Motueka rockstars roll to World Skate Games

Motueka's golden era of roller hockey received another boost ahead of the 2024 World Skate Games in Italy this September.

Four of New Zealand Women's 10-person team members, Serena Curran, Emily Thompson, Carly Guild, and Lila Scholes, hail from the Motueka Roller Hockey Club.

They are joined by clubmate Elijah Bramwell, who has been named to both the New Zealand men's and U19 teams.

Maia Kareta and Alana Janssen have also been selected as non-travelling reserves for the national women's team.

Having clinched back-to-back national club titles, the Motueka women's team has established itself as a formidable force in recent years.

Although the New Zealand team enters the competition as underdogs, they are making history as the first women's team in three decades to represent the country at the World Skate Games.

They qualified through the Asian Championship tournament, where they placed fourth, earning a spot to the World Skate Games where they will compete in the Challenger Championship.

With their pool consisting of India, Japan, China, Israel, Austria, South Africa, Mexico, Mozambique, the Netherlands, and Uruguay, a top-two finish would promote them to the Intercontinental Championship, with the World Championships another step up the ladder.

Roller hockey, distinct from inline hockey, resembles a fast-paced version of field hockey on roller skates, with slight rule adaptations such as the ability to use both sides of the stick.

For 15-year-old Carly Guild, her journey to representing New Zealand began when her now teammates Lila and Serena visited her school to encourage students to try roller hockey.

"I didn't know roller hockey was really a thing," she recalls.

"I gave it a go and I was horrible, but watching all the other people who looked like they enjoyed it a lot, they were so good, and I knew they started somewhere too."

Carly quickly rose through the ranks and, like many other players around the region, the game quickly morphed into an all-family affair. Her father, Alan, previously served on the club's committee and still plays the game, while her mother, Roni, is also a former committee member.

As the Motueka women's team continued to excel and players began to gain recognition, Carly decided to focus solely on roller hockey, dropping her other sports.

"Most of us are friends off the court. With other clubs, there's a lot more of an age gap," Carly explains.

This camaraderie has been a key factor in their success, but they are always on the lookout for the next generation of local talent.

With hire equipment available and knee and shin pads encouraged, players of all skill levels are invited to try out the sport on Monday nights. Juniors practice from 5:30-6:30pm, followed by seniors from 6:30-8pm.

Alan Guild describes roller hockey as an addictive game, noting the wealth of local talent available to guide new players.

"Dreams can come true," he says.

"I think there's something in the water in Motueka. It's not just roller hockey we do well in."

Carly and her teammates wanted to thank the community for their ongoing support, saying it's no small task to get such a large local contingent to the other side of the world.

They're still actively fundraising for the trip, setting up a bank account for anyone who would like to support at 03-13554-0490988-00, with the particulars' NZ Reps', the code 'Italy' and the reference 'Donation'.