Hockey looks set to revive Tasmania’s Olympic fortunes with three players from the state selected for the last major tournament before Rio.
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Established Olympians Tim Deavin and Eddie Ockenden have been named in the 18-man Kookaburras squad for next month’s Champions Trophy in London along with young gun Josh Beltz after what Hockey Australia called his “stellar performances” during the recent tournament against Great Britain.
Tasmanian Institute of Sport coach Andrew McDonald said the selections are a timely boost just a couple of months out from the Olympics.
“When it comes to Rio, Eddie is the absolute certainty but I think when you look at the balance of the defence, Tim brings so much experience and a capacity to both defend and attack that he becomes a vital ingredient,” McDonald said.
“And Josh continues to get better by the day and is passing all the tests put to him.”
Aged just 21 with nine international caps to his name, Beltz knows he has timed his arrival on the international scene to perfection.
“I’m lucky in a sense that my first year in the international squad is an Olympic year and then to be given an opportunity like this so close to an Olympics,” he said.
“But as much as you want to read in what this might mean for Rio I’m just excited to get another opportunity at international level.”
Kookaburras captain Mark Knowles will remain in Perth for the birth of his third child while veterans Jamie Dwyer, Fergus Kavanagh and Matt Gohdes are rested as coach Graham Reid looks to balance athletes’ commitments.
Reid said: “The Champions Trophy is being used to manage the load of a number of our players, and to provide the last opportunity for other players vying for Olympic selection.
“The objective of 2016 has been to get as many players as possible up to the level where they are in the mix for the team going to Rio.”
The Kookaburras will play Great Britain, Korea, Germany, Belgium and India in the tournament from June 10.