HOCKEY QUEENSLAND SEND MEN’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM ON USA TOUR

Sixteen of Queensland’s most promising young hockey players will jet set to Los Angeles next month to gain valuable international match and touring experience.

In 2009 and 2010 the Queensland Men’s Development Team toured to New Zealand, however this year the side are headed further abroad as a result of Hockey Queensland’s collaboration with now USA based former Kookaburra and Queensland Blade Lee Bodimeade.

Lee has been heavily involved with field hockey in the USA in recent years.

In Los Angeles, the Queensland line-up will compete against the USA open national men’s field hockey team, and also men’s under 20 teams from the USA and Argentina.

Hockey Queensland’s Coach and Player Development Manager Barry Vohland will coach the Queensland team on the tour.

Barry said the tour fills a gap in the development pathway for Queensland players moving between the under 18, under 21 and open age groups.

“Not all players progress directly from under 18s to under 21s and then to opens,” Barry said.

“This tour is for players who we believe have the potential to be selected in Queensland’s under 21 or Blades team within the next two years,” he said.

“It is important that players currently on the fringe of our elite teams have opportunities to improve through gaining top level playing and touring experience,” he concluded.

The Queensland team for the tour is still being finalised, however Barry said Cairns’ Kyle Richardson will captain the side and provide great leadership for the group as a player with extensive state representative experience.