USA replaces New Zealand

The New Zealand women’s team will not participate in the next season of the FIH Hockey Pro League. This follows Hockey New Zealand’s decision to pull out of the competition despite avoiding relegation on the playing field. However, New Zealand hockey’s governing body made it clear that the team will seek to rejoin the FIH Hockey Pro League after 2024. To achieve this Black sticks must win the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, which is the qualification path to the FIH Hockey Pro League.

As a result of New Zealand’s withdrawal, the USA, which finished last in the recently concluded season, will retain its place among the participating countries in the upcoming season.

Hockey New Zealand CEO Anthony Crummy said: As a founding nation of the league, this was a difficult decision for us, but the right one to ensure we are best placed to survive and prepare for the most important event on our calendar, the Olympics. The doubling of travel costs in a post-Covid environment and the amount of travel combined with the timing of Season 5 events in the busy year of 2024 meant that participation in the Pro League just isn’t possible during qualifiers and preparation for the Olympics.

Executive Director of USA Field Hockey Simon Hoskins stated: We regret the withdrawal of New Zealand women. For the USA, we are excited about the opportunity to continue in the FIH Hockey Pro League. Our young and developing team wants to make its mark in season 5.

FIH CEO Thierry Weil “Of course, it’s heartbreaking to see that a team that had fought so hard to avoid relegation can’t stay in the end. Especially since the FIH and the participating countries have worked together to develop and adapt the FIH Hockey Pro League since its launch to establish a format that is not only more sustainable, but ultimately more profitable for everyone, but with Hockey New Zealand committed to doing everything we can to be part of the FIH Hockey Pro League journey again soon, I’m confident we’ll welcome back Black sticks sooner rather than later. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing Team USA compete again in the Pro League next season as they build for the future and especially for the 2028 Olympics, which they will host in Los Angeles.

FIH will soon announce the final match schedule for the 2023-2024 FIH Hockey Pro League season.

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