Black Stick veteran returns after four year absence

Two time Olympian Nick Wilson is back in the Black Stick men's hockey time for the first time in four years.

Wilson last played for the national side at the Rio Olympics but will help boost the experience of the squad for the 2021 following the recent retirements of Arun Panchia, Marcus Child and Cory Bennett who between them boasted more than 550 international caps.

The 25 strong squad also features three new caps and a potential four-time Olympian.

Wilson, who has played 170 internationals, has been focusing on a real estate career since Rio, impressed the selectors as one of the top goal scorers in the recent Premier Hockey League.

The experienced Shea McAleese is striving to be selected for his fourth Olympic Games, having been part of the squads at Beijing, London and Rio. McAleese is currently sitting on 310 caps and next year he could overtake Ryan Archibald for second place on the all-time caps for the Vantage Black Sticks.

There are three uncapped players in the squad with the Central Falcons duo of Sean Findlay and Sam Hiha and Hauraki Mavericks player Oliver MacIntyre.

"Much has happened since we last took the field against Argentina on March 1st. After the lockdown and subsequent delay in Tokyo Olympics we took the chance to re-set the program, connect with our up and coming talent and look over the squad that will take us to Tokyo and beyond," said coach Darren Smith.

"It gave the chance for all of us to look at the other aspects of our life and think about what is important heading into 2021".

Veteran striker Simon Child has made himself unavailable for the first part of 2021 as he continues to balance work, family and hockey commitments.

The squad will return to training in January as they build for a season which features an a yet to be confirmed Oceania Cup, the postponed Tokyo Olympics and the resumption of the second season of the FIH Hockey Pro League.

-RNZ