GRAYS HOCKEY NEWS
May 2010 Archive
Mark Knowles Reflects
Mon 31 May 2010
Ryan and Barbara Knowles are rightly extremely proud of their son.
Mark has come a long way from his early hockey days in Rockhampton in Central Queensland. Recognised as one of hockey greatest talents, Mark is now playing in his second World Cup final. He is one of the games finest athletes with an “engine” that knows no limits.
However it has not all been easy for Mark to get to the games summit and he has had to strive to get to the top… 2003 was a low point in Mark’s development when he broke his ankle playing in the Australian finals and then spent ten weeks recovering – only to break his ankle again in his first game back. Mark’s determination was crucial in his coming back again and almost beyond his own belief was included in the Aussie training squad for the Athens Olympics. Mark reflects “I owe Barry Dancer a lot in that in addition to his undoubted knowledge about the game he also was willing to give younger players like myself an opportunity.“
The Australian team went onto win their first ever Olympic Gold medal in Athens “It’s still surreal to me. I was so young at the time. When I look back on it and know how many Aussies have come so close over the years it really hits home what the team achieved.“
Since 2006, Mark has furthered his hockey career playing in the Dutch Hockey League at Rotterdam hockey club where he feels he has developed as a player. “It’s good to play against different types of players each week.“
Now playing in his second World Cup having been in the team that won the silver medal four years ago, Mark feels the new rules stop break down tackling which helps him in his new central midfield rather than on the right side. “I’m enjoying the new challenge and it has helped freshen me up as a player.”
Mark says of the current coach Ric Charlesworth “I really enjoy the training and detail we now have in the group.”
Mark Knowles Grays stick choice: GX 7000
Eddie Ockenden's Journey So Far...
Mon 31 May 2010
Eddie Ockenden has quickly become one of World Hockey’s most promising up and coming international players with his fast athletic style of player. The Australian midfielder is a rising star and has put in some fine midfield performances at his first World Cup in Delhi.
His journey to the top has taken him a long way from his roots in Tasmania. Eddie was taken to his local hockey club at the age of 4 by his mother Angela and father Clive - and Eddie has never looked back. “My hockey hero was Matthew Wells who was a great Aussie full back who also comes from Tassie.”
Eddie’s progress and development was continued and nurtured by Andrew McDonald who was in charge of the Tassie Tigers team in the Australian Hockey League. Eddies says “I owe a lot to Andrew as he really helped me develop as a player.”
Eddie appeared on the radar following his selection in the Aussie junior team that took part in the 2005 Junior World Cup in Rotterdam where the team won the silver medal. Eddie was soon promoted into the senior squad and took part in the Azlan Shah tournament in 2006. He has continued in the team at took part in the Beijing Olympics and was rightly rewarded by being named the 2008 FIH Young player of the Year.
Following the Olympics Eddie joined the Laren Club in Holland with a desire to improve his game and increase his knowledge of European styles of hockey. “We play various styles of teams each week in Holland which has helped me appreciate things more clearly.”
Eddie uses a Grays GX7000
