Following the recently completed National Hockey League (NHL), the national selectors have named the New Zealand’s Men’s team to play Korea in a 3 match test series 8-11 November.

Currently the Korean men are ranked 5th in the world, while the Black Sticks men are ranked 10th. All three tests will be played in Christchurch, and are a key part of the Black Sticks Men’s preparations for the WorldHockey Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament being held in February 2008 at North Harbour.

The team: Ryan Archibald, Gareth Brooks, Phil Burrows, Simon Child, Ben Collier, Bryce Collins, Dean Couzins, Steve Edwards, Bevan Hari, Casey Henwood, Blair Hopping, David Kosoof, Shea McAleese, James Nation, Kyle Pontifex, Bradley Shaw, Hayden Shaw, Lloyd Stephenson, Paul Woolford.

The national selectors have also named a 16 man New Zealand selection to play 2 practice matches against Korea 2-5 November, also in Christchurch.

The team: Joel Baker, Shaun Barnett, Gareth Brooks, Simon Child, Bryce Collins, Steve Edwards, Nick Haig, Andy Hayward, Blair Hopping, David Kosoof, Jan Peterson, Richard Petherick, Kyle Pontifex, Bradley Shaw, Nick Wilson, Paul Woolford.

Following the Korean series, the Black Sticks team will be named for a three test series against Australia in Australia in late November. The squad to prepare for the WorldHockey Men’s Olympic Hockey Qualifying Tournament will be named after the test series against Australia.

Source: Hockey New Zealand