The squads for the 2009 GB Super League (GBSL), which gets underway at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff on Saturday 18 April, were announced this week. 

As expected, all of Scotland’s top players are set to feature heavily in what will be the first of many opportunities to stake a claim for inclusion in the London 2012 GB team.

This year’s competition sees the men’s event return to a six team format from last year’s four while the women’s competition features four teams.  After beginning in Cardiff, the men’s competition rolls on to three venues, one in each of the three home nations - the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff, Peffermill playing fields in Edinburgh and the National Sports Centre, Bisham Abbey near Marlow - before concluding at Cannock Hockey Club in Staffordshire over the weekend of 25-26 April. 

The women’s tournament has only two sets of fixtures – those in Cardiff on 18-19 April and the final weekend at Cannock on 25-26 April.

Under the rules of the GBSL, teams may name squads of up to 24 athletes, however only 16 may participate in any round of fixtures.

TEAM INFORMATION

Scotland has a new coach in John Royce and the Scottish players will wish to impress him and stake a claim for a place in the squad for the EuroHockey Nations Trophy in August. 

Some senior players are missing due to playing abroad, but in Alistair McGregor the Caledonian Cougars have the British Player of the Year and a major participant from the Great Britain Olympic team in Beijing. 

The familial aspect of Scottish Hockey is shown by the brothers, David and Alan Forsyth, whose father Derek is the Cougars’ coach.

In Stephen Dick and Graham Moodie the Men's Highland Jaguars team have two top players with Olympic experience who will be sure to use their abilities to assist the younger members of the squad.

The Caledonian Cougars women’s squad is a good blend of youth and experience with several senior Scottish and GB players, combining with some up and coming athletes from the Scotland U18 and U21 and GB Youth Squads. 

Selected from ten different clubs, and under the guidance of head coach Iain Strachan, with assistant Rhona Simpson, the Cougars will be looking to get their claws into the opposition at every opportunity.

SQUADS

Caledonian Cougars Men                                

Alistair McGregor (GK) (Loughborough Students )
Jamie Cachia (GK) (Durham University)
David Forrester (GK) (Edinburgh University)
Iain Scholefield (Kelburne)
Ross Stott (Kelburne)
Jonathan Christie (Kelburne)
Michael Christie (Kelburne)
Wei Adams (Hillhead)
Kenneth Bain (Kelburne)
Gareth Hall (Kelburne)
Douglas Simpson (Western Wildcats)
Christopher Nelson (Kelburne)
Gordon McIntyre (Kelburne)
Chris Nelson (Kelburne)
David Forsyth (Kelburne)
Andrew Smith (Hillhead)
Alan Forsyth (Kelburne)
Allan Law (Dundee Wanderers)
                                   
Manager: Eugene Connolly       
Coach: Derek Forsyth   

Highland Jaguars Men                        

Allan Dick (GK) (Surbiton)
Tom O’Kelly (GK) (Aberdeen Asset Management)
Adam MacKenzie (Inverleith)
Andrew Sinclair (Inverleith)
Derek Salmond (Inverleith)
Callum Duke (Edinburgh University)
Craig Harper (Grange)
Stephen Dick (Inverleith)
Graham Moodie (Western Wildcats)
Fraser Hirst (Edinburgh University)
Ian Moodie (Western Wildcats)
Callum Milne (Inverleith)
Daniel Coultas (Durham University)
Robert Barr (Grange)
Fergus Dunn (FC Barcelona)
Cammy Fraser (Grange)
Chris Grassick (Inverleith)
Gavin Byers (Menzieshill)
John Martin (Inverleith)
Adam Walker (Aberdeen Asset Management)
Ross Jamieson (Inverleith)
                                   
Manager: Graham Stuart           
Coach: Dave Stott        

Caledonian Cougars Women                           

Abi Walker (GK) (Canterbury Ladies)
Carmin Dow (GK) (Dundee Wanderers)
Amy Gibson (GK) (GHK)
Alison Bell (Bonagrass Grove)
Amy Brodie (CALA Edinburgh)
Amy Rowan (Dundee Wanderers)
Becky Merchant (Bonagrass Grove)
Becky Ward (Dundee Wanderers)
Catriona Forrest (Klein Zwitserland)
Daniele Johnston (CALA Edinburgh)
Julie Bryce (Porcelanosa Kelburne)
Kerry Hall (CALA Edinburgh)
Laura Bartlett (Milne Craig Western)
Leigh Fawcett (Bonagrass Grove)
Linda Clement (Bonagrass Grove)
Louise Flemming (Giffnock)
Louise Munn (Bonagrass Grove)
Nikki Kidd (Bonagrass Grove)
Sophie McIntyre (Bonagrass Grove)
Stevie McInally (Hillhead)
Susan McGilveray (GHK)
Vikki Bunce (Dundee Wanderers)
Laura Wrightson (Porcelanosa Kelburne)
                                   
Manager: Lynne Dick    
Coach: Iain Strachan