The New Zealand Men's hockey coach Darren Smith has called on some experienced players to guide their campaign at next month's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Midfielder Shea McAleese is the most experienced player in the team having played 258 tests, and will attend his fourth straight Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
New Zealand hockey player Shea McAleese. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The campaign will boost the 33-year-old's career record to three Olympic Games, four Commonwealth Games and three World Cups.
Veteran midfielder Arun Panchia (243 caps) will captain the side in his third successive Commonwealth Games following on from Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2014.
Strikers Hugo Inglis and Stephen Jenness are also lining up for their third straight Games and will be hoping to add another medal to the bronze won in Delhi.
Midlands midfielder Aidan Sarikaya is the freshest face having only played 10 tests for New Zealand, and joins a group of five talented athletes in the team who are aged 23 or younger.
Several players were unavailable for selection due to injuries including veteran defender Blair Tarrant (back) and forwards Simon Child (hip), Blair Hilton (knee) and Sam Lane (knee).
Head coach Darren Smith said it's an exciting time for the New Zealand side as they go into the Gold Coast campaign with high hopes.
"We're really looking forward to the challenge of the Commonwealth Games and we know we will go up against some very good sides," Smith said.
"The majority of the team for Gold Coast played during this year's Four Nations series in Tauranga and Hamilton so it will be great so continue that progression as a unit.
"It's great to have Cory Bennett back after several months out with injury - he's been training very strongly and will add a lot in the defensive line."
Sanctioned by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the 10 competing nations for both men's and women's competitions are divided into two pools of five based on their FIH World Rankings.
Adding to the high standard on display, eight of the 10 men's sides competing on the Gold Coast will also be participating at this year's Hockey World Cup in December.
Men's Pool A features New Zealand along with trans-Tasman rivals Australia, Canada, South Africa and Scotland while Pool B includes England, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Wales.
The Kiwis open their Commonwealth Games campaign against Canada on Friday 6th April.
The New Zealand Men have won two medals at past Commonwealth Games, a silver in Manchester in 2002 and a bronze at Delhi 2010.
Full team:
PLAYER NAME
Cory BENNETT
Marcus CHILD
Hugo INGLIS
Stephen JENNESS
Richard JOYCE
Dane LETT
Devon MANCHESTER
Shea McALEESE
Harry MISKIMMIN
George MUIR
Dominic NEWMAN
Arun PANCHIA (capt)
Jared PANCHIA
Hayden PHILLIPS
Nick ROSS
Kane RUSSELL
Aidan SARIKAYA
Nic WOODS
Non traveling reserves
David Brydon
George Enersen
Daniel Harris
Leo Mitai-Wells
Brad Read
