Time off allowed goalie to reframe failure

Black Sticks goalkeeper Grace O’Hanlon trains at the McMillan Centre ahead of the Summer of Hockey tournament starting today. Photo: Gerard O'Brien

Not many athletes can walk away from their sport and return as the best in the world. But Grace O’Hanlon did.

The Black Sticks goalkeeper tells Kayla Hodge how taking a break reshaped her mindset ahead of a big week in Dunedin.

Grace O’Hanlon thought it could be the moment that broke her.

The Black Sticks goalkeeper struggled as she came to grips with her team failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics at the start of 2024.

It was the first time the Black Sticks - who finished fourth in London and Rio - had not featured at the pinnacle event since 1996.

"Not qualifying for Paris was horrible, genuinely horrible, and I wondered if it was the end of my career," Hanlon told the Otago Daily Times.

The 33-year-old took a year away from the sport, needing a chance to regroup after a gruelling period on the turf.

"The time away let me reframe - and that wasn’t necessarily on my terms, the time away - I think I just wasn’t in a position to come back and I think Phil [Burrows, Black Sticks coach] knew that.

"I stepped away, and I reframed, and I was more miserable without hockey than missing that qualifier."

It gave her a chance to reflect and move into the next phase of her career with an open mind when she returned last year.

"I think that break lets you divorce yourself from those feelings.

"The youth and the freshness of the group ... they were just so excited to be there, so excited to learn and so excited to be part of something.

"I think 2024 being what it was and not qualifying, we were really commiserating together, whereas the new group was just really happy to be there and start something new," she said.

"That was so refreshing and that’s what made me want to keep coming."

Early last year, O’Hanlon returned to the Black Sticks ahead of the Nations Cup, which they won in March.

The Black Sticks then had a dream run at the Oceania Cup, beating Australia 2-1 to qualify for the Hockey World Cup, to be held later this year.

O’Hanlon starred in Darwin, named player of the game twice and saving 25 shots on goal across three tests against the world No6 team.

All the heartbreak and tough times showed O’Hanlon’s resilience, and her remarkable form was recognised when she was named the FIH women’s goalkeeper of the year for 2025.

It was the first time a Kiwi had won a senior FIH award. Stacey Michelsen, named rising star in 2011, is the only other New Zealander to win an international gong.

"Unbelievable is probably the first answer," O’Hanlon said when asked how the accolade felt.

"It’s very humbling, but I’m very proud and I think it’s huge for New Zealand hockey.

"That’s the most important part. Hockey in New Zealand is such a big sport, and something that’s always made New Zealand very proud.

"We’re so rarely recognised on the world stage, because you’ve got your big hubs in Europe and now Asia even.

"Just for New Zealand to be on the front page of that news release is bloody good.

"There’s been plenty more before me that are well and truly deserving and there’ll be plenty more after - but it’s a great spot to start for New Zealand hockey."

Dunedin will be the launching pad for what will be another big year in O’Hanlon’s career.

As the Black Sticks prepare for the World Cup later this year, they will compete in the Summer of Hockey tournament getting under way at the McMillan turf today.

It is a welcome return for international hockey - the Black Sticks last played in Dunedin 19 years ago - and the goalkeeper is loving her first visit to the city.

"I’m so excited to be here.

"I love playing in regional New Zealand. Man, it’s good to play at home, and to play international teams at home is so fun."

O’Hanlon, who has over 100 caps for the Black Sticks, recalled being inspired by international hockey as a young player and encouraged everyone to get along and watch their games this week.

The Black Sticks will meet Japan, the United States and a New Zealand A side, starting with the US tonight.

Both international teams are in a similar position to the Black Sticks. The US struggled to perform at Paris Olympics, while Japan are moving into a new era.

"I suspect that the US will come out looking great and we’d love to knock them off in a big way.

"They have plenty of cash leading into LA [2028 Olympics]. Their funding is really good, they train fulltime together, very professional outfit.

"But at the end of the day, you have to be able to play hockey and that’s where I think we can easily match them.

"Japan are in a rebuild phase and they’re always fantastic.

"Asian hockey is very different, very skilful, very, very fast hands and we haven’t played that style of hockey for a little while.

"They’ll be fantastic matches I think. Very different match-ups, but really exciting to watch, I reckon."

Life as a professional hockey player in New Zealand can be a tough gig, having to juggle sporting aspirations with a fulltime career.

O’Hanlon counted herself lucky to have a "very supportive employer" in Milford Asset Management and be able to blend her work and sport career together.

"It’s very busy but a real labour of love.

"It is what brings me the most joy ... and it’s such a short period of your life.

"You just have to make the most of every moment that you can play international hockey.

"It’s very busy, but my family are very supportive and you sort of build your life around it.

"The girls are fantastic, which makes it feel like home - it’s such a privilege."