Young Ngāpuhi hockey player getting closer to ‘Black Sticks’ goal

Kia Ora,

In December last year I flew to New Plymouth to attend the New Zealand Under 18 Men’s Development Hockey Camp. This camp was for an elite squad of the 27 best under 18 hockey players in the Country. The camp was six days long, with a mix of fitness testing, trainings and games. Earlier in the year I also attended the New Zealand Specialists Drag Flicking Camp.

This was an elite camp with only 5 of the best drag flickers in the country. We spent four days in the Hawkes Bay training. These camps have really helped me develop my game and bring me closer to my goal of playing for the New Zealand men’s hockey team, the Black Sticks. Thank you very much for the discretionary funding, it really helped with the costs of these two camps.

Ngā mihi, Callum Olsen

[Published in E Mara E Pānui 8 February 2018]