Stacey Michelsen nominated for world Player of the Year

Stacey Michelsen in action against India. Photo / Getty Images

Black Sticks livewire Stacey Michelsen is one of five players shortlisted by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for Womens Player of the Year.

The news came as the FIH announced nominees for the 2016 Hockey Stars Awards, the annual prizes which recognise the worlds best field players, goalkeepers, rising stars, coaches and umpires in a given calendar year.

Five male and five female nominees have been selected for each award with the Player, Goalkeeper and Rising Star awards selected by a panel consisting of the FIH Athletes' Committee, Continental Federations, Coaches and media.

All awards are based on performance at international events during the 2016 season, as well as the player's overall contribution to the sport.

Michelsen, who has played 216 tests for New Zealand, had a stunning year at events such as the Hawkes Bay Cup and Rio Olympic Games.

"It is a huge honour to be nominated, particularly alongside the other nominees who I have a great amount of respect for as players," Michelsen said.

"It's been a very tough year with the disappointment of not achieving what we set out to in Rio, but it has certainly motivated many of us to be better in the coming years.

"I am very much looking forward to the chance to play in the Word League tournaments in 2017, especially the final which will be hosted in Auckland.

"It provides Hockey New Zealand a great opportunity to showcase the sport and will also be very nice to play a major tournament in front of a home crowd, something we haven't had the chance of doing as a group."

Award winners will be decided by the combined results of an online vote that is open to the public and a peer vote from international athletes.

Voting for all awards will open later this week with more details to come.

2016 WOMENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Stacey Michelsen (NZL)

Carla Rebecchi (ARG)

Kate Richardson-Walsh (GBR)

Alex Danson (GBR)

Naomi van As (NED)

2016 MENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Gonzalo Peillat (ARG)

John-John Dohmen (BEL)

Moritz Frste (GER)

Tobias Hauke (GER)

Pedro Ibarra (ARG)

2016 WOMENS GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Maddie Hinch (GBR)

Joyce Sombroek (NED)

Kristina Reynolds (GER)

Jackie Briggs (USA)

Belen Succi (ARG)

2016 MENS GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

Juan Vivaldi (ARG)

Jaap Stockmann (NED)

Vincent Vanasch (BEL)

David Harte (IRL)

Parattu Raveendran Sreejesh (IND)

2016 WOMENS RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (UNDER 23)

Maria Granatto (ARG)

Lily Owsley (GBR)

Nike Lorenz (GER)

Kathryn Slattery (AUS)

Florencia Habif (ARG)

2016 MENS RISING STAR OF THE YEAR (UNDER 23)

Arthur van Doren (BEL)

Christopher Rhr (GER)

Jorrit Croon (NED)

Harmanpreet Singh (IND)

Timm Herzbruch (GER)

2016 WOMENS COACH OF THE YEAR

Alyson Annan (AUS)

Karen Brown (GBR)

Janneke Schopman (USA)

2016 MENS COACH OF THE YEAR

Carlos Retegui (ARG)

Danny Kerry (GBR)

Shane McLeod (BEL)

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Hockey NZ