DEBUTANTES EXCITED FOR TASTE OF INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY

We sat down with four of our upcoming Vantage Black Sticks debutantes to see how they are feeling ahead of this weekend’s FIH Pro League matches against Australia and Great Britain where they’ll have the opportunity to pull on the black shirt for the first time.

Here’s what they said.

Emma Findlay

First of all, how are you feeling about making your debut?

I’m very, very excited. I can’t wait to play a bit of hockey with the girls. I think it’s gonna be awesome.

How does it feel to be making that leap from the age group teams to the senior side?

It’s been really cool. We obviously had a camp a couple of weeks ago and it’s cool to see where I am in terms of the level of hockey and then obviously getting the opportunity to be here is special. So I’m pretty excited to see what international hockey is. Obviously, I got a chance to play Aussie at the U21 series, but I think this is an extra step up, which will be pretty scary, but awesome.

What do you think that step up will be like?

Oh, fast. I think it’ll be fast. I think there’ll be no room for error. So I think it’ll be interesting. It’ll be a good change.

And what do you think it’s going to be like when you run out onto the turf for the first time wearing that black singlet?

I think there’ll be lots of nerves definitely, but I think more so I’ll be excited. It’s always awesome to put on the black strip and I think it’ll be a good opportunity to kind of show what I’ve got.

I imagine you’ve talked to your brother [Black Sticks Sean Findlay], what sort of advice has he given you?

Oh, he’s always good for some advice, but he’s pretty much just kind of take it as it is on the field like you can do as much scouting as you like, but realistically, it’s a on the field kind of situation. He said he was in the same position a couple years ago so go hard, be excited, enjoy the moment

Paige Blake

How are you feeling about making your debut?

Yeah, real pumped, really excited to get out there. Pretty stoked for the opportunity.

What was it like when you got the color?

It was really exciting, but it was a shock. Definitely something that I always hoped would happen so very, very cool. I wasn’t sure how close in the mix I was. So definitely a shock but pretty cool after the camp to get that call. 

What do you think your strengths are that you’re gonna be bringing?

I’d say a bit of creativity and just some attacking flair on the ball probably.

What do you think it’s gonna be like running out into the turf for the first time?

I think it’d be pretty surreal. You always sit at home watching it or watching on the sidelines so it’d be pretty crazy to be out there actually doing it but really, really excited.

After these two weeks what will success look like for you?

I’m probably just going back home, getting back into training and getting stuck into club hockey and just seeing what happens from here working on whatever the lessons are from this tour. And yeah, just looking to get better and better.

Lots of people will be giving you advice, what’ve been some of the key things that you’ve heard?

Probably just to always enjoy and go out and play what you see. And, you know, if you make a mistake, it’s all good. It’s part of the game can only try this and see what happens from there.

Isaac Houlbrooke

So how are you feeling about debuting over the next few days?

I’m excited to see how I can fare against some of the best players in the world. And I know it’s just something I could get to do, and now that I’m here, it’s quite a nice feeling. 

What do you think are sort of the strengths that you bring? 

Speed and skill up fronts are probably my main strengths. 

What was it like when you got the call up?

I felt kind of relieved but also I was excited to tell my family and my dad and mom because they were pretty happy for me. 

George Muir is obviously a big fan of yours, what advice has he given you?

He sent me a really good message just congratulating me, excited for me to play. He just said I’ve earned it and to just go out and play how I play.

How do you think you’re going to feel when you’re running out onto the turf for the first time and that black singlet? I got a bit of a taste of it with the Junior Black Sticks when we played Australia last year. It was pretty cool standing out there singing but yeah, this will be a bit more of a crowd and a bigger occasion. This time I think it will feel pretty special. 

Patrick Ward

You’re on the cusp of selection and now you’re here, how does that feel for you?

When I did get that call from Greg, I was pretty over the moon. It’s a special moment. So yeah, it was good news and got on the phone to speak to my dad and text my mum, she was working, and yeah they’re thrilled. 

What do you think you’re gonna bring to the side of the next couple of weeks?

Hopefully some X factor up front you know try a couple skill moves. Maybe a couple goals.

What’s your celebration gonna be if you score?

The boys want me to hit the griddy [laughs] but maybe just the finger to the sky. I’m not really sure yet!

Have you heard from any of the Otago boys?

My coach Dave Ross sent me a message saying like, congrats, happy for you, well deserved. So it was pretty cool getting a message from him.
What are you expecting international hockey to be like?

I’m expecting a pretty big step up from the local Dunedin side so it should be pretty exciting to get out there playing with good players, you know a lot of big names on the field so it should be good.

In two weeks time, when it’s all said and done, what would have made it a success for you?

Probably just getting out on the field and playing hockey with all the boys from New Zealand. It’s a big honor putting on the black shirt and playing with each other. So I think just taking every moment in will make it a success.