Melbourne, Oct 27 (IANS): Hockey Australia on Tuesday announced that former players Michael York and Nicole Hudson and umpire Don Prior will be inducted into its Hall of Fame on November 5.
HA also decided to induct celebrated player-turned-coach Ric Charlesworth as its life member. Charlesworth won 1986 World Cup as a player and two World Cups with the men's team in 2010 and 2014 as a coach. The 63-year-old also coached his country's women's team to two World Cups and two Olympics titles. Charlesworth joined Hockey Australia's Hall of Fame in 2008 after a successful international career from 1972 to 1988.
Prior is the best credentialled umpire produced by Australian hockey. In a career spanning 18 years at the international level, Don officiated at four World Cups from 1986-1998 and four Olympic Games from 1988-2000.
York played 281 games for his country in a career spanning four Olympiads from 1988-2000. He won a silver and two bronze medals at the highest level, while Nicole enjoyed a career featuring over 300 games until her retirement in 2009.
While the pinnacle of her achievements was undoubtedly a gold medal win at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, she won gold medals in a World Cup, three Champions Trophies and two Commonwealth Games.
Hockey Australia has 13 members of its Hall of Fame.