Joomla Login LightBox powered by WowJoomla.com

The four new squad members are Natasha Fitzsimons (North Harbour) and Cathryn Finlayson (Midlands), both ex-Development Squad players, along with Laura Douglas and Piki Hamahona. Laura, a returning Black Stick midfielder and yet another player originating from the highly successful Northland region, will be making a comeback after being out of international competition since May 2007. Similarly, Piki Hamahona, who returns after last playing in a Three-Nations Tournament in Japan in September 2003, brings some fresh yet experienced skills into the side with 25 caps as a striker.

Talent moving into the Development Squad from the National Squad includes Sophie Devine, Alana Millington and Liz Perry. These players will help inject some critical international experience to the rest of the Development Squad, especially to assist the new inclusions Nicola Howes (North Harbour), Amelia Gibson (Canterbury) and Samantha Charlton (Midlands).

Coach Mark Hager says “I’m excited about this newly selected squad and am looking forward to the challenges ahead for 2010. Douglas and Hamahona will bring an air of maturity to a youthful and inexperienced group. Finlayson and Fitzsimons gain selection on the back of solid performances at both NHL and Junior World Cup tournaments.”

Confirmed fixtures, for the 2010 Black Sticks Women’s programme, are the World Cup in Argentina in September as well as the Commonwealth Games in India in October.

Black Sticks Women’s Squad

Player Name                            NHL Team                    Age      Caps

Kayla Sharland                          Central                          23         103

Emily Naylor                              Central                          23         118

Krystal Forgesson                      Auckland                       26         80

Kate Saunders                           Canterbury                    27         64

Katie Glynn                               Auckland                       20         6

Sally Rutherford                         Midlands                       28         1

Stacey Carr                               Canterbury                    25         105

Ella Gunson                              Northland                      19         7

Beth Jurgeleit                            Wellington                     28         78

Clarissa Eshuis                         Midlands                       22         36

Lucy Talbot                               Auckland                       20         4

Stacey Brannigan                      Auckland                       23         6

Sam Harrison                            Auckland                       17         4

Gemma Flynn                            Midlands                       19         30

Anna Thorpe                              Northland                      25         6

Kate Mahon                               Midlands                       25         48

Charlotte Harrison                      Northland                      19         63

Jasmin McQuinn                        North Harbour                19         6

Bianca Russell                          North Harbour                30         9

Stacey Michelsen                      North Harbour                18         7

Anita Punt                                 Wellington                     21         6

Natasha Fitzsimons                   North Harbour                21         -

Laura Douglas                           Northland                      26         8

Piki Hamahona                          Central                          27         25

Cathryn Finlayson                      Midlands                       21         -

Black Sticks Women’s Development Squad

Nicola Howes                            North Harbour                21         -

Amelia Gibson                           Canterbury                    18         -

Amanda Green                          North Harbour                22         -

Sophie Devine                            Canterbury                    19         3

Alana Millington                         North Harbour                21         5

Samantha Charlton                    Midland                         18         -

Liz Perry                                   Canterbury                    22         3

Petrea Webster                         North Harbour                21         -