Old hockey master still loves setting goals

Rob Williamson is happy to play hired hitman when it comes to his love for hockey.
He loves the game that much he will play for any team and in the past has even gone as far as learning Korean to play goalie for their national team.
"I'm a mercenary, I'll play for anybody," Williamson said.
"There's not always a position available so I just shop around. Last year I played for Italy, Australia, New Zealand and Korea in masters."
At 72, Williamson is also the oldest player gracing the turf at the national masters tournament being held at Mount Maunganui's Blake Park hockey centre but don't let his age fool you - he's there to compete.
"Even at our age you want to win," he said.
Chalking up 50 years in hockey, however, is something Williamson would rather people forget.
"I enjoy it. It keeps you healthy and fit and a goalie can play a lot longer than you can in the field because you don't have to run around, my knees haven't gone yet," he said.
Having played goalie his whole career, the retired civil engineer covers his end of the turf with the energy of a teenager and there are no signs of him slowing down.
"I feel like a 45-year-old," he said.
Williamson has played for several teams over the master's tournaments 12-year history, swapping more than once to fill a goalie position.
Having played for Auckland and a composite Kaimai team, this year he is playing for North Harbour and is one of 1000 masters competing.
After beating the Kaimai team 2-1 earlier in the week, Williamson can't help but rub it in that he should have been their goalie again.
"It's a friendly atmosphere, having played for so many teams you just know so many people," he said.
Also making an appearance in nearly every game at the tournament is the goalie gear Williamson manufactures.
Williamson started making the gear when he was coaching kids hockey and now makes goalie gear for six-year-olds through to adults.
"I've sold my gear in over 20 countries around the world," he said.
"I got it pretty right first time and this is the problem, it doesn't wear out."
While this is New Zealand's only major masters tournament Williamson is not one to sit on the sidelines, playing several masters tournaments in Australia and Europe.
He has a more permanent position on the New South Wales masters team rating the competition in Australia as up a level from that in New Zealand.
While he spends a lot of time playing hockey, his first sporting passion is skiing.
Having been a downhill and slalom ski racer, Williamson is still involved in skiing, and has his eye on the skiing master's circuit in New Zealand.
"If my wife makes me retire from hockey, I'm going to take up skiing masters," he said.
The focus these days is still on winning, whatever the sport, and this is something Williamson is not about to loose sight of.