7 Apr 2014

Black Sticks named for Champions Challenge

1:03 pm on 7 April 2014

The New Zealand men's hockey team has been named to compete at the Champions Challenge in Malaysia later this month.

Black Sticks head coach Colin Batch has picked a strong side for the eight-team tournament, which features Korea, Ireland, Japan, Canada, France and Poland along with hosts Malaysia.

The Champions Challenge doubles as a qualifier for the 2016 Champions Trophy, with the winner earning an automatic berth.

The 18-man team includes plenty of experience with 11 players having amassed more than 100 international caps.

Captain Dean Couzins - currently on 298 caps - is set to become just the second New Zealand after Phil Burrows to play 300 Tests for New Zealand.

Blacks Sticks (Name, Region, Position, Age, Caps):

Phil Burrows, Capital, midfielder, 33, 312

Marcus Child, Auckland, striker, 23, 52

Simon Child, Auckland, striker, 25, 192

Dean Couzins, Auckland, defender, 32, 298

Steve Edwards, North Harbour, midfielder, 28, 168

Nick Haig, Canterbury, midfielder, 27, 132

Andy Hayward, midlands, defender, 28, 161

Blair Hilton, Capital, striker, 24, 112

Hugo Inglis, Southern, striker, 23, 120

Steve Jenness, Capital, striker, 23, 100

Devon Manchester, Auckland, goalkeeper, 24, 26

Shea McAleese, Central, midfielder, 29, 190

Hamish McGregor, Southern, goalkeeper, 25, 26

Arun Panchia, Auckland, midfielder, 24, 123

Jared Panchia, Auckland, striker, 20, 25

Kane Russell, Southern, defender, 21, 27

Alex Shaw, Capital, defender, 24, 39

Blair Tarrant, Southern, defender, 23, 94