Bendigo hot-shot hockey player Deacon Evans will represent Victoria at the 2018 Under 13 Boys Australian Carnival in Hobart this week.
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Evans is on the Victoria Venom squad, marking the first time he will play hockey on a national level which he is “very excited about”.
“It will be great to play in a hockey team competing against players from different states, it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Evans said.
Normally positioned as either full back or as a midfielder, he is more than keen to display his finesse and technical ability in Tasmania in a sport he has dedicated himself to for the past five years.
“I like how hockey isn’t a simple sport, there’s a lot of tricks and other things involved which I’ve learnt along the way,” he said.
In the lead-up to game day Evans continues to refine his skills and will avoid any possibility of injury to ensure he can unleash his talent on the national stage.
He will also draw on his experience of playing for Hockey Central Victoria’s under-13 squad which won the pool B championship at the Victoria Country junior state titles in early 2017.
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The selection process for Victoria Venom involved a six week draft camp where the best players of the state vied against each other to make it through to the selection process.
The preparations during the lead-up to the national competition has involved frequent trips back and forth between Melbourne and Bendigo for the team’s twice-weekly training at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville.
Evans’ father Ross, also a hockey player, said he had “immense pride” in his son’s progression in the sport.
“It’s great for him to see the value of the work he has put into the sport over the years,” Ross Evans said.
“A true reward of all of his effort.”
Ross Evans said his son’s home side, Strathdale Hockey Club, had assisted in the development of important skills which had helped him progress in playing ability to compete on a national level.
“They have been fantastic for Deacon, assisting him to bring out his finesse and other specific skills,” Ross Evans said.
The national championships in Hobart will be another step in the direction of Evans fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional hockey player.
There will be two Victorian squads competing at the championships, with Victoria Venom’s first match against Western Australia Storm on Thursday morning, followed by an afternoon game against the Northern Territory.
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