Livestream NSW U18 hockey titles: Players to Watch, Sam Wright-Smith, Dylan Downey

The state’s best junior hockey players are set to showcase their skills at the NSW under-18 boys hockey championships. Find out who has been tipped as the players to watch.

Players to watch at the three-day NSW under-18 hockey championships.

The state’s best junior hockey players will showcase their skills from Friday, with the NSW under 18 boys hockey championships set to light up Illawarra Hockey Centre, near Wollongong.

More than 20 matches of action-packed representative hockey will be livestreamed to you directly via The Daily Telegraph website, following a deal between Hockey Australia and News Corp.

About 1400 talented athletes from across the state will take part in the showpiece event, competing for championship glory and selection in the NSW U18 squad for next year’s national championships.

With Hockey NSW pathways manager Richard Willis, find out which six young players are expected to turn heads as they look to inspire their teams to state glory.

HOW TO WATCH NSW U18 BOYS HOCKEY TITLES, TOP TEAMS

Samuel Wright-Smith

Sam Wright-Smith.

A hometown tournament for the Illawarra south coast defender, Wright-Smith is set to play a leading role in his association’s bid for success on home turf.

“Wright-Smith stands out on the field with his red hair and solid defence,” Mr Willis said.

“He is great with the ball going forward, has fantastic communication and is a great leader.”

This youngster is one of the top players in NSW.

The Culburra product has been a fixture of the NSW under-18s squad for three years and was part of the state’s recent gold medal-winning performance at the national championships.

Dylan Downey

Dylan Downey (in light blue).

The Goulburn District Hockey Association representative will be a handful for his opponents in the Division 2 competition and is tipped to be one of the competition’s leading players.

Mr Willis said the 16-year-old will trouble his slightly more older opposition with his powerful drag flick, especially high, being one of his major strengths.

Downey is known to lead by example on the field and will be joined by a number of Goulburn teammates who won the Division 2 U15 title in 2019.

The teenager is a member of the Hockey Australia Future Talent Squad.

Kian Johnson

Kian Johnston.

The creative Sydney South representative will feature in the Division 1 competition and will be a constant threat to competition defences.

“Johnson is a great ball carrier, turning defence into attack,” Mr Willis said.

The skilful attacking midfielder is expected to be a focal point of his team’s attack, with his skilful slap pass praised by the state’s pathways manager.

Johnson is also a member of the Hockey Australia Future Talent Squad and gold medal-winning NSW U18 team.

Koby Johnstone

Koby Johnstone.

Johnstone featured in the recent national championships.

The tall defender from Parkes is set to lead from the back across the three-day tournament, representing his hometown in the Division 2 competition.

The NSW pathways manager praised Johnstone’s expansive and powerful skillset, highlighting his ability to deliver a “huge” overhead of more than 50m.

“Johnstone is one of the state’s leading junior players and has a great passing range, both short and long,” he said.

Johnstone was a fixture of the NSW under-18 national championship winning team and is also a member of the Hockey Australia Future Talent Squad.

Toby Malloon

Toby Malloon.

Taking the field for the Sydney East Hockey Association, Malloon is one of the youngest leading players in the competition and touted as his side’s “midfield general”.

Mr Willis described the committed teenager as the “organiser”, involved in all things positive for his representative team.

“He is the general, the halfback of the team,” he said. “Johnstone has a very high workrate and has excellent core skills.”

The midfielder is one of the players to watch, and has also been identified as a member of the Hockey Australia Future Talent Squad.

Ryan Oschadleus

A fearless up-and-coming goalkeeper will represent Hockey New England in the Division 1 competition, posing a major stumbling block for opposition team’s attacking raids.

Mr Willis said the teenager has excellent agility in front of goals and is extremely strong at defending set plays and penalty corners.

Oschadleus has also been selected in the Hockey Australia Future Talent Squad.

LIVESTREAM FIXTURES

Day 1 – Friday

8:00am – Sydney East 1 v Tamworth 1

9:15am – Hockey New England v Central Coast 1

10:30am – Illawarra South Coast v Far North Coast

11:45am – Metro South West 1 v Sydney South

1:00pm – Hockey New England v Sydney East 1

2:15pm – Tamworth 1 v Newcastle 1

3:30pm – Far North Coast v North West Sydney 1

4:45pm – Metro South West 1 v Illawarra South Coast

6:00pm – Central Coast 1 v Newcastle 1

7:15pm – Sydney South v North West Sydney 1

Day 2 – Saturday

8:00am – Far North Coast v Metro South West 1

9:15am – Tamworth 1 v Hockey New England

10:30am – Illawarra South Coast v Sydney South

11:45am – Metro South West 1 v North West Sydney 1

1:00pm – Hockey New England v Newcastle 1

2:15pm – Sydney East 1 v Central Coast 1

3:30pm – North West Sydney 1 v Illawarra South Coast

4:45pm – Sydney South v Far North Coast

6:00pm – Newcastle 1 v Sydney East 1

7:15pm – Central Coast 1 v Tamworth 1

Day 3 - Sunday

8:00am - Division 2 semi-final (Winner Pool A v Runner up Pool B)

9:15am - Division 1 semi-final (Winner Pool A v Runner up Pool B)

10:30am - Division 1 (4th place Pool A v 4th place Pool B)

11:45am - Division 2 Grand Final

1:00pm - Division 1 Grand Final

TEAMS TO WATCH FOR AT THE 2021 HOCKEY NSW U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Hockey NSW tournaments were cancelled last year due to coronavirus but here are the standings from the last events played back in 2019.

U18 BOYS AT END OF 2019 TITLES: Newcastle 1, North West Sydney’s 1, Metro South West 1, Sydney East 1, Hockey New England, Sydney South, Central Coast 1, Illawarra south coast, Tamworth 1, Far North Coast R, Grafton P, Parkes, Orange, Bathurst, Newcastle 2, Manning Valley, Canberra, North West Sydney 2, Port Macquarie Hastings, Tamworth 2 R, Sydney East 2 P, Newcastle 3, Central Coast 2, Hunter Metro, South West 2.