Champion of Champions: Hockey

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It was another big year for secondary school hockey this year, culminating in teams from Christchurch and Auckland winning the Rankin and Federation Cups. Below are six players that have performed well this year.
 
Louis Beckert (Christ’s College) - Christ’s College won the Rankin Cup for the first time since 1991 and goalkeeper Beckert was an essential part of the success. In the final against Christchurch Boys’ High School he kept a clean sheet and saved several penalties in the shootout as Christ’s prevailed. In fact in seven games, Christ’s only conceded six goals with Beckert holding his opponents to zero three times. Beckert was also a member of the Canterbury Under-18 team that won the National title and earned New Zealand honours with the Under-18 squad.
 
Malachi Busch (King's High School) - It was a busy and successful season for the head boy. Busch led King’s to a successful defence of their Otago title and a top 10 finish at Rankin Cup, before making his National Hockey League debut for the Southern Dogs. Busch is a midfielder and leader of exceptional quality. In October he was one of only three schoolboys selected in the Black Stick’s training squad.
 
Madison Doar (St Cuthbert’s College) - St Cuthbert’s College’s Madi Doar’s final act in her school hockey career was drilling the match-winning goal in St Cuthbert’s 1-0 Federation Cup final win over Rangi Ruru Girls’ School. Madi Doar was co-captain of her school team (along with Kendall Vaughan) that completed an unbeaten season and beat rivals Auckland Diocesan in the finals of both the Auckland and Super City competition. Madi was injured for the 5-1 Super City final, but returned to lead her side to the national title and she was the tournament’s leading goal-scorer with 10 goals. This was after she had made her debut for the Black Sticks against India in March, later representing Auckland at the National Hockey League tournament following the Federation Cup. Currently In the Black Sticks squad contesting the Hockey World League Final tournament in Auckland.
 
Connor Greentree (Kristin School) - Greentree was one of only three school boys selected in the 34-man Black Sticks squad which will undergo six days of extensive training in Auckland from December 5-10. Greentree is First XI captain at Kristin School on the North Shore and an outstanding talent having player for Harbour at rep level at various age groups for several years. A creative, tough and skilful player, Greentree has been nominated for College Sport Auckland’s hockey player of the year.
 
Harry Lawson (Lindisfarne College) - “Sometimes it’s annoying when your teammates aren’t as serious as you, but I enjoy the challenge of helping younger players get better,” Harry Lawson told College Sport Media in October. The defender from Lindisfarne College in Hastings is easily the best player on his team. Twice Hawke’s Bay Secondary School Player of the Year, the resolute and accomplished defender played 99 games for the First XI, skippering the side in his final year. Lawson has played at a rep level at every age group and in October was one of only three school boys selected in the 34-man Black Sticks squad for their December training camp.
 
Emily Wium (St Margaret's College)  - Canterbury schools came second, third and fourth at the Federation Cup tournament in Napier in Winter Tournament Week and St Margaret’s College captain and striker Emily Wium captained her side to a comeback 3-2 win over Villa Maria College in the bronze medal match and to defend the Pat Barwick (challenge) Shield. This was her fifth year in the St Margaret’s team, finishing third in in 2016 as well. Earlier in the year, the former two-time New Zealand U18 representative and New Zealand U21 representative was a key member in the Canterbury U18 team that finished runners-up to Central at their national tournament and was the only schoolgirl in the [2016 champions] Canterbury Cats senior team that competed in the National Hockey League in September following the Federation Cup.

The Champion of Champion series is not intended to be a definitive list of the ‘best’ athletes in each code, rather it celebrates many of the leading athletes and teams in each that College Sport Media has followed this year. Preference has gone to those individuals/teams that CSM has interviewed and profiled in 2017. Got a story? Email [email protected]