Johanna Avery joins Junior World Cup squad

Stratford hockey player Johanna Avery says she couldn't be more excited to have been selected for the New Zealand Junior World Cup 2015 Hockey Squad.

Johanna, who has played hockey for over 14 years, says she was selected for the squad after being recognised by selectors at the National Under 21 Tournament while playing for the Central Under 21 Women's team for the first time.

Johanna says being in her first year at university she didn't intend for her main focus to be hockey this year, "but during the lead up to the tournament I heard there would be selectors in the crowd and thought it could be an awesome opportunity".

"I was really happy with how I was playing at tournament and was offered a place in the Central Woman's National Hockey League training squad which was a big achievement so being named in the Junior World Cup squad definitely topped it all off".

While the squad has been named, the players that will head to Chilli for next year's Junior World Cup will be determined at a training camp later this year.

Johanna says she has always received a lot of support from her parents, siblings and extended family. "All my coaches over the past 14 years must have done something right so a special thanks to everyone who's played a part in making me the player I am, especially Grant Boyde."

Brooke Wyllie, development officer for the TET region at Taranaki Hockey, says Johanna is a very hard working player who has shown great commitment. "I actually saw her playing in the Under 21 tournament where she was selected from, and received a lot of feedback from her pre-tournament coaches."

Brooke adds that Taranaki Hockey look forward to seeing more of Johanna's achievements in the future.