Hockey: Plenty of debate over player cap rule

The men's national hockey league begins this weekend amid a controversy over squad numbers.

Conflicting views between Hockey New Zealand (HNZ) and leading provincial coaches have set up an intriguing battle, both on and off the turf, this season.

As the men's national league gets underway this weekend, teams are restricted to 16-man squads.

The competition's leading guns in defending champions North Harbour, Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury have cried foul over the move to spread the talent base, while HNZ bosses and the four minor associations have welcomed the move.

HNZ want to see less top players sidelined, as some were within last season's unrestricted squads, while the cap has seen numerous transfers.

Last season's strugglers Northland, Midlands, Central and Southern have snapped up 14 guest players between them, which is what HNZ wanted to see.

"Last season a lot of good hockey players sat on the sidelines and they couldn't even take part for the other provinces," HNZ chief executive Ramesh Patel told NZPA.

"The whole intention of 16 players per team was to ensure we get the best players competing in the league where possible."

The cap, for this season only, was voted on by the eight associations at a meeting in February, but it was tied and HNZ cast the deciding vote.

Additions can be made to cover injuries.

HNZ's argument to farm out talent is understandable.

North Harbour and Auckland boast 12 national representatives between them while Northland have a solitary international.

Wellington, hammered by off-season defections with three Black Sticks playing in Europe, have balanced their loss after recruiting Australian internationals Brent Livermore and Michael McCann.

Canterbury also have a limited stock of New Zealand test players, but retain the bulk of the squad who finished second last year.

They also welcome back drag flick specialist Hayden Shaw.

North Harbour, led by Ryan Archibald, and Auckland are favoured finalists, but even with their depth North Harbour coach Darren Smith has been hampered by the cap.

"It's just been a bit of a nightmare," he told NZPA.

"It's been difficult to manage the players that you don't know whether you're going to leave in your squad or leave out.

"Secondly, if you have an injury you have to delve deep into your reserves to try and replace a player.

"I think they could have come up with something inbetween, maybe 18 players would have been nice."

Squads in the women's league, which started last weekend, were capped at 18 players to prevent wholesale disruption, with some internationals attending a tournament in India in the closing stages of the league.

Canterbury coach Andrew Hastie would have also preferred an 18-player cap after having players missing from trainings.

He also lamented not being able to draft in some development players.

Wellington coach Peter Miskimmin has resisted the idea of grooming younger players in his abbreviated squad.

"With the cap of 16, I wasn't going to start sharing team tactics with some players that could end up in the draft," he said.

"I can understand what Hockey New Zealand is trying to do, but I think we should manage the draft players better.

"I had players that I could have used in my 18, but they haven't been picked up (by other associations) and now I can't use them."

Miskimmin rejected suggestions players benefited more by having turf time for a weaker opposition instead of warming the bench.

"I think they'll learn a hell of a lot more in an environment with good coaching instead of joining a team outside of their district for a couple of lead-up games and the season."

Despite the cap, coaches predicted the usual suspects should dominate the top four, but Midlands were touted as dark horses.

A smattering of international players will add some spice with the limit increased from one to two.

The season starts with a doubleheader round in Wellington.

* * *

Draw for the national men's hockey league which starts this weekend:-

Sept 17 (all in Wellington) - Canterbury v Northland, North Harbour v Central, Auckland v Southern, Wellington v Midlands.

Sept 18 (all Wellington) - North Harbour v Southern, Canterbury v Midlands, Wellington v Nothland, Auckland v Central.

Sept 24 - Central v Canterbury (Levin), Southern v Wellington (Dunedin), Northland v Auckland (Whangarei), Midlands v North Harbour (Hamilton).

Oct 2 - Southern v Canterbury (Dunedin), Northland v North Harbour (Whangarei), Midlands v Auckland (Tauranga), Central v Wellington (Levin).

Oct 8 (all Auckland) - Southern v Northland, North Harbour v Wellington, Central v Midlands, Auckland v Canterbury.

Oct 9 (all Auckland) - Southern v Midlands, North Harbour v Canterbury, Central v Northland, Auckland v Wellington.

Oct 13 (all Christchurch) - Southern v Central, North Harbour v Auckland, Canterbury v Wellington, Northland v Midlands.

Finals - Oct 15-16 in Christchurch.

Previous champions:

2004 - North Harbour
2003 - Wellington
2002 - Wellington
2001 - Auckland
2000 - North Harbour

- NZPA