HBHS Inline Hockey team take out Exam Blowout! Tournament

As school finished for the summer, the Inline Hockey Division 1 and Division 2 teams took part in the invitational Exam Blowout! tournament for secondary and intermediate schools over the weekend of 8 - 10th December. The Division 2 team, comprising of Year 9 and 10s, went down very narrowly but gained invaluable tournament experience. The Division 1 team came through the pool games without a loss, beating teams from Hillcrest High School (12-5), Fraser High School (18-3), Waihi College (10-2) and New Plymouth Boys' High School (12-0). In a very competitive semi-final, Hillcrest defeated Waihi College by a golden goal. However, there was only ever one team ahead in Sunday afternoon's final, as the HBHS team played perfect finals hockey. The boys eliminated mistakes, took their chances and, most pleasingly, kept their heads, despite losing our captain Wynn (thankfully now recovered) halfway through the game, after a bone-shaking collision against the boards. The team deservedly took it out 12-7, winning a second trophy of the year, to end a wonderful 2017.

Congratulations to Wynn Craven, Quinn Andrew, Brandon Fletcher, Bailey Symonds, Brad Kivell, Jackson Grant, Mathew Gonano and Connor Robertson. Also, I would like to thank Mrs Weren and the inline hockey families for their ongoing support. Finally, I must acknowledge Wynn, heading off to Waikato University, Bailey, who is starting an apprenticeship and Brad, who moves to Hillcrest. Thank you, boys, for everything that you have done for inline hockey at HBHS and I wish you well.