Rising star tipped for a bright future

Former Murchison star Brayden King has been selected in Hockey Australia’s National Futures Group for 2015/16.

The National Futures Group is capped at 30 athletes from across all States and Territories, and is the formalisation of an assessment process that recognises individuals that have demonstrated hockey characteristics that project towards international standard performance levels.

King, a part of the WA’s gold medal-winning under-18s side at the recent national championships, is one of seven WA boys selected in the Futures Group.

He was not only one of the State’s best performers at the championships, but also received best on ground in their gripping 3-2 final win over Tasmania, breaking an 11-year WA drought.

“It hasn’t really hit home yet to be honest — we got back from the tournament-winning gold and that was the main reason I went away, and getting picked for something like this is just a bonus, I guess, ” King said.

“Hopefully I can achieve a West Australian Institute of Sport scholarship and take as much out of it and learn as much as I can.

On top of his selection, King is one of just five under 18s also in the under 21s squad, and has made it through to the top 26 players.

He says he will target the junior hockey World Cup as a goal he would like to achieve, and says the form he found at the national championships has lifted his game.

“I’ve probably got a bit of extra confidence from form at the national championships, so hopefully I can maintain it.”

The National Futures Group provides a training focus within the National Training Centres and the National Development Camp, scheduled for December, providing a focused development checkpoint for athletes projected for 2020 Olympic selection and beyond.

King reserved special thanks to his mum Kim for the time and effort she has put into his hockey.

“Mum’s been fantastic over the years, with the travel time she’s put in, ” he said.

“It’s a lot of effort and I’m really thankful for that.”