Funnel Web pair on the national climb

Toowoomba under-18 players make their mark at national indoor hockey championships.

Dylan Pember (left) in action last season for his Toowoomba club Red Lion.

HOCKEY : There was no way a broken finger or a dislocated shoulder were going to stop determined Toowoomba Funnel Web indoor hockey pair Dylan Pember and Ella White from giving their all at the recent National Festival of Indoor Hockey in Wollongong.

Both have now been selected, despite injury concerns, into the under-18 Australian indoor hockey training camp.

“Mark Sandhu (Australian women’s indoor head coach) and I are trying to identify the next group of players capable of progressing to the next level, while also keeping in mind the broadening of indoor hockey knowledge across the country,” indoor hockey assistant coach, David Ogden said.

“Our aim is to develop a strong, flexible and more tactically aware group of players within the indoor talent pathway.”

Pember and White will attend a three-day camp in October later this year.

“There was a lot of exciting and new talent that attended the tournament this year which made the selection process extremely difficult,” Ogden said.

One of the new talents Ogden is referring to is White, the skilled Funnel Web’s under-18 defender who has been selected to Queensland teams since joining the sport in 2017 from outdoor hockey.

Ella White.

“I was not expecting it at all,” White said.

“I was only able to play three games at the nationals before dislocating a shoulder.

“But I am so excited for this opportunity to be coached by Australian coaches and make the most of the experience and train at the highest level.”

White brought her ability to read the game from outdoor hockey, indicating that this game vision coupled with her patience and tackling ability assisted her indoor game.

“It is a privilege to be selected in the squad and an honour to be one of only two female Queensland players to represent our state in the squad,” White said.

She believes Toowoomba players have shown great ability to adapt from the outdoor game, especially as indoor hockey has only been played in the last couple years.

She says this is demonstrated by the success of players making their mark at state and national tournaments, and only now making Australian U18 and opens’ squads.

“It was a difficult transition after only playing outdoor hockey from a young age,” White said.

“Indoor is a fast paced game that focuses on the basics and tactical play. I loved the challenge and the different dynamic that indoor offered me.”

Pember returns to the Australian under-18 training camp squad after being selected the previous year.

He went into the national tournament nursing a broken finger but that was never going to stop him competing to the best of his ability.

“He only had his hand out of plaster for six days prior to playing,” Dylan’s mother Natalie Pember said.

Both players eventually hope to replicate the same success as Holly Gilbar, who earlier this month was selected to the Australian World Cup Indoor Hockey Squad, despite only starting the sport two years ago.