National call-up for teenager

Dardanup teenager Jake Harvie has been named in the Australian hockey team’s 19-man squad to compete in the International Festival of Hockey in Victoria next month.

It is the first international call-up for the South West product who won the 2015 South West Hockey League’s Scott Medal as the association’s best and fairest.

Harvie will join Bunbury’s Tristan Clemons and two other West Australians in the squad.

Jake’s father Russell Harvie, is the South West Academy of Sport’s hockey coach. He said the family had a strong history in the sport.

“Jake’s grandfather Gordon Pearce, who is my wife’s father, is a triple Olympian and won a silver medal in Mexico,” he said.

“His younger brother (Tom) is in the Australian future squad and has played at a State level.”

Russell said he was excited about Jake’s rapid rise through the Australian hockey ranks.

“For someone who is only 19 and to get to that level now and do it from the South West out of Ferguson Valley – that is pretty exciting and pretty humbling,” he said.

“We are still just pinching ourselves about it. It is way ahead of schedule as far as we thought.”

Russell said he was looking forward to travelling to watch his son in action in Victoria.

“I am looking forward to when he plays his first game,” he said.

“I’m not sure if there will be tears yet.”

Kookaburras head coach Colin Batch said he was looking forward to watching Harvie compete.

“Jake Harvie is a really exciting player from WA,” he said.

“He didn’t play in the Junior World Cup last year but he’s progressed since then.

“We’re really keen to see what he can produce.”