Coach Dave Ross will have some familiar faces to work with when a group of Black Sticks fly south to rejoin the Southern Dogs franchise for the upcoming National Hockey League. 

Current Black Sticks Hugo Inglis and Blair Tarrant, as well as national development squad members Kane Russell and Nick Ross, who have both previously started for the national side, will take the field for their home side this month. The group will be looking to go one better than the silver they claimed in both 2012 and 2013.

It will be a tough ask, with defending champions the Auckland Fury boasting seven current Black Sticks. However the Southern team is bolstered by a strong cohort of Otago club players, former Southerners who return as Region of Origin players, and guest players from Auckland and Canterbury. Irish international Kirk Shimmins will join the Dogs for a second year, but will be unavailable for the rounds in Christchurch and Dunedin due to commitments with his national side.

Southern starts the competition with a match in Christchurch against the Canterbury Cavaliers on 29 August, before a much anticipated home game versus North Harbour Wolves in Dunedin on 6 September. The tournament culminates in a week of matches in Whangarei from 12 to 20 September. 

Otago Hockey General Manager Rachel Minton-Smith is pleased to once again be hosting top level hockey in the city. “It’s always exciting to watch the country’s best play on your home turf. This year will be particularly interesting, playing Harbour, who have a lot of Black Sticks, and one former Southerner”. The inclusion of former Dog and Dunedin local Nick Elder in the Harbour team will surely make for some interesting on field dynamics.

Young Otago players will also be looking to make the most of having their heroes in the city, with Southern Hockey hosting a coaching session with the Black Sticks for primary school players on 5 September.

Children’s Coaching with the Black Sticks 
Saturday 5 September - McMillan Hockey Centre, 65 Harbour Terrace, Dunedin
1:00pm - 1.5 hours - $20.00 entry

National Hockey League - Round 2 
Sunday 6 September - McMillan Hockey Centre, 65 Harbour Terrace, Dunedin - Free entry

Women 12:00pm Southern Storm v North Harbour Women
Men 2:00pm Southern Dogs v North Harbour Wolves

Southern Dogs - National Hockey League 2015