Strong Kookaburras team named for Birmingham Commonwealth Games

The players tasked with continuing the Kookaburras’ dominance as champions in men’s hockey have been announced for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Kookaburras, who are ranked number one in the world, have won every Commonwealth Games men’s hockey gold medal since hockey was introduced to the competition in 1998.

Ten of the Kookaburras selected have tasted Games gold, headlined by Australian hockey’s Games record holder Eddie Ockenden (387 representative appearances) who will be competing at his fourth Games.

The 35-year-old Tasmanian’s inclusion puts him in rare company, joining Mark Knowles as only the second Australian hockey player to compete at four Commonwealth Games.

“The Commonwealth Games hold a special place for me and I have some fantastic memories from them,” Ockenden said.

“To be selected for my fourth Commonwealth Games is an honour. I love playing hockey for the Kookaburras and I love representing Australia, so we will be doing everything we can to continue our proud history of success at the Games.

“Our focus every day as a Kookaburras group is to constantly push each other to improve and be the world’s best hockey team, so we are excited about getting to Birmingham and performing for our country.”

Ockenden’s Kookaburras co-captain Aran Zalewski, midfielders Daniel Beale and Jake Whetton, and goalkeeper Andrew Charter will feature in the Commonwealth Games for the third time.

See the team list and read the full story on the Commonwealth Games Australia website.