St Cuth’s create hockey ‘keenos’ St Cuthbert’s hockey has a stellar reputation for a reason, two reasons in fact: Tori Vao and Victoria Methven, our hockey specialist sports coaches and code managers. Together, Tori and Victoria (Vic) grow hockey ‘keenos’, a St Cuth’s nickname which has been with them since they started in 2017. ‘Keenos’ describes the hockey fever St Cuth’s players get from the first time they pick up a stick. Vic oversees the Junior teams which are organised within year groups across Years 4 – 8 and is also assistant coach for the 1st XI with Mitch Hayde. Tori oversees the Senior
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teams from Years 9 – 13. The three top teams in the Senior programme are at an incredible standard. For example, recently the 3rd XI beat another very reputable school’s 1st XI team. Many of our 1st XI students have gone forward to be identified in the Under 18 NZ Squad, Emma Irwin, Kaea Elliott and Rose Parkinson (Auckland), Bella Browne and Chloe Browne (North Harbour) and Brodie Cochrane (Northland). This is a remarkable achievement as St Cuthbert’s has more U18
NZ players identified than any other region in the country!! Speaking with Victoria and Tori, it’s easy to tell they have great fun working so closely with each other. The friendly banter is non-stop which is not surprising seeing they have played representative hockey together since the age of 12 and still play each other in rival club hockey teams!
