Two Border hockey young guns are preparing for a massive year on the pitch having earned selection for ACT.
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Emma Ronnfeldt and Hayley Hutchinson have been training weekly in Canberra and have also trialled with Capital League outfit North Canberra Eagles following the withdrawal of the Albury-Wodonga Spitfires women's team this season.
Hockey ACT is the only hockey association across Australia that is yet to postpone the start of its season, which is set to begin on Saturday, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Only national tournaments and ACT's masters program has been impacted at this stage, so it's been business as usual for the duo.
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"We've been playing practice matches and training with our team still," Ronnfeldt said.
"We're trying to get a mini tri-series happening with NSW and Victoria.
"Because we're not going away for a tournament, we're still hopefully going to have something to do.
"I don't know if it's 100 per cent going ahead yet, but they're thinking of doing something like that."
Despite the uncertainty surrounding a number of sports across the country, Ronnfeldt was delighted to earn a call-up after missing out last year.
"I was just coming back from my knee injury, so it was good to make it this year," she said.
"It's a good bunch of girls too.
"It's a good standard to be playing at. You work with each other and challenge each other which is good.
"The standard is higher than what we have here, so it's worth going to Canberra for.
"Usually mum or dad travels up with me or I'll go with 'Budgie' (Hutchinson) from Wagga.
"It was pretty disappointing (to lose the Spitfires this year), but you can't really go ahead with a junior team in a Capital League comp."
Fellow Hockey-Albury Wodonga product Campbell Cull has been selected in the ACT under-15 boys side.
Meanwhile, the Spitfires men are preparing to play round one of the Canberra-based Capital League starting this Saturday.
The Spitfires are scheduled to host United at Albury Hockey Centre, but as the COVID-19 crisis continues to develop, a call could be made to delay round one.
There have been nine positive tests in Canberra for coronavirus.
Australian National University's (ANU) hockey teams have been suspended from playing and training until further notice.
The Albury-Wodonga outfit and Goulburn are the only two sides in the competition outside of the ACT.
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