The Canterbury Cats women's hockey team that contests the Hockey New Zealand National Hockey League annually is a regional team that represents the Canterbury region as defined by Hockey New Zealand.  This means that the team is selected from the best eligible players in the five provincial associations within the greater Canterbury region - Canterbury, Malvern, Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury and the West Coast. 

In pursuit of the National Hockey League title, and in accordance with Hockey New Zealand regulations for the National Hockey League, the team may also include up to six guest players from other parts of the country not selected for their 'home' provinces.  The six guest players may include up to two international guest players.

In selecting the team the primary focus is to achieve a national title, and in doing so provide the best opportunity for Cats' players to obtain national honours.

2009 Canterbury Cats Information

Naming Rights Sponsor - Pica Print
Pica Print are in the second year of a three year naming-rights sponsorship of the Canterbury Cats.  Pica Print have been a valued supplier of playing uniforms and tracksuits to the Canterbury Hockey Association for a number of years and the involvement with the Cats reflects the desire of Pica Print to support Canterbury premier women's representative team.   

Pica Print is a locally owned and operated family screen printing and garment supply business based in Christchurch.  Formally trading as Coastal Print, the company re-branded in 2008.  With co-director Kirsten Hatton having been a former Cat player and manager, Pica Print are certainly an organisation that understand what it takes to deliver a successful National Hockey League program.  And the Cats will look great doing it in 100% New Zealand made uniforms from Pica Print.

The Canterbury Hockey Association is grateful to Pica Print for their involvement with the Pica Print Canterbury Cats.

2009 Squad Selection Process
The process is open, in that all interested players from within the region are entitled to trial.  Interested players are invited to email their expression of interest to Chris Leslie (email: coachforce@hockeycanterbury.co.nz).  

A one-off trial match will be held on Thursday, July 16 at Porritt Park from 6.00pm to 7.30pm.  Prior to this, on Tuesday, July 14, a goalkeeper trial process will be conducted to determine the goalkeepers to attend the July 16 trial given the level of interest from goalkeepers this year.

Performance in the trial match will not be the sole determinant used by selectors in naming the Training Squad of up to 21 players.  Selectors (Chris Leslie, Pat Barwick and Dan Inns) will also consider player performance in the Canterbury Premier League, for Canterbury at national tournaments and at  weekly trainings over the first half of the season.

By July 20 the Training Squad of up to 21 players will be named, with this squad to comprise of up to 18 field players and up to three goalkeepers.

The selectors reserve the right to add players to the Training Squad after July 20 if considered in the best interest of the team for 2009.

The selectors are also entitled to include a maximum of six guest players, of which two may be international guest players, in the Tournament Squad of 18 players.

In accordance with Hockey New Zealand regulations for the National Hockey League, at least twelve players will be confirmed as part of the final Tournament Squad by August 10.  The full Tournament Squad of 18 players will be named by August 24.

2009 Tournament Squad
The following players have been named as the Pica Print Canterbury Cats Tournament Squad to contest the 2009 National Hockey League:
Bridgette Allen         Selwyn
Bridget Blackwood   Selwyn
Stacey Carr             HSOB / Burnside
Sophie Devine          Selwyn
Sian Fremaux          St. Margaret's College
Pippa Hayward        HSOB / Burnside
Jane Maley             Selwyn
Olivia Merry             Carlton Redcliffs
Fiona Morrison        Carlton Redcliffs
Meredith Orr            Carlton Redcliffs
Ali Perry                  HSOB / Burnside (withdrew due to injury prior to round 2)
Liz Perry                 Selwyn
Kate Saunders         HSOB / Burnside
Emma Steer            HSOB / Burnside
Megan Wall             Selwyn
Lisa Watson            HSOB / Burnside
Hilary Weavers         HSOB / Burnside
Anna Wetherall        Selwyn

As a result of the injury to Ali Perry, Hilary Sutherland was added to the Tournament Squad prior to round 2)

2009 National Hockey League Schedule
The 2009 National Hockey League involves all teams playing their opening match on the weekend of September 12 & 13, before coming to Christchurch to play the remaining six round matches and the finals from September 19 to 27.

The match schedule for the Scenic Circle Hotels Canterbury Cavaliers is as follows:
September 13        vs Southern (Dunedin @ 11am)
September 19        vs Northland (Porritt Park 1 @ 2pm)
September 20        vs North Harbour (Porritt Park 1 @ 4pm)
September 21        vs Auckland (Porritt Park 2 @ 3pm)
September 23        vs Midlands (Porritt Park 2 @ 4pm)
September 24        vs Central (Porritt Park 1 @ 7pm)
September 26        vs Wellington (Porritt Park 1 @ 2pm)
September 27        Finals

Management Group
Coach                                 Chris Leslie
Assistant Coach/Manager     Pat Barwick
Assistant Coach                   Dan Inns
Conditioner                          Matt Ingram
Physiotherapist                    SportsMed