Four local players are set to take on some of the best young hockey talent in Australia at the upcoming 2023 Hockey Australia U15 Championships in Darwin.
Bundaberg Hockey Association’s Ethan Kenny, Connor Castelli, Tully Dorgan and Ava McCaig were selected for the 2023 U15 Queensland State Teams following the conclusion of trials held in February.
Ethan from Arrows Athletics has been picked for the Maroons team while Waves Cities’ Connor Castelli and Tully Dorgan and Ava McCaig from Arrows have been chosen as shadows.
Hockey Queensland’s Danielle Sturgess said the upcoming championships was the first national event young athletes could experience.
“After the U15 State Championships, State Squads are selected and invited to the trials in February of the following year,” she said.
“The Queensland teams are selected based on their performance at trials by the selection panel.
“(In Darwin) the teams will compete against other states and territories to be crowned National Champions.”
The four local hockey players have a shared passion for the sport and a combined 37 years of experience between them.
Ethan said he was thrilled to make the selection for the Maroons boys side.
“I’ve been playing hockey for about 10 years,” he said.
“A lot of hard work went into it over the past two years and now I get to go to Darwin, it’s great.”
Ava, Connor and Tully will play for the shadows boys and girls sides and the trio said they were looking forward to the experience.
“I feel good and accomplished about making shadows,” Connor said.
“I have been doing a lot of training for it.
“I love the team work involved,” Ava added.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” Tully said.
The Hockey Australia U15 Championships will run from 15 to 21 April 2023 at the MWT Hockey Centre in Darwin.
The event will be livestreamed via LIVEHockey.
