Bassendean indoor hockey star eyes World Cup

A BASSENDEAN hockey player is set to represent Australia at the indoor hockey World Cup in 2018.

Aiden Lowes, who plays for the Victoria Park Panthers, was selected in the 2016 Australian men’s indoor hockey squad.

The 20-year-old has played for WA Thundersticks in indoor and outdoor disciplines, including the 2016 under-21 men’s Australian championships.

Lowes, who has been playing hockey for eight years and indoor for four years, said he was excited to represent Australia.

“I am definitely looking forward to that (World Cup) if I get picked to represent my country,” Lowes said.

Having played in different positions, Lowes said he was a Jack-of-all-trades.

“For outdoor state I play as striker; for club as a midfielder and indoor I play as a defender,” he said.

“I guess it is all different because playing for the under-21 outdoor team, I loved playing striker just purely because the players behind me are very good.”

Lowes said the level of competition was higher at state level compared to club level.

“At club, I do enjoy it as well because it is not as intense as the under-21 tournament, but it is still really intense with all-ages players and Aussie players,” he said.

“The difference is definitely the pace and structure of the game; you have your job as a player on the field and if you don’t do it, it could be very costly to the team.”

He said he enjoyed being around his teammates and running on the field.

The part-time waiter said he wanted to keep on moving up the ranks.

“I will try to get as far as I can… if I get the opportunity, I will definitely grab a hold of it and give it a good crack,” he said.

The men’s indoor squad will attend a camp in October, where a 14-member team will be selected for a tour in December or January.

The final indoor hockey world cup team will be selected next year after the indoor nationals and a training camp.