Thomas keeping Otago connection going
DYLAN Thomas has patience is a virtue.
Growing up, the defender knew about indoor hockey through Otago coach Dave Ross, but with a nonexistent southern scene he never got the chance to play.
He stuck to outdoor hockey until his gap year in Hamburg, where he arrived during the indoor season and found his passion for the game.
When Hockey New Zealand asked for expressions of interest for indoor hockey last year, Thomas put his name forward and joined North Harbour, as there was no Otago team, to win the national indoor championships.
It led to a national callup for a transtasman series and now Thomas (23) has been named in the team travelling to the Indoor Hockey World Cup in South Africa this month.
It was a ‘‘huge honour’’ to represent New Zealand and his family, Thomas said.
‘‘I really appreciate the support I’ve always had and continue to have with hockey.
‘‘I’m looking forward to making the most of my opportunity to honour my wha¯nau, not just my Ma¯ori side, but also my grandma who is from South Africa, and my dad who was born in East Africa too.’’
It is 20 years since New Zealand last competed on the international stage — Thomas was only 3 then — but having captain Dean Armstrong and manager Tama Jones, who played at the last World Cup, involved kept the links alive.
‘‘Also, growing up in Dunedin, being coached by Dave Ross and knowing guys like Chris Aubin — they were part of the incredibly strong Otago sides that dominated the national scene in the past. It’s cool to keep an Otago connection going.’’
Preparations for the World Cup had been tracking nicely, learnt but Thomas had to draw on his resilience when the team’s flights were cancelled due to Auckland’s flooding.
The team, which now leaves today, was due to arrive on January 29 and play several warmup games against pool teams.
It will now play two games, and the Kiwis were making the best out of the situation, he said.
‘‘We have prided ourselves on being the fastestlearning team around, which hasn’t been hard considering how much indoor the team have played in a short period of time.
‘‘The flooding in Auckland has also taken lives and wrecked homes and livelihoods. It is important that we honour those people by being patient and appreciating the privilege that we have, as a team, to take part in a World Cup in another country.’’
His background set him up for the tournament.
Thomas, who lives in Auckland, represented New Zealand under21 at the Sultan of Johor Cup and played for three provinces at national tournaments last year — Otago in the National Hockey Championships (gold), WaikatoManiapoto at the National Ma¯ori Hockey Tournament (bronze) and North Harbour at the national indoor tournament.
He hoped the sport could gain some traction nationally, and in Otago, following the World Cup.
‘‘There is a huge amount of potential in the wider programme and indoor is such a good development tool for outdoor that it would be a real shame if indoor in New Zealand doesn’t get a real boost after this.
‘‘We really see this as a beginning of an indoor revival in New Zealand.’’
New Zealand’s first game is against defending champion Austria on Monday.
❛ I really appreciate the support I’ve always had and continue to have with hockey