year's winning team back. They have a wealth of experience at both ends of the field, including Carol Ward, who was last season's top goalscorer with nine.

Auckland will miss former New Zealand captain Sandy Bennett, who has returned to Whangarei and Northland, but have good cover.

They and Manawatu shape as the teams most likely to meet Canterbury in the October 19 final in Wellington.


THE TEAMS

MEN

AUCKLAND

Coach: Keith Rowley. Last year: 2nd. Players to watch: Paul Woolford, Ryan Archibald, Bevan Hari, Wayne McIndoe. Rising stars: Mark Laurence, Jonathan Brooker, Taine Bennett, Rakesh Parsottam. Likely finish: 3rd.

CANTERBURY

Coach: Andrew Hastie. Last year: 3rd. Players to watch: Hayden Shaw, Gareth Brooks, Bryce Collins, Russell Gear. Rising stars: Hugh Copland, Jason Bradley. Likely finish: 2nd.

MIDLAND Express

Coach: Sue McLeish. Last year: 5th. Players to watch: Carlos Sanders, Matt Stafford, Dean Armstrong, Ian Haste. Rising stars: Sandeep Patel, Richard Pethrick. Likely finish: 5th.

NORTHLAND

Coach: Ross McLeod. Last year: 6th. Players to watch: Bevan Gibbs, Brent Salmon, Mark Meyer, Robbie Towns. Rising stars: Dion Watts, Shea McAleese. Likely finish: 6th.

NORTH HARBOUR

Coach: Allan Hill. Last year: 4th. Players to watch: Darren Smith, Blair Hopping, David Kosoof, Casey Henwood. Rising stars: Lloyd Stephenson, Ben Collier. Likely finish: 4th.

WELLINGTON

Coach: Peter Miskimmin. Last year: 1st. Players to watch: Umesh Parag, Mitesh Patel, Phillip Burrows, Brent Livermore. Rising stars: Grant Down, Julian Clarke. Likely finish: 1st.


WOMEN

AUCKLAND

Coach(es): Simon Norton/Grant Rumble. Last year: 3rd. Players to watch: Helen Clarke, Meredith Orr, Karen Syddall, Jan Rowsell. Rising stars: Frances Kreft, Kate Saunders. Likely finish: 4th.

CANTERBURY

Coach: Paul Derham. Last year: 1st. Players to watch: Di Weavers, Carol Ward, Jo Galletley, Amanda Christie. Rising stars: Stacey Carr, Aimee Heaps. Likely finish: 1st.

MANAWATU

Coach: Chris Leslie. Last year: 4th. Players to watch: Tara Drysdale, Kayla Sharland, Melody Rowe, Rachel Sutherland. Rising stars: Angela Croad, Emily Naylor. Likely finish: 2nd.

NORTHLAND

Coach: Vicky Gribble. Last year: 1st season in league. Players to watch: Sandy Bennett, Toni Mason, Joanna McQueen, Kylie Morgan. Rising stars: Keri Linklater, Toni Smith. Likely finish: 6th.

NORTH HARBOUR

Coach: Bronwyn Rees. Last year: 5th. Players to watch: Lizzy Igasan, Paula Enoka, Jaimee Provan, Connie Igasan. Rising stars: Carolina Paterson, Kate Mahon. Likely finish: 5th.

WELLINGTON

Coach: Paul Ackerley. Last year: 2nd. Players to watch: Caryn Paewai, Niniwa Roberts-Lang, Suzie Pearce, Sheree Phillips. Rising stars: Priya Bhikha, Erin McDonald. Likely finish: 3.