SBC Hockey Club

Hockey is an opportunity for Olympic, World Cup, Commonwealth Games, National, Provincial and Grassroots representation. And here at St. Bede’s, our Hockey is centred around the brand new $1.4 million dollar artificial turf facility that is being developed on the back of St. Bede’s playing fields.

Structure

St. Bede’s Hockey structure and team strength has progressed massively over the last decade. The school fields three teams in the Canterbury Hockey Association Competitions, CHA:

• First Eleven, which has played in The CHA Division Three Men’s competition. (This is under review and could see the 1^st XI play in dedicated 1^st XI competition in 2010.)
• The Under 18 A side enjoyed a very successful 2009 season winning their grade’s Porritt Cup [knockout competition] and coming second in the regular competition.
• The Under 18 B side is another area of spectacular growth and St. Bede’s always fields a very competitive team in this grade. The Under 18 B side caters for Year 9 and upwards – in other words players of any ability.

Hockey Practice revolves around two trainings a week for the First Eleven and one practice plus individual fitness requirements for the other two sides. Individual skill coaching is available during team practice sessions and a very high commitment from the boys during the playing season to attending training and competition matches is unquestioned. Pre-season hockey training starts in February, team trials in March, and competitions for the season begin in April and run through to late August.

Fees are set at the beginning of each season and payment is required before the end of April.

An added incentive for all players is the re selection of the First Eleven prior to National Schools Tournament week in late August. This side travels around the country and competes in a pre determined Hockey Championship Level and is mostly user pays.

With the exciting new playing facility available for use by the school during school hours, the St. Bede’s Hockey Club is looking at organising social interhouse hockey competitions.

SBC Representative Players

St. Bede’s over the last decade has contributed handsomely to Canterbury representative sides, with Bedeans Reuben Koorey and Jason Niles currently in Canterbury’s top men’s team The Canterbury Cavaliers. Another Bedean, Dan Quinn has been playing top Canterbury Hockey in the men’s Under 21 & Men’s B and, for the last two seasons, took out that side’s Most Improved Player award.

For National teams, Jason Niles, Reuben Koorey and Josh Byrnes have previously been selected for NZ Tiger Turf squads and Jason Niles has recently been selected in NZ Men’s extended training squad.

Last 2009 season, Dominic McCann, Nick Morrison, Luke Rushton, and Alex Bouwman were selected in Canterbury Under 18 B side that finished second at their National tournament.

Josh Murdoch was named in the Under 16 A side that finished fifth on the National scene. Jeremy Brydon and Matt Lake along with coach Andrew Brydon were part of the Canterbury Under 15 B side that won the National B title.

St. Bede’s Hockey welcomes and encourages parents to become part of the Hockey committee, to assist in team building and fundraising ventures that add immeasurably to your son’s time at St. Bede’s College.