Hockey: Talented teen off to Canterbury

Rotorua hockey player Declan Keaney has landed a sports scholarship to Lincoln University near Christchurch. He is pictured (left) playing for Midlands.

Rotorua hockey player Declan Keaney has landed a full scholarship to Lincoln University in Canterbury, which will see him join up with Canterbury Hockey next season.

The sporting scholarship covers his fees at university for his first three years, and will also see him take part in the development programme at Canterbury Hockey.

Keaney, 18, played as a striker this year for the Midlands under-18 and under-21 teams, who finished second and third respectively at nationals.

He grew up in Rotorua but is currently attending his final year at boarding school in Hamilton at St Paul's Collegiate.

He said he was rapt to receive a full sports scholarship to Lincoln and was looking forward to heading south to study agricultural commerce and play hockey.

"I wasn't really looking at going to Lincoln until I applied for the scholarship," he said. "I'm not too sure how I'll go next year, I'll just see what happens."

He said he'd like to play in the National Hockey League in the future but would most likely start out in the Canterbury under-21 team.

Keaney comes from a strong hockey background which includes a former Black Stick in the family, in his mum Donna Keaney. His brother Jonty Keaney is also a top hockey player.

Keaney said since starting out playing hockey in primary school he'd always played as a striker. "I've always played there, I just like scoring goals I guess."

He said he had grown up playing hockey in Rotorua and had developed a lot as a player since heading to Hamilton to attend high school.

He helped his school team finish fourth at the secondary schools national champs this year, in a season which also saw the school team hold the Bartholomew Cup - the equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield in secondary school hockey.

Keaney is also a talented cricket player and currently plays for Rotorua premier side Bayleys Central in the Baywide competition.

He said he would be heading south in February for his first year of university.