Matariki Team 2023 - Waipuna-ā-Rangi

Posted July 04, 2023
IHNZ News Matariki

Within the Matariki star cluster, the Waipuna-ā-Rangi star is a reminder that what you give to others will generally come back to you.  Waipuna-ā-Rangi is connected to rain, and translates as ‘water that pools in the sky’ and welcomes the winter sky waters in all their forms – ua (rain) ua nganga (hail) and hukarere (snow) included. 

Anthony Nathan (Nētana) leads the Waipuna-ā-Rangi team consisting of:

• Jaan Turia
• Eythan Prendergast
• Josh Steen
• Todd Cooke
• Elliott Waghorn
• Wyatt Vinsen
• Ben Bradley

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Ant is currently in his 22nd year as a prem player and has an impressive background in both Inline and Ice Hockey. One of the original Maori team members in 2015, Ant has a keen interest in the future development of players and mentoring of the Matariki series players. Whilst currently playing for the Wanganui Lightning Premier team, he is also busy coaching the next generation of players.

In 2020 and 2021 he coached both the Mt Wellington Panthers and the Northern Region 16U teams to National Championship titles and in late 2021 was appointed the New Zealand 18U NARCh coach that travelled to Los Angeles to compete in January 2023.

A keen Ice Hockey player as well, Ant plays in the AIHA Senior Mens A League.

Other achievements include:

• 2023 – New Zealand NARCh Junior Mens Coach
• 2022 - New Zealand Māori Team (Assistant Captain)
• 2017 - New Zealand Māori Team (Assistant Captain) against KIHA Hawaii  team
• 2015 - Coached Panthers Seniors to National finals
• 2015 - New Zealand Māori Team
• New Zealand National Representative in 2001, 2002 - 2008, 2010, 2012, 2017
• 2008 - Botany Swarm - National Men’s Ice Title
• 2007 - Mt Wellington Panthers, Captain - National Prems Title
• 2007 - New Zealand Senior Men, Division 2 IIHF Championships in Germany - Silver Medal
• 2007 - Botany Swarm - National Men’s Ice Title
• 2005 - Oceania’s U20 Captain - Gold Medal
• Sponsored by and played for Bauer/Nike from age 14 - 22.

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Eythan Prendergast 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 Men’s teams
• Selected for the New Zealand Māori team in 2015.

Eythan is proudly looking forward to representing his whanau and Iwi, Ngāti Tamaoho.

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Jaan Turia has played inline hockey from a young age and has been a club, region and National representative. He has also played Ice Hockey for the Dunedin Thunder.

Jaan is a member of the Capital Penguins Premier team who have been the National Premier club champions from 2015 to 2022 as well as a proud member of the New Zealand Inline Hockey Māori team since 2015.

Jaan won Best Player at the IIHF Senior World championships in Bratislava 2017.

Hear Jaan talk about Inline hockey in this World Skate Interview 2017

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Josh Steen plays for the Mt Wellington Panthers and has represented New Zealand at both Inline and Ice Hockey.

Josh plays in the NZIHL National league for the Botany Swarm Men’s team, the AIHA Senior Men’s A League and was part of the 18U New Zealand Ice team that won gold at the 2023 World Championships.

Josh also represented New Zealand as part of the 2023 IHNZ 18U team at NARCh.

Favourite hockey moments include representing New Zealand and winning gold at NARCh as part of the KIHA Hawaii Inline Hockey team.

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Todd Cooke started playing for the Tauranga Ducks in 1995 attended his first nationals in 1996 in u10s. Todd has played for a number of the Central Region teams over the years but is currently playing Premiers for Waihi Miners.

Todd recently stepped down as the President of the Waihi Miners Club but remains actively involved with the club.

As well as playing he has coached many teams and most recently says he was honoured to be asked to coach our 2023 IHNZ 16U NARCh team in Los Angeles.

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Elliott Waghorn has played for the last seven years with the Hamilton Devil’s. He was an active school league participant and a member of the winning nationals school team in 2021. Elliott has represented the Central region on many occasions and in 2021 and 2022 coached the Devils 12U grade.

Elliott represented New Zealand as part of the 2023 IHNZ 18U team at NARCh.

Currently studying Graphic Design at Waikato University and when not playing hockey he likes socialising with friends and plays social football.

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Wyatt Vinsen transitioned to Inline hockey through the school leagues in 2018.

After one term of inline school league Wyatt was hooked and joined the Ravens club as defense in the 12U team.

Wyatt said he has been fortunate to represent NPBHS, including winning the secondary schools tournament in 2022 and Central Region tournaments over the past two years.

Wyatt is also looking forward to playing in his first IHNZ Matariki series!

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Ben Bradley started his inline hockey with the Vipers In 2016 and has also competed for Northern Region.

Ben has also played for Stingrays in 2019 and has played MWI/Bauer Cup for the Miners as well. A keen player Ben tries to involve himself in as many tournaments as possible and having just completed KBT for the Vipers he is eagerly awaiting his first time playing in the IHNZ Matariki series!