Being named in the New Zealand men’s hockey team for the Beijing Olympics is the fulfilment of a childhood dream, Taranaki’s latest Olympian Ben Collier says.
“When you are picking sports (to play), you look at hockey with a view to going to the Olympics,” the 24-year-old inside forward said.
“You play cricket – you want to get a century at Lord’s.
“You play hockey – you want to go to the Olympics. It’s pretty huge.”
While Collier has been sharpening his stick in Auckland for the past five years, he says he has a lot to thank Taranaki hockey for.
“I was part of a really successful Hatch Cup (primary school representative) team and a group of us are all now playing National Hockey League.
“If it wasn’t for the success with hockey in Taranaki at a young age, I probably wouldn’t have had the aspirations of going to the Olympics.”
While Collier attended high school in Wanganui, he returned to Taranaki to play representative hockey at under-15 and under-18 levels.
He gets back to his parents’ Mangamingi sheep and beef farm as often as he can and is there at the moment for a last visit before heading to Beijing on July 27. He has been helping out on the farm and keeping up his aerobic fitness with runs through the hills.
Collier has played 72 games for the Black Sticks since he was first selected three years ago, including games at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
But he says the Olympics is the ultimate and he is up for the challenge.
“We’ve got a good chance of medalling, so it’s nice to be playing the top teams in the best hockey tournament.”
The Black Sticks face a tough pool, with matches against world champion Germany and quality side Spain.
But Collier said with an average of 130 caps each, the team was experienced and looking to better its sixth placing at the Athens Olympics.
“We’ll have to cause a few upsets but it can be done.”
Courtesy: New Zealand Hockey Federation