Hockey New Zealand has provided some clarity around Southern Hockey's decision not to enter teams in the National Hockey League this season.
Southern Hockey has declined to comment publicly since announcing its decision in June and was steadfast again yesterday, with chairman Andrew Booth reiterating the committee was waiting until after it had met New Zealand Hockey before it would explain its decision. That meeting is expected to take place in the next few weeks.
Hockey New Zealand chief executive Ian Francis was able to confirm speculation that it was financial reasons that prompted Southern to withdraw from the national league.
However, he rejected suggestions the decision to stage the tournament in Whangarei had put the tournament out of Southern's reach financially.
Francis said Hockey New Zealand operated a cost equalisation scheme and locations in Auckland or within a reasonable driving distance of Auckland actually worked out as the cheapest option. That was simply because it had to fly fewer teams north than it would have to fly teams south.
"Since 2012 they have either been held at Auckland, North Harbour or Whangarei,'' Francis said.
"If we'd have held it in Wellington, for example, or Christchurch or Dunedin, then you have to fly [more] teams.''
Francis said Hockey New Zealand was working hard at making sure the tournament was sustainable and "from our end, we look to support a team as much as we can within the constraints that we have''.
Asked why Southern had suddenly found the tournament unaffordable, Francis responded by saying that question was better directed at Southern Hockey. Booth declined to comment.
While Southern Hockey's absence is less of a mystery, it is not less of a tragedy. The National Hockey League has been stripped of some of its national flavour with an area as large as Southern not represented.
"We want to provide opportunities for the whole of the country, so it is a worry for us.
"We are meeting with Southern just in the near future just to look for a positive outcome. We are committed to supporting all our associations and making it as affordable as possible.''
Asked whether the tournament was sustainable, Francis said it was possible to cut costs further but it was a "delicate balance''. The tournament existed to bridge the gap between club hockey and international hockey and that pathway was worth investing in.
