Members of the New Zealand U-18 ice hockey
team. Back (from left) are assistant coach
Stacey Rout, of Queenstown, Quinn Drake (16), of
Queenstown, Dale Bailey (16), of Alexandra, Dane Dunlop
(17), of Gore, Luke Pickering (16), Nick Gloag (16) and
team leader Graham Glass, all of Queenstown. Front (from
left) are Gareth Lloyd (17), of Cromwell, Aston Brookes
(16) and Connor Harrison (16), both of Queenstown. Photo by
Tracey Roxburgh.
It was a jaded but jubilant group of teenagers who
stepped off a plane at Queenstown Airport yesterday to be
greeted by a giant banner and a recording of We Are The
Champions.
The welcome for the Queenstown, Central Otago and Southern
members of the champion New Zealand U-18 ice hockey team
fresh from clinching victory in Mexico attracted plenty of
attention, with many of those waiting for other passengers or
to catch flights themselves remarking, "You don't see this
every day."
The team was ranked second in the third division world
championships, with home crowd favourite Mexico expected to
take the title.
Team leader Graham Glass, his voice still husky from the
thrilling final held on Sunday morning New Zealand time, said
the Mexicans were winning 3-0 until the Kiwis staged a
comeback.
"Our boys came back with the [winning] goal going in with 10
minutes to go.
"Mexico threw everything at them, but they held on."
The New Zealand team held on for a nail-biting 5-4 win.
Aston Brookes, of Queenstown, said the team was "so stoked"
to have won.
"We were not expecting it, but to come home with a gold is
just awesome."
In addition to the gold medal, Gareth Lloyd, of Cromwell, was
named best forward of the tournament.
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