Junior hockey stars to suit up for Queensland

Mackay has confirmed its status as a breeding ground for hockey stars after 17 juniors were selected for Queensland state teams.

Mackay Hockey's junior stars celebrate after gaining selection for Queensland state sides. Picture: Stuart Quinn

Hockey: Mackay has confirmed its status as a breeding ground for hockey stars after 17 juniors were selected in Queensland state teams.

Following on from the under-13 and under-18 State Championships earlier this month, Mackay players have trumped many from bigger metro clubs and centres.

Eleven under-13s and six under-18s will suit up for Queensland in upcoming national tournaments.

With such dominant numbers making the cut from a regional centre, the city's next Tracy Belbin, Matthew Swann or Kirstin Dwyer is fast arriving and Mackay Hockey's regional coaching director Dylan Elliot said the result reflected the talent and commitment.

"It (17) is an extraordinary high number, but they're great athletes who want to listen,” he said.

"We've got some great coaches who love coming down and working with these kids, and Dwyer has come down to train with them, and Swann has been down to give a talk to the boys.

"I think the players all believe.”

In the under-13 boys State Championships in Mackay a fortnight ago, the home side finished fifth, while the girls, led by a Player of the Tournament nod for young star Jamie-Lee Surha, finished third overall in the corresponding tournament in Bundaberg.

In the under-18s tournament in Ipswich (boys) and Cairns (girls), the boys' side had a tough run with injury after their goalkeeper was knocked out on day one, but the girls had their "best result in years”, finishing fifth.

The under-13s will head to Hobart in October for the National Championships, while the under-18 National Championships will be held in April next year at a location yet to be confirmed.

Looking towards the upcoming under-15 state championships, Elliot said the future was on track.

With a clear development pathway in place, he said players had the opportunity to progress to the open national and international stage.

"We've got our own player pathway in line with Hockey Australia that encompasses club hockey, recruitment, and then pathways branch out to representative hockey,” Elliot said.

"Our aim is to get athletes from here ready to play for Queensland in the AHL (Australian Hockey League).”

State representatives:

• Under-13 Girls: Charli Bliss, Hayley Elston, Anika Gall, Cleo McLeod, Julia Monckton, Jamie-Lee Surha and Demi Walker.
• Under-13 Boys: Tom Burgess, Lachy Davies, Kaleb Mayfield and Matthew Miles.
• Under-18 Girls: Jordan Bliss, Claire Colwill and Keeley Walker.
• Under-18 Boys: Cody Dunbar, Harrison Finn and Noah Gauci.

Originally published as Junior hockey stars to suit up for Queensland