Joel Rintala granted late reprieve for Kookaburras’ first squad with sights on LA Games

Injury prone hockey star Joel Rintala has been granted a late reprieve for the Kookaburras’ first squad on the path to the LA Games, as two sets of siblings are locked in. FULL SQUAD.

The Kookaburras have kept the faith in the hockey half of one of Australia’s finest sporting partnerships with the enigmatic Joel Rintala joining swim starlet fiance Shayna Jack on the path to LA.

Ultra-talented but oft-injured Rintala, 28, won a last-minute reprieve in new Kookaburras’ coach Mark Hager’s first high performance squad, among seven players who survived a Hunger Games-style selection process out of recent FIH Pro League matches, practice clashes and intense training blocks.

“Joel had a chance to impress when we played some unsanctioned matches in Perth,” Mark added.

Joel Rintala was a last minute reprieve in the Kookaburras squad.

“He showed glimpses of his true talent, and he brings the specialty of the drag flick as well, with a great goalscoring sense.

“He’s fantastic around the group, and he’s on track to be back fully training in a couple of weeks, which should give him a great build-up ahead of Europe selection in May.”

With veteran Aran Zalewski’s retirement, opportunity knocked for James Collins, who seized on the vacant role of penalty corner ejector, the 24-year-old setting himself up to be a key cog on the road to the Olympics.

Collins is among three WA locals in the final seven, joined by emerging young goal machine Cambell Geddes and Tom Harvie, who joins brother Jake, ensuring the squad has two pairs of siblings, with Tassie’s Joshua and Hayden Beltz already locked in.

Tasmanian fringe striker Jack Welch get another chance and NSW youngster Nathan Czinner slotted in while Ash Thomas was always a certainty in goals.

“While it was challenging to pick the final seven, it’s been incredibly exciting to witness the depth we do have within our squads and this selection highlights the quality of that depth,” Hager said.

“There are some really good athletes who unfortunately missed selection this time, but I know they have really good grit and. if called upon, I know they’ll continue to step up and show what they’ve got.”

The squad will be deployed during June’s FIH Pro League clashes in Europe and the Oceania Cup in Darwin in September, with Malaysia also set to visit in April for unsanctioned matches.

Originally published as Joel Rintala granted late reprieve for Kookaburras’ first squad with sights on LA Games