When Sam Ward Choose Same Venue & Same Opponent to Score 2 Pro League Hat-Tricks
Sam Ward is a highly impactful player for Great Britain as well as England. An immensely talented forward player, who also doubles up as a drag-flicker for his team whenever the need arises, he must be one of the consistent operators around when it comes to ‘drag-flicking forwards in world hockey’. The 33-year-old three-time Olympian, who plays club hockey for Old Georgians, created a ‘sweet coincidence’ something rarely happens in world hockey at the FIH Pro League during the 2019 edition and the 2022-23 edition. Ward scored two-hat-tricks against New Zealand – not just that, he achieved the feat across two different editions at the same venue – the picturesque Nga Puna Wai Hockey Stadium, Christchurch.
Read Eyebrows Raised Over Sreejesh’s New Role as Indian Junior Team Chief Coach
It was on February 8, 2019 – the inaugural Pro League edition – that Ward capped off a fine hat-trick with a nice sprinkling of short-corner and field goals to propel Great Britain to a 6-2 win over New Zealand much against the disappointment of the home crowd. Ward’s hat-trick also has a special significance – it is the first hat-trick of the FIH Pro League.
Ward, who made his debut for England at the 2014 Champions Trophy, converted a penalty corner to scored Great Britain’s first goal and subsequently scored two more field goals – his team’s fourth and six goals, respectively to boss over the Black Sticks men. The 2023 World-Cupper, who has been in prolific form in the Pro League scoring 11 goals in the 2023-24 and 2022-23 editions, again choose the Nga Puna Wai Hockey Stadium, Christchurch to score his another hat-trick against New Zealand during the Pro League 2022-23 edition (April 23, 2023 to be precise). Interestingly, Ward is the third highest goal-scorer in the Pro League across all editions with 37 goals after Belgium’s Alexander Hendrickx and India’s Harmanpreet Singh.
Read Statistical Talk: Men’s FIH Pro League (Across All Editions)
The drag-flicking forward with 132 international appearances and 67 international goals, scored Great Britain’s opening goal and added one more close to half-time before going on to score his team’s fifth goal to power his side to a dazzling 6-1 win over New Zealand. Ward, who wears a black protective mask, following a dreadful serious eye injury during the 2019 Olympic qualifier tie against Malaysia sometime in November – a powerful shot (80km per hour – 50mph) by teammate Harry Martin hit Sam in the left eye – he suffered seven facial fractures and tore his retina, leaving him blind in one eye but overcame that injury setback and marked his comeback at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and subsequently playing his part in England and Great Britain’s various international campaigns.
Read How Midfield Mainstay Felix Denayer Thrived Wearing the National Colours
Every hockey player have fond playing memories, including favourite hockey stadiums – it won’t be a surprise if Nga Puna Wai Hockey Stadium, Christchurch is one of Ward’s favourite hockey stadiums for the sheer hat-trick memories he can fall back on.
