Olympian Blake Govers among seven NSWIS hockey players named to Burras team

Olympic hockey player Blake Govers is among seven NSWIS hockey athletes selected to represent Australia’s junior men’s hockey team, The Burras, when they contest the sixth edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup.

The tournament will be held from October 31 to November 6 in Johor Bahru, the capital of the Malaysian state of Johor.

Fast becoming a highlight of the international hockey calendar, this year some of the best junior teams in the world will again line up for the tournament. Joining The Burra’s in the competition will be teams from Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Malaysia.

For Govers, this tournament will be the next chapter in what has been a rollercoaster ride over the past 16 months, that got started when he made his debut for the Australian men’s team, the Kookaburras, in May 2015.

Since joining the Kookaburras, 20-year-old has helped the team secure wins in the 2015 Oceania Cup, 2015 World League Final and 2016 Champions League. Within 12 months of his Aussie debut, he was named to the Australian Olympic team for their Rio campaign.

Now his attention will be with The Burra’s as they attempt to win the Sultan of Johor Cup in the absence of defending champions Great Britain and two-time winners India.

Joining Govers as a part of the NSWIS contingent are Tim Brand, Tom Craig, Sam Liles, Kurt Lovett, Ryan Proctor and Ash Thomas.