The Black Sticks men have been crowned champions of the Nations Cup in Poland after beating France in a penalty shoot-out.
New Zealand were the first to score in regular time through Jonty Elmes but France's Victor Charlet forced an equaliser from a penalty corner with just three minutes remaining to send the match to penalty shoot outs.
Sean Findlay, Scott Boyde and captain Nic Woods converted but Isaac Houlbrooke missed his chance to give France a sniff at victory.
Goalkeeper Leon Hayward kept NZ's hopes alive with saves off Timothée Clément and Brieuc Delemazure, allowing Kane Russell to secure victory with the fifth and final attempt.
Meanwhile, the Black Sticks women were unable to send veteran Sam Child into retirement with a victory in their Nations Cup bronze medal match in Spain. (Source: 1News)
Victory secured automatic qualification into the top-tier Pro-League but there’s uncertainty about whether Hockey NZ will accept the invite after the shock decision to withdraw the Black Sticks women from hockey’s elite tournament last year.
The national body pointed to travel costs and the length of time on the road as reasons for pulling out.
Meanwhile, the Black Sticks women were unable to send veteran Sam Child (nee Charlton) into retirement with a victory in their Nations Cup bronze medal match in Spain.
They lost to Chile 2-1.
Child made her debut as a teenager in 2010, earning 277 caps - the third most by a Kiwi woman.
She played at three Olympic Games and won Commonwealth Games in 2018.
The men will play at the upcoming Olympics in France, while the women failed to qualify.
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