GB men's squad announced for Olympic hockey test event
Tuesday, 01 May 2012
May 1 - Britain's men's hockey squad for this week's VISA International Invitational Hockey Tournament, which runs from May 2 until 6, has been announced by coach Jason Lee.
Richard Smith, Dan Fox, Richard Alexander, Jonty Clarke, Nick Catlin and Alastair Wilson are all recalled after missing out on the Champions Trophy last year.
Harry Martin keeps his place in the squad after an impressive performance in that tournament.
With 157 international caps, Mark Pearn (pictured above) will be a key member of Lee's squad, whilst Simon Mantell, James Tindall and Rob Moore are also important figures in the British team.
This week, Britain will take on Germany, who they lost to in the Champions Trophy, world number one Australia and India.
The tournament, which begins on Wednesday (May 2), runs until Sunday (May 6).
It is the first major competition for the British team since the Champions Trophy, where they failed to progress to the medal play offs from the group stage.
Lee had said that although his team's physical shape was not ideal at the time, they should be in better condition for this tournament and the London 2012 Olympics.
"We are still very much in the selection phase ahead of the Olympics this Summer," Lee said.
"When you consider that we have 27 players in the Great Britain squad, all with a chance of Olympic selection, but only 18 players allowed to compete in the Test Event, then obviously some had to miss out.
"The final squad for the Olympics will be the best combination of players not necessarily the best individuals."
Like the women's team selected by Danny Kerry, the men's squad has just one goalkeeper – James Fair.
"By taking only one goalkeeper we are able to give more opportunities to the outfielders," Lee explained.
"There is a risk, of course, of playing without a goalkeeper if Fair gets injured but we have got a practised plan B – an outfielder to go in goal – and a plan C –11 outfielders – to cover for this eventuality."
There is one remaining tournament following this week's event for Lee's men to prepare for the Olympics – the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup from May 24 to June 3 in Malaysia.
March 2012: Britain's Olympic women's hockey test event squad named