Whitelock set for high five in Tokyo

Kayla Whitelock is on the brink of a fifth Olympic Games tournament after being named, alongside two new caps, in the 2021 Black Sticks women’s hockey squad.

The 35-year-old Manawatu¯ midfielder went to her first Olympics in Athens in 2004 as a teenager and is in the frame to join an elite group of Kiwi athletes by attending her fifth Olympiad in Tokyo next year.

Black Sticks head coach Graham Shaw has named six players with more than 200 international caps for the allimportant 2021 season.

The two uncapped players in the squad of 25 are Anna Crowley (Southern

Black Sticks women’s squad (number of caps in brackets): Georgia Barnett (35), Samantha Charlton (251), Kaitlin Cotter (2), Anna Crowley (uncapped), Tarryn Davey (63), Frances Davies (78), Steph Dickins (24), Katie Doar (24), Ella Gunson (221), Megan Hull (31), Alia Jaques (13), Tessa Jopp (23), Rose Keddell (207), Julia King (123), Tyler Lench (Uncapped), Olivia Merry (232), Stacey Michelsen (287), Grace O’Hanlon (61), Holly Pearson (19), Hope Ralph (8), Brooke Roberts (6), Olivia Shannon (25), Kelsey Smith (95), Liz Thompson (187), Kayla Whitelock (256).

Alpiners) and Tyler Lench (Northern Tridents), who both impressed the selectors in the recent Premier Hockey League (PHL).

Black Sticks record-holders Stacey Michelsen (287 caps) and Olivia Merry (112 goals) were in fine touch in the PHL, with Michelsen named most valuable player.

PHL champions the Central Falcons, who went undefeated in the inaugural league, have been rewarded with eight of the champion team being named in the Black Sticks squad.

Next year is set to be a big one for the Black Sticks with the upcoming Oceania Cup (still to be confirmed), postponed Olympics and the resumption of the second season of the FIH Hockey Pro League.

This will be followed in 2022 by the World Cup and Commonwealth Games.