Maori/All Stars Profiles 2021 - #5

Posted October 01, 2021
IHNZ News

As part of the IHNZ 25th celebrations, an exhibition game is being held between a New Zealand All Stars team and a New Zealand Maori team.

This match will showcase some of our most exciting talent in hockey and we look forward to introducing the members of these teams over the following days.

The Exhibition Game will be broadcast live Saturday 13 November at 7pm on Sky Sport Next.

Tēnā koe. Ko Eythan Prendergast tōku ingoa.

Eythan started playing at the age of 13 and fell into the position of goalie as no one else wanted to do it! He has now been playing in goal for the Mt Wellington Panthers for 12 years and is currently their Premier goalie.

Eythan says throughout his time in net he has achieved some milestones he is very proud of:

• Competed at FIRS Junior World Champs and AAU Junior Olympics for the New Zealand 18U, and 21U teams.
• Competed at NARCh for the New Zealand 21U, 23U and Senior Mens teams.
• Selected for the New Zealand Māori team in 2015.

Eythan is proudly looking forward to representing his whanau and Iwi, Ngāti Tamaoho, at this year’s exhibition game.

Aaron Stockman has represented New Zealand in the Senior Men’s team from 2014 - 2017 and again in 2020.

Aaron was part of the winning Superleague teams on 3 separate occasions and was a member of the inaugural NZ Maori team in 2015 and again in 2017.

Aaron is a long standing member of the Hamilton Devils and has played the last 18 years for them.

William Jackson has played both roller hockey (quad) and Inline Hockey from a young age.

William has also played Ice Hockey and currently enjoys playing Softball with his wider family members. He has represented Northern Region Inline Hockey and New Zealand at age group level. He currently plays for the Mt Wellington Panthers Premier Men’s Team.

William says he plays inline hockey because after all this time, it’s still fun!

Liam Shields has been playing hockey since 2003, and previously belonged to the Waihi Miners club before relocating to Wellington for University and joining the Capital Penguins.

Liam says he’s been fortunate enough to to be a part of the Penguins team for 5 years.

Liam’s hockey highlights include:

• attending the AAU tournament in Hawaii,
• IIHF tournament in Slovakia,
• NARCh in  Los Angeles with the Capital Penguins.

Dean Tonks started Inline Hockey and skating at just 5 years old in England. He has played for one of the biggest and oldest Inline Hockey Clubs in England, winning many Regional League Championships and Nationals events.

Dean has played for Team Great Britain as well as England for Inline and Ice Hockey through all age groups. Also playing in the European club skater hockey Championships and International Championship’s.

Dean took some time out from Inline whilst he played 9 years of Professional Ice Hockey.

In 2019 Dean started the Christchurch Lions Inline Club and has been instrumental in building the club to around 80 members in just two years.

Keep an eye out for the rest of the team members over the following weeks!