Tina Taseska earmarked as future Hockeyroos star
Rising hockey star Tina Taseska has been earmarked as one of the players that can restore the Hockeyroos as a powerhouse on the international stage.
The ACT product has been named in Hockey Australia's 18-person under 23 national development squad for an upcoming tour of China in November.
The tour has been dubbed a chance for Hockey Australia to strengthen its development pathways with an eye on building a competitive squad on the road to the Tokyo Olympic Games and beyond.
The Australian development squad will face tournament hosts China, Great Britain, Germany and Chinese national champions Jiangsu across six matches.
Australian junior women's coach Tim White says the tour will provide a crucial chance for the next generation of Hockeyroos stars to "experience foreign conditions, life on tour and matches against quality international opposition from Asia and Europe".
"The tour will also provide an excellent opportunity to assess emerging talent, as the athletes look to push into national development and national senior squads, with the aim of representing the Hockeyroos at benchmark events in the coming years," White said.
The squad is set to fly to China on October 30.
Under-23 Australian Development team for China Tour:
Casey Dolkens (QLD), Morgan Gallagher (QLD), Annie Gibbs (WA), Rebecca Greiner (QLD), Nicola Hammond (VIC), Rene Hunter (NSW), Euleena MacLachlan (SA), Pippa Morgan (WA), Mikaela Patterson (NSW), Candyce Peacock (WA), Aleisha Power (WA), Renee Rockliff (WA), Michaela Spano (SA), Tina Taseska (ACT), Sophie Taylor (VIC), Shanea Tonkin (WA), Aisling Utri (VIC), Abigail Wilson (NSW)
Match Schedule:
Saturday 3 November – Australia v China
Sunday 4 November – Australia v Jiangsu
Tuesday 6 November – Australia v Great Britain
Wednesday 7 November – Australia v Germany
Friday 9 November – Australia v Great Britain
Saturday 10 November – Australia v Germany