Tambellup’s Penny Squibb part of Hockeyroos squad tackling four nations in FIH Pro League matches

Tambellup’s Penny Squibb will return to international action with the Hockeyroos this week as the national women’s team take part in a FIH Pro League mini tournament.

The Hockeyroos will play against China and Germany in Sydney from February 10-15 and then face off against Argentina and the US in Hobart from February 28-March 5.

Squibb was named in the initial 17-player Hockeyroos squad for 2023 announced in December, with the five additional athletes added this week completing the list of 22.

The 30-year-old defender has made 26 appearances and scored five goals for the Hockeyroos, and joins fellow WA products Aleisha Power and Karri Somerville in the national squad.

Squibb is fresh off a breakthrough in 2022, winning her first two major international medals. She won bronze with the Hockeyroos in the World Cup and then helped her side claim silver at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

A selection camp consisting of 37 players in Sydney recently helped finalise the Hockeyroos squad for 2023.

Hockeyroos head coach Katrina Powell said it was valuable being able to bring a big group of Australia’s best female hockey players together as she plots the Hockeyroos’ qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“Having these athletes training all together and playing against each other in intra-squad matches has been really beneficial,” Powell said.

“It has allowed us to see what level the junior players are at compared to the seniors ... and also look at how athletes perform under pressure.

“You see which players are standing up and who really wants it.

“We have tried to pick the strongest squad with an eye on Olympic qualification which is the Oceania Cup against New Zealand in August, so that’s the immediate focus.

“We may have named a squad of 22 but we’re in no way set on our team that will represent Australia at the Oceania Cup as we look to qualify for Paris.”