November 8, 2024 • 6 mins
The new Premier Hockey League is underway featuring four men's and women's clubs from around New Zealand.
The Falcons represent the entire lower half of the North Island.
Adam Cooper speaks with experienced Black Sticks defender Megan Gibson (nee Hull) to reflect on the Falcons' opening round one win in the women's competition, ahead of their round two match against the Tridents in Napier.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Be on the Allsport Breakfast with a new national Premier
League hockey is underway across the country. Round two today
around New Zealand and representing the Lower North Island are
the Central Falcons. Both the men's and women's teams meet
the Tridents in Naps today and for the Women's Falcons
it comes after a great win last weekend. To open
the competition. Meghan Gibson, formerly known as Meghan Hull, experienced
(00:23):
black sticks defender as part of the women's Falcons teams
and she joins us now. Meghan, thanks to your time. Firstly,
can you just explain to our list is exactly what
this sort of premier hockey league is and where it
sits among all the other competitions.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, thanks so much for having me on, and obviously
you really exciting to be cacking off into our phl
our Career Hockey league. So yeah, it's our top level
domestic league. Sort of happened sort of a few years
ago through COVID, but this is sort of the inaugural
proper event of it. This year. We've got four French
(01:01):
We're traveling around the country for six weeks and yeah,
just basically playing top lever hockey against one another, and yeah,
a really good high level of competition. I think that
sort of feeds into this into the national program.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
And in terms of the central zone that the Falcons
are representing, there's a lot of areas are there. There's
Hawks Bay, There's there's one or two, there's Wellington. There's
a whole bunch of some real catchment of top players
to be our contenders for this team.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean we're a really proud region, the
Marshi Falcons. So yeah, we're basically covering Hawks Bay through
to manuwato OneD, Upper Wellington and yah Wanganui sort of
all of that Lower North Island region. And yeah, like
you say, we're a wee bit s threwed out as
(01:53):
sometimes it happens down here. But the cool thing is
we've got such a neat group of girls and management
and we sort of came together last weekend and I
think there's always that common pole of being really proud regions,
you know, players and real excitement to be a part
of this league. Obviously. Yeah, we're starting starting to really
(02:15):
cackin to gear hopefully gain this weekend. So yeah, it's
it's a really cool region. Then we're Yeah, one we're
really proud of obviously, So.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
When everyone's based in different areas, how much training time
do you actually get with each other.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah, so we're sort of training tools three times a
week just in our own separate way regions at the moment.
And then last week in prior to game one, we
sort of came together the day before the game and
at our first propatraty together, so yeah, that was pretty date.
So yeah, we're sort of, I suppose a bit limited
(02:51):
on the time we all can get together our whole
our whole group, But at the same time, I think
it really makes you treasure those moments and were really
trying to make the most of the time we do
have together on game days and obviously we were traveling
over the weekends.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
And in terms of round Round one, a good first
up wins three nil and you're you're a defender keeping
a clean sheet, you're always you're never going to complain
about that, right, that's good?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Right? Yeah, we were, We were very kafe forget that,
to get that first one on the board. Obviously a
tough hour part of the team to play against Fishy
down in Mighty Dunedin, but yeah, we're really pleased with
obviously definitely nice to get the doughnuts for the defenders,
not to unhea Fee exactly.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And a tough game this weekend though in Hawk's Bay
though tried and so they also kept a clean sheet
and they showed that they can score some goals that don't.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
They Yeah, absolutely, that's such a class side. I think
right through their layers, they sort of have such awesome,
outstanding talent and a lot of experience and they're too,
So we know it'll be a really tough match and
one that we're going to have to equally get up for.
But I think we're a really pumped to thee in
Hawk's Bay and be playing, be playing up there in
(04:02):
front of a home crowd. Hopefully we get lots of
awesome support out there, and yeah, we'd be a ripper
of a match. And yeah, so we're just really looking
forward to the challenge and yeah, obviously hopefully showcasing some
really good hockey out there.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Yeah, and just coming from like a Blacksticks perspective, Megan,
you know, a player like yourself is coming into this league,
you know, is this important for just in terms of
game time and everything else. You know, just getting the
games with with with other people and playing some competitive hockey.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Oh massively. It's just so important for our domestic competition.
I think it's a competition we've been really you know,
screaming out for for a week while now, and obviously
sort of with international travel being a little bit tricky
over the last few years and maybe not so much
not as much international games. The more we can control
(04:53):
here and the more talent we can sort of foster
and I suppose exposure to that high performance sort of,
the better it is the hockey across the country. So
it's a real win having this competition up and running,
and yeah, the hope is that it just keeps growing,
you know, the talents, exposing hockey, and yeah, really keen
(05:13):
to take you know, the community along with us, because
the hockey community is a really special and passionate one.
So yeah, I feel like it's going to be a
good one.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah, exactly. I guess it's probably been a bit of
a strange year with the women's Black sticks not at
the Olympics. So where are things at with the black
sticks at the moment? Is you know, anything in the
horizon from a player's perspective at the moment.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, yeah, obviously you know, a bit of a tricky
old year, but I think it's yeah, a good opportunity
to just read group. Obviously we're playing the PHL at
the moment, and so it's seriously I suppose about putting
out really good performances and obviously there's more and more
talent coming through, so yeah, sort of it's about earning
(05:53):
your spot back as much as you can putting out
really good, good performances. But there's sort of some cool
things in the pipeline. I think for the calendar next year,
a feweral international matches which would be really really good
for mental squad games. And yeah, I think this PHL
is a really good feed into that, and yet, like
(06:14):
I said, just sort of exposing a lot more to
that high performance environment.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Great to chat Meghan, Thanks so much. Black six defender
Meghan Gibson from the Central Falcons and the Premiere Hockey League.
The Falcons will be playing here on Wellington next weekend
as well, so look forward to that. For more from
News Talks THE'B listen live on air or online, and
keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio
Be on the Allsport Breakfast with a new national Premier
League hockey is underway across the country. Round two today
around New Zealand and representing the Lower North Island are
the Central Falcons. Both the men's and women's teams meet
the Tridents in Naps today and for the Women's Falcons
it comes after a great win last weekend. To open
the competition. Meghan Gibson, formerly known as Meghan Hull, experienced
(00:23):
black sticks defender as part of the women's Falcons teams
and she joins us now. Meghan, thanks to your time. Firstly,
can you just explain to our list is exactly what
this sort of premier hockey league is and where it
sits among all the other competitions.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Yeah, thanks so much for having me on, and obviously
you really exciting to be cacking off into our phl
our Career Hockey league. So yeah, it's our top level
domestic league. Sort of happened sort of a few years
ago through COVID, but this is sort of the inaugural
proper event of it. This year. We've got four French
(01:01):
We're traveling around the country for six weeks and yeah,
just basically playing top lever hockey against one another, and yeah,
a really good high level of competition. I think that
sort of feeds into this into the national program.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
And in terms of the central zone that the Falcons
are representing, there's a lot of areas are there. There's
Hawks Bay, There's there's one or two, there's Wellington. There's
a whole bunch of some real catchment of top players
to be our contenders for this team.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, absolutely, I mean we're a really proud region, the
Marshi Falcons. So yeah, we're basically covering Hawks Bay through
to manuwato OneD, Upper Wellington and yah Wanganui sort of
all of that Lower North Island region. And yeah, like
you say, we're a wee bit s threwed out as
(01:53):
sometimes it happens down here. But the cool thing is
we've got such a neat group of girls and management
and we sort of came together last weekend and I
think there's always that common pole of being really proud regions,
you know, players and real excitement to be a part
of this league. Obviously. Yeah, we're starting starting to really
(02:15):
cackin to gear hopefully gain this weekend. So yeah, it's
it's a really cool region. Then we're Yeah, one we're
really proud of obviously, So.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
When everyone's based in different areas, how much training time
do you actually get with each other.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah, so we're sort of training tools three times a
week just in our own separate way regions at the moment.
And then last week in prior to game one, we
sort of came together the day before the game and
at our first propatraty together, so yeah, that was pretty date.
So yeah, we're sort of, I suppose a bit limited
(02:51):
on the time we all can get together our whole
our whole group, But at the same time, I think
it really makes you treasure those moments and were really
trying to make the most of the time we do
have together on game days and obviously we were traveling
over the weekends.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
And in terms of round Round one, a good first
up wins three nil and you're you're a defender keeping
a clean sheet, you're always you're never going to complain
about that, right, that's good?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Right? Yeah, we were, We were very kafe forget that,
to get that first one on the board. Obviously a
tough hour part of the team to play against Fishy
down in Mighty Dunedin, but yeah, we're really pleased with
obviously definitely nice to get the doughnuts for the defenders,
not to unhea Fee exactly.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And a tough game this weekend though in Hawk's Bay
though tried and so they also kept a clean sheet
and they showed that they can score some goals that don't.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
They Yeah, absolutely, that's such a class side. I think
right through their layers, they sort of have such awesome,
outstanding talent and a lot of experience and they're too,
So we know it'll be a really tough match and
one that we're going to have to equally get up for.
But I think we're a really pumped to thee in
Hawk's Bay and be playing, be playing up there in
(04:02):
front of a home crowd. Hopefully we get lots of
awesome support out there, and yeah, we'd be a ripper
of a match. And yeah, so we're just really looking
forward to the challenge and yeah, obviously hopefully showcasing some
really good hockey out there.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Yeah, and just coming from like a Blacksticks perspective, Megan,
you know, a player like yourself is coming into this league,
you know, is this important for just in terms of
game time and everything else. You know, just getting the
games with with with other people and playing some competitive hockey.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Oh massively. It's just so important for our domestic competition.
I think it's a competition we've been really you know,
screaming out for for a week while now, and obviously
sort of with international travel being a little bit tricky
over the last few years and maybe not so much
not as much international games. The more we can control
(04:53):
here and the more talent we can sort of foster
and I suppose exposure to that high performance sort of,
the better it is the hockey across the country. So
it's a real win having this competition up and running,
and yeah, the hope is that it just keeps growing,
you know, the talents, exposing hockey, and yeah, really keen
(05:13):
to take you know, the community along with us, because
the hockey community is a really special and passionate one.
So yeah, I feel like it's going to be a
good one.
Speaker 1 (05:21):
Yeah, exactly. I guess it's probably been a bit of
a strange year with the women's Black sticks not at
the Olympics. So where are things at with the black
sticks at the moment? Is you know, anything in the
horizon from a player's perspective at the moment.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Yeah, yeah, obviously you know, a bit of a tricky
old year, but I think it's yeah, a good opportunity
to just read group. Obviously we're playing the PHL at
the moment, and so it's seriously I suppose about putting
out really good performances and obviously there's more and more
talent coming through, so yeah, sort of it's about earning
(05:53):
your spot back as much as you can putting out
really good, good performances. But there's sort of some cool
things in the pipeline. I think for the calendar next year,
a feweral international matches which would be really really good
for mental squad games. And yeah, I think this PHL
is a really good feed into that, and yet, like
(06:14):
I said, just sort of exposing a lot more to
that high performance environment.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Great to chat Meghan, Thanks so much. Black six defender
Meghan Gibson from the Central Falcons and the Premiere Hockey League.
The Falcons will be playing here on Wellington next weekend
as well, so look forward to that. For more from
News Talks THE'B listen live on air or online, and
keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio
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