13 current and former Goulburn District Hockey Association players were named (six in the men's, seven in the women's), ahead of the new-look tournament which begins in late September.

Hockey ACT CEO and Goulburn resident, Rob Sheekey, said that the number of selections was indicative of the strength of the sport locally.

"Obviously Goulburn's been a breeding ground for a number of years for high-performance and high-level hockey players," Sheekey said.

"It's a big hockey town, as is Crookwell, and that area's been generating a lot of players, not just for ACT, but also for NSW over the years."

Goulburn Geckos player Jake Staines is one of the six men to have been selected, and said that he was looking forward to joining his teammates in Canberra colours.

"I think any team you make that you've been playing with blokes around you has got to help, you just feel more comfortable" Staines said.

"It just goes to show in Goulburn how much talent there is.

"From a small town, to have six [men's players] in a national squad is pretty impressive."

Part of the strength of the men's representation can be put down to the strength of the Geckos squad as a whole, which Staines believes has hit its stride in recent weeks.

"Mid-season, you go through a bit of a [lull]," Staines said.

"Coming into the end [of the season], I think blokes are getting back into their mojo and the last three games have actually felt pretty good."

Of his own form, Staines said that he was feeling "pretty good", and that he felt fresher having enjoyed a lighter workload this year than in previous seasons.

For the first time, the Hockey One competition will be televised this year, in a move which Sheekey says will prove a huge boost for local and national hockey fans.

"The new format, first and foremost, is great for the sport," he said.

"It's an exciting time for hockey. We believe that it will give players a greater opportunity to be exposed.

"The broadcast component is very exciting for the sport. Having players that are participating on television is a nice change for a league, and it's good that hockey's finally made that step."

The former and current GDHA players selected in the ACT Chill squads are:

Men

Women

The squads number 27 (men) and 24 (women) currently, but will be cut down to 20 players apiece ahead of the Hockey One season opener against Brisbane Blaze on September 29.