2022/23 FIH Pro League: Previewing A Curious Anzac Weekend Of Black Sticks Hockey
FIH Pro League is especially intriguing for Aotearoa's Black Sticks at the moment with frequent internationals offering a barometer for kiwi hockey. This weekend Aotearoa hosts Great Britain and Australia on both sides of the Pro League, before another dose the following weekend.
The wider context is important as we track Black Sticks progress throughout the Pro Leagues. While all sorts of wrinkles are on offer, the most poignant is how both Black Sticks teams failed to win a Commonwealth Games medal in Birmingham last year, the first time this has ever happened. Even funkier is how the 2018 Gold Coast event was a peak with the ladies winning Aotearoa's first Com Games gold medal and the lads finished second. The best Com Games effort was followed by the worst.
Forget the Olympics and World Cups, Aotearoa isn't winning Com Games medals. Aotearoa has competed in two Pro Leagues prior to this year with the lads finishing 8th twice and the wahine finishing 6th twice. Heading into this weekend's action, the blokes are 9th and the ladies are 7th.
The men have played against Spain and India so far in this Pro League. Four games and the kiwis had two losses to India, a loss to Spain and a shoot-out win over Spain after finishing regular time 1-1. Sam Lane has scored the most goals for Black Sticks and he is one of many notable kiwis missing from the men's squad, leaving Simon Child as their most potent attacking weapon.
Jared Panchia is a key inclusion for the lads squad and a bunch of youngsters have been promoted to plug holes. Scott Boyde has shifted from Australia to Aotearoa, following the move made by Leon Hayward and they will line up against their former nation. Australia is currently 6th on the Pro League ladder and Great Britain are 5th.
Goals scored/conceded per game...
Great Britan: 1.75 goals scored | 1 goal conceded
Australia: 2 goals scored | 2.25 goals conceded
New Zealand: 2.5 goals scored | 3.75 goals conceded
The women hosted China and United States earlier this year in Wellington. Black Sticks had 1-1 draws against both nations which became shoot-out losses as the kiwis scored just one of their nine shoot-out attempts. Defeating USA 4-1 was the highlight of this series, but that was followed by a 2-5 loss to China and we will keep learning about this team's mahi over the next few weeks.
A key theme from that series was how often Black Sticks women went backwards. While the men have planted seeds of funky attacking hockey with skipper Child drifting back to receive the ball as a play-maker, the ladies planted concerning seeds of passive hockey. That may generate more space further up the field, however this was a factor in losing hockey and this lack of confidence was also evident in their shoot-out losses.
Three players have scored two goals so far with Hannah Cotter and Olivia Shannon joined by Megan Hull. The hearty defender Hull isn't named in this squad which could impact Black Sticks defence but the return of Kelsey Smith, alongside the likes of Shannon and the Doar sisters could ensure better attacking motions and entertaining hockey.
Goals scored/conceded per game…
Great Britain: 0.25 goals scored | 3 goals conceded
Australia: 1.62 goals scored | 1 goal conceded
New Zealand: 2 goals scored | 2 goals conceded
An influx of young players in both squads offers extra intrigue about Black Sticks hockey. Men's coach Greg Nicol is confident that the youngsters will "demonstrate the strength of New Zealand hockey". Results at the highest level suggest something different but this pocket of Pro League hockey is about learning, with games against Australia and Great Britain offering a fabulous gauge of all things kiwi hockey.
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Peace and love.