KEY POINTS:
Between them Honor Dillon and Frances Kreft have played over 100 tests for the New Zealand women's hockey team but perhaps no more. The Canterbury striker and Auckland midfielder are the most noticeable omissions from the 28-strong squad named by national coach Kevin Towns yesterday.
The squad will
play seven practice matches against Korea at Crown Relocations Stadium, North Harbour, next month as the first part of their build-up to next year's Beijing Olympics.
Before announcing his latest squad, Towns had one-on-one discussions with all players.
"It is very difficult to have a conversation with a player who has missed out," said Towns. "The players were told what was expected from them in the National League."
Of Dillon, a 54-test veteran, Towns said: "She did not play in either game against Australia at the Oceania qualifiers and then did not show us the things she had been asked to work on during the NHL."
Kreft (59 tests) was in Australia for the qualifying tournament but did not play the key matches.
On the positive side, Northland have been rewarded for their bold NHL showing by having five players, including recalled Laura Douglas and newcomers Kelsey Dunn, Jasmine McQuinn and Anna Thorpe included. They are joined by incumbent Charlotte Harrison and former Northland, now North Harbour regulars Lizzy Igasan, Stacey Michelsen and Alana Millington in a Black Sticks squad which includes only three players from national league-winning Wellington.
The strength of the game in the north is further underlined with Dunn, Harrison, Nicola Howes and McQuinn also included in a 24-strong junior squad to begin preparations for the 2009 Junior World Cup.
There are no newcomers to international hockey in coach Shane McLeod's squad to play three tests against Korea in Christchurch next month. He has, however, made a couple of interesting selections in the NZ Selection to play two warm-up matches against the Koreans.
Strikers Joel Baker (Wellington) and Nick Wilson (Central) have been called up while North Harbour's Jan Peterson joins other former internationals Shaun Barnett, Nick Haig, Andy Hayward and Richard Petherick in the Selection XI.
Black Sticks captain Ryan Archibald and Phil Burrows will arrive back from Europe a day or so before the first Korean test after completing commitments with their European clubs.