Over the last week, several of our Wellington athletes took part in the U18 Futures Camp held at King’s College, Auckland.

Congratulations to Bay Johnson, India Harvey, Greer Thornton, Jada Ropitini, Zach Gianotti, Zac Fowler, Kyle Keene, and Adam Baker on being selected to take part in Hockey New Zealand’s Future Black Sticks (FBS) Super Camp.

James Birkefeld also joined the camp in a coaching role, contributing his expertise to support the next generation of high performance athletes.

The camp brings together some of the country’s most promising young athletes who have demonstrated the skill, game sense, and character to progress through Hockey New Zealand’s high performance pathway. Following standout performances during the National U18 campaign, these players were invited to experience a high-level development environment designed to prepare them for the next stage of their hockey journey.

The FBS Super Camp is a live-in programme that introduces players to the Vantage Black Sticks way of training and playing. The week includes technical and tactical sessions, physical and mental performance education, and leadership workshops, all delivered by Hockey New Zealand’s experienced coaching and support staff.

This year’s camp comes at an exciting time for the Future Black Sticks programme, with the launch of the Junior Hockey League (JHL) and the upcoming U21 Junior World Cups in 2025. The experience encourages players to take ownership of their development and provides valuable insight into the demands of elite hockey.

We’re proud to see our Wellington athletes representing the region and continuing to grow through Hockey New Zealand’s high performance pathway.