Maori/All Stars Profiles 2021 - #7

Posted October 12, 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 on Sky Sport Next.

Shaun Dickinson started playing roller hockey in 1997 at the age of 13. He’d noticed some kids playing after school in the yard and was instantly attracted and wanted to play. At the time the nearest Club was in the next town and a newly formed team, the Wakefield Warriors who were entered into the regional league YLASH (Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Associating Skater Hockey).

Shaun’s younger years were all played via the Warriors where they competed through Pewee, Youth and Junior grades aiming to qualify for National Championships. Shaun says a highlight through this period was being selected to play for the Regional All Stars team at Junior grade.

In 2003 he was selected to represent Team GB for the British Inline Skater Hockey Association and competed against some of the strongest nations in Europe. He remembers Germany and Switzerland being absolute power houses of hockey, and they finished 4th overall.

Shaun says his international career was short lived although between the years 2003 – 2013 his local Club Hallamshire Hornets Qualified for multiple European Club Championships in both Ball hockey and Puck hockey categories.

Shaun’s highlights and achievements include:

• BISHA (British Inline Skater Hockey Association) National Champions 2008, 2010, 2012 (Mens)
• BISHA National Champions Runner Up 2005, 2009, 2011 (Mens)
• BIPHA (British Inline Puck Hockey Association) National Champions 2004, 2007, 2013 (Mens)
• BIPHA National Champions Runner Up 2008, 2010, 2012 (Mens)
• British Champion of Champions Tournament Winners 2006
• IISHF European Cup Champion 2009  (1st British Club to ever win Gold at this level)
• IISHF European Cup Runners Up 2011, 2013
• IISHF European Cup 3rd 2003, 2012

Since moving to NZ Shaun has played for the Mt Wellington Panthers and Auckland Orcas. He also coached the MTW Panthers Prems for a 2 year period.

From a very early age (pre school) Max Hill has been on inline skates and says “I was the goalie (guinea pig) for my brother’s slap shot practices and the mascot for their teams (notably Hamilton Devils). I probably didn’t have a choice in playing any other sport as my older brothers Dane and Sam, were already deeply committed to playing inline hockey.”

Max started playing for the Fury club in his formative playing years and then moved onto the Panthers club who he has played for ever since, apart from one season with the Stingrays. Max says he owes the majority of his game sense and leadership to oldest brother Dane and his quick pace and stick handling to middle brother Sam.

Every year since the beginning of his playing days Max has competed at Nationals, Inter regionals (though retired from this tournament), 3 on 3 and Bauer/Mt Wellington Cup, Queens Birthday Weekend tournaments as well club league games. He has been selected numerous times to represent NZ and this has seen him travel and play in LA; Hawaii; Melbourne; Italy and all the fabulous places in NZ. A great experience and some of the best holidays tacked on after the competitions had finished! Max has many friends and second fam bams within the inline fraternity – and it’s always great to catch up with other players who are foes on the rink and friends off the rink.

Max says as he gets older the thrill of playing is still as much alive as it was when a youngster!

Connor Parr first started as a skater and transitioned to goal after a couple of years of playing Inline.

Connor has represented the Northern Region at both age grade and senior levels and plays for the Mt Wellington Panthers.

Jacob Jackson is in his first season as a premier player with the Mt Wellington Panthers

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This follows a few years away from the game playing rugby. Jacob played 1st XV rugby for Botany College, Pakuranga U20 and Auckland 18 (B)

Jacob is pleased to be playing inline hockey once again and the opportunity to represent his whānau and iwi, along with his brother William.

The Exhibition Game will be broadcast live on Sky Sport Next.