Australian hockey goalscoring machine Blake Govers has been promoted to the men's senior squad, following the teenager's outstanding performances recently for the national side.
HOCKEY: Following the Kookaburras’ successful World League Semi Final campaign, which saw Australia’s men’s team qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games, Hockey Australia has reconfirmed its national senior and development squads.
New South Wales’ Blake Govers moves into the senior national squad and has been offered and accepted a Hockey Australia scholarship following his performances in the World League and in May’s Tests against Pakistan, New Zealand and Korea in Hobart.
The 19 year-old forward from Wollongong finished as the top goal scorer at the Hockey World League Semi Final in Antwerp, finding the net seven times in seven matches. He was subsequently named as the tournament’s best junior player.
In joining older brother Kieran in the squad, Blake’s inclusion makes the Govers brothers the second pair of siblings in the men’s national squad alongside Northern Territory’s Jeremy and Leon Hayward.
Russell Ford is no longer included in the national squad having retired from international hockey in April 2015 while Tasmanian Nick Budgeon will make the transition from the national senior squad to the national development squad.
Men’s National Coach Graham Reid said, “The national senior and development squads, which are largely unchanged, reflect our primary focus on the development of our squad as we move into the final 12 months before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“We will continue to build capacity and experience in the group to give us the best possible chance of success in Rio.”
The adjustments to the squads follow a period of assessment that took into account the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Test matches in Hobart, the World League Semi Final and the national program’s daily training environment.
Key dates 2015 – Hockey Australia men’s program
27 July 2015: Athletes return to centralised training, Perth
25 September – 2 October 2015: Men’s Australian Hockey League, Darwin
21-25 October 2015: Oceania Cup, Stratford (NZ)
November 2015: Tests v India, India
28 November – 6 December: World League Final, Venue TBC (IND)
In joining older brother Kieran in the squad, Blake’s inclusion makes the Govers brothers the second pair of siblings in the men’s national squad alongside Northern Territory’s Jeremy and Leon Hayward.
Russell Ford is no longer included in the national squad having retired from international hockey in April 2015 while Tasmanian Nick Budgeon will make the transition from the national senior squad to the national development squad.
Men’s National Coach Graham Reid said, “The national senior and development squads, which are largely unchanged, reflect our primary focus on the development of our squad as we move into the final 12 months before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“We will continue to build capacity and experience in the group to give us the best possible chance of success in Rio.”
The adjustments to the squads follow a period of assessment that took into account the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Test matches in Hobart, the World League Semi Final and the national program’s daily training environment.
Key dates 2015 – Hockey Australia men’s program
27 July 2015: Athletes return to centralised training, Perth
25 September – 2 October 2015: Men’s Australian Hockey League, Darwin
21-25 October 2015: Oceania Cup, Stratford (NZ)
November 2015: Tests v India, India
28 November – 6 December: World League Final, Venue TBC (IND)
