The Canterbury Cavaliers men'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 Cavaliers' players to obtain national honours.

2009 Canterbury Cavaliers Information

Naming Rights Sponsor - Heartland Hotels
The Scenic Hotel Group have been the naming-rights sponsor of the Canterbury Cavaliers since 2006, with 2009 the second year of the current two year sponsorship agreement. 

Formerly known as Scenic Circle Hotels, the organisation has recently undergone a complete brand relaunch as part of its strategy to protect the viability of its business both during the current economic climate and for the long term.

From now on New Zealand's only 100 percent owned and operated hotel group will be known as Scenic Hotel Group and will market its 18 properties under two distinct brands - Heartland Hotels and Scenic Hotels.  As a result of this the Canterbury Cavaliers will now be known as the Heartland Hotels Canterbury Cavaliers.

The Canterbury Hockey Association is grateful to the Scenic Hotel Group for their involvement with the Heartland Hotels Canterbury Cavaliers.

2009 Squad Selection Process
The selectors (Grant Edwards & Robin Wilson (to June)) will observe player performance in the Canterbury Premier League, as well as seek feedback from club and under-age representative coaches, to determine a Training Squad of approximately 30 players to be invited to attend fitness and training sessions from June 8.

Players will continue to be observed in Canterbury Premier League matches and the selectors may add or remove players from the Training Squad.

Trial matches will be held on July 21 and July 23 to assist in the selection process, with a third trial match possibly to be held on August 4.

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

The final Tournament Squad will be selected on the following criteria, as observed throughout the entire selection process:
Fitness
Attitude
Skill Level
Tactical Awareness

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 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 @ 1pm)
September 19        vs Central (Porritt Park 1 @ 4pm)
September 20        vs North Harbour (Porritt Park 1 @ 2pm)
September 21        vs Wellington (Porritt Park 1 @ 6pm)
September 23        vs Midlands (Porritt Park 1 @ 7pm)
September 24        vs Northland (Porritt Park 2 @ 4pm)
September 26        vs Auckland (Porritt Park 1 @ 4pm)
September 27        Finals

2009 Training Squad
The following players have been named as the Heartland Hotels Canterbury Cavaliers Training Squad as of August 5:

Richard Bain                 Harewood
Morgan Balderstone       Guest player from Auckland
Ian Daniel                     Harewood
Sunjay Ganda               HSOB / Burnside
Nick Haig                      Carlton Redcliffs
Cam Hayde                   University
Mitch Hayde                  Harewood
Reuben Koorey              Carlton Redcliffs
Warren Kreft                  Selwyn
Sam Kumbaroff              Carlton Redcliffs
Tom Loudon                  Harewood
Andrew Nation               HSOB / Burnside
Jason Niles                   Carlton Redcliffs
Craig Paterson              Harewood
Jono Pooch                   Selwyn
Brad Shaw                    Selwyn
Hayden Shaw                Selwyn
Ben Tanner                   HSOB / Burnside

Management Group
Coach                 Grant Edwards
Assistant Coach  Greg Clark
Manager              David Cattermole
Conditioner          Matt Ingram
Physiotherapist    SportsMed