TWEED hockey players Andrew Butturini (Burringbar) and Dylan Wotherspoon (Murwillumbah) have made the Australian Under-21 Men’s Squad to compete at the Junior World Cup from 6 to 15 December in India.
Their selection in the 18-athlete Burras’ Squad follows an extensive process that has seen a larger training squad take part in camps across the country, participate in a ‘super camp’ with senior Kookaburras athletes in Perth, as well as compete in Europe, Asia and a number of national tournament according to Burras’ Head Coach Paul Gaudoin.
“This has been an extensive selection process taking place over a number of years. Some of these athletes have been looking towards this point since 2010,” Gaudoin said.
“It’s an even group. We’ve got good defenders, a settled midfield and strong strikers, as well as some good flickers, too.”
The Junior World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in age-group hockey and features the world’s top-16 nations, which has seen the Burras drawn in Pool B of the opening phase alongside Argentina, France and Spain.
A top-two finish in the pool is required to progress to the quarter finals.
The Squad will come together in Perth in mid-November where they will play two matches against New Zealand’s Junior Black Sticks on 28-29 November before departing for India on 1 December.
