Altona Hockey star Cooper Burns has received his first senior national call up, while his teammates Nye Roberts and Connar Otterbach have been named in a wider squad.
Hockey Australia on Monday announced an initial 17-strong Kookaburras 2025 squad that boasts experience and impressive young talent.
With an eye firmly on the LA 2028 Olympic Games, a wider Kookaburras squad of 21 has also been named with an opportunity for some of the players to represent the Kookaburras at the FIH Pro League in Sydney and Argentina before the final seven spots in a 24-strong squad are decided.
Coach Mark Hager said it’s a new beginning for this group.
“The next four years to the LA 2028 Olympic Games, and also further to Brisbane in 2032, was a big factor in our decision to name an initial squad and a wider squad with a range of experience and ages so we can bring them along in the journey.
“The wider squad have a really good opportunity to be in the environment and have some quality competition before we make the final decision on the last seven places.”
Three players in the 17 will make their debut, including Burns, who also plays for HC Melbourne.
Roberts and Otterbach are part of the wider squad trying to make the final squad.
The Kookaburras first test will be at the 2025 FIH Pro League campaign in Sydney in just seven weeks, when they face Spain and the highly-anticipated rematch of the fiery Paris Olympic Games quarterfinal against the Netherlands, from February 5-9..
The squad will travel to Argentina in late February before touring Europe in June as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup Qualifier at the Oceania Cup when international hockey returns to Darwin in September.
