Frustrated McCaw mulls return to Black Sticks
A sniff of a 2018 Hockey World Cup medal is enough incentive for Gemma McCaw to keep playing the game.
McCaw hasn’t played international hockey since last year’s Olympic Games campaign when the team came up short of bronze, losing to Germany in the third and fourth playoff in Rio de Janeiro.
McCaw was frustrated and wants to rectify those near misses if she is given the chance.
‘‘I’ve still got that hunger, especially for those major tournaments,’’ she said.
‘‘That’s what you train for these major events. I’ve been to the [Olympic and Commonwealth] Games and we keep missing out. It’s frustrating every time you think about it. Even four years on I still think about how we come so close and missed out.’’
During her Black Sticks career McCaw has won silver and bronze medals at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games medal, a 2011 Champions Trophy bronze and a 2009 Champions Challenge gold.
That sounds impressive, but it is the medals her side missed out on that she rues. Her close calls include two fourths at Olympic Games and another in the Champions Trophy.
New Zealand managed seventh at the 2010 World Cup, fifth in 2014 and were pipped at the post in the bronzemedal playoffs at both the 2010 London Olympics and last year in Rio.
‘‘We had the team and the opportunity to win medals at a pinnacle event in a sport New Zealand is very proud of, so it’s frustrating.’’
Right now McCaw is playing a very different version of the game for her Canterbury club side, the Carlton Redcliffs where she is enjoying the more relaxed competition.
‘‘I do look forward to it, it’s obviously a bit different to all the international stuff. We are sometimes not allowed to play club so it makes for a nice change.’’
The 27-year-old says she is some way off complete retirement, regardless of whether she plays for the Black Sticks again.
McCaw will play in the National Hockey League this year, which will give her the chance to be selected in the Black Sticks squad which is likely to work towards the World Cup in London next July.
‘‘I guess if I play NHL - it gives me the opportunity to be selected again. I’ve made no decision either way, I’ve been lucky enough to get a few games over the year, but I don’t expect to waltz back in to the side. There’s a lot of competition and some young girls with talent coming through.
‘‘I’m happy with NHL. I might decide to go the other way and just stick with that. I obviously miss it [international hockey] when I watch the team. I love the game and the competition - it is a huge commitment.
‘‘You’ve got to have that passion. You have to be 100 per cent into it. You can’t play these matches at 80 per cent.’’