Hockey for life for this Master of the game

As a record 92 teams prepare for next week’s Vantage National Masters in Tauranga, North Harbour’s Brent Miller tells us why he’s still playing 64 years after he first picked up a stick and why he jokingly admits he’s still ultra-competitive.

While most Aucklanders are hitting the motorways in early morning rush hour traffic, a group of keen hockey players are hitting the turf at the new National Hockey Centre in Albany. 

You might think it’d only be our Vantage Black Sticks eager to get on the turf so early in the day, but there’s certainly no lack of competitiveness or ability among these players. 

Affectionately known as the Miller Club – named after North Harbour and Takapuna Life Member Brent Miller –  the group of Masters-aged players meets at 8am on Tuesdays and Fridays for a hit round. This week there’s a real spring in their step with the Vantage National Masters tournament just days away. 

“Some days there’ll be 20-odd of us and we just like to have a run around and play a bit of 7-a-side,” says Miller.  

“There’s no hitting, just pushing – and we’re all trying hard not to be ultra-competitive.” 

Having blown out 70 birthday candles a few years ago, Miller will be one of the more mature of around 1500 participants registered for this year’s National Masters starting on Sunday in Tauranga. He hasn’t missed a National Masters since he first caught the Masters bug in 1999.  

While most Aucklanders are hitting the motorways in early morning rush hour traffic, a group of keen hockey players are hitting the turf at the new National Hockey Centre in Albany. 

You might think it’d only be our Vantage Black Sticks eager to get on the turf so early in the day, but there’s certainly no lack of competitiveness or ability among these players. 

Affectionately known as the Miller Club – named after North Harbour and Takapuna Life Member Brent Miller –  the group of Masters-aged players meets at 8am on Tuesdays and Fridays for a hit round. This week there’s a real spring in their step with the Vantage National Masters tournament just days away. 

“Some days there’ll be 20-odd of us and we just like to have a run around and play a bit of 7-a-side,” says Miller.  

“There’s no hitting, just pushing – and we’re all trying hard not to be ultra-competitive.” 

Having blown out 70 birthday candles a few years ago, Miller will be one of the more mature of around 1500 participants registered for this year’s National Masters starting on Sunday in Tauranga. He hasn’t missed a National Masters since he first caught the Masters bug in 1999.