Latest news with #CamFrear
Otago Daily Times
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Stampede amped for Thunder showdown
Queenstown's SkyCity Stampede ice hockey team are acutely aware of the mountain they have to climb this weekend. The reigning New Zealand Ice Hockey League champs will face their old foes, Phoenix Thunder, at the Queenstown Ice Arena tomorrow and Saturday nights in a new semifinal format. As Stampede coach Cam Frear explains, when the buzzer sounds at the end of tomorrow's game, it's essentially half-time. The winner of the semis will be determined by which team scores the most goals over two games — if it's all tied up on Saturday night, they'll go into overtime. While Stampede had a bit of a mare against Thunder at home during the final round almost a fortnight ago, losing their first game 7-5 before a huge 6-3 comeback in the second, Frear says his charges are confident. "The biggest thing for us is that we know where we need to improve. "We've been here before — we've been to finals hockey a lot and we have to lean on that experience ... we know what we're up for. "[But] we're going to have to bring our A-game to make it to the finals, for sure." It's often said you learn a lot more from losses, and that was certainly the case in the first game of the last round for Stampede. Fear admits there was a "tough conversation" in the changing rooms afterwards. "I felt like [that] game slipped through our fingers a little bit. "It was a good conversation, because it prompted a lot of chat within the team. "We were all saying the same stuff, it's just concentration lapses and decision-making ... we know when we're making good decisions and playing our style of hockey, we can win any game we play." Staying out of the penalty box will also be helpful, he notes. Frear's still not sure if Stampede stalwart Colin McIntosh — this week named NZIHL team MVP — will be in action this weekend, having returned to Canada following the death of his mum. "Ultimately, we'll prepare for him potentially not to be here, but if he is able to come, you can't think of a better person to insert and give you a bit of a morale boost, but also a skill boost, as well." Stampede will also again be boosted by the return of Mike McRae and Adam Soffer — the latter's been based in Christchurch for the past couple of years, working as one of the project managers on the One New Zealand Stadium, but has played half the season for Stampede. And while there may be a few nerves on the sidelines, Frear says there's nothing but anticipation within the team. "Playoff hockey at home is super-exciting ... I just wish we could fast-forward to Friday now." SkyCity Stampede v Phoenix Thunder, Queenstown Ice Arena, Friday and Saturday, puck drop 7pm — livestream via NZIHL's YouTube channel
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
A recognition of hometown support
Two Queenstowners and a beloved local sports team were honoured in Wānaka last week. At the annual Central Otago Sports Awards, presented at the Lake Wānaka Centre, Queenstowner Nils Coberger was named coach of the year, resort ice hockey ref Adam Nagy was awarded official of the year, and the SkyCity Stampede ice hockey team was named team of the year. Coberger — who coaches Queenstown alpine ski racer Alice Robinson — was up against fellow Queenstowners Cam Frear (SkyCity Stampede coach) and Sean Thompson (snowboarding), along with Michael Beable (athletics), Dan Bogue (para skiing), Murray Buchan (skiing) and Alex Dickson (rugby), all of Wānaka, and national freeski coach Hamish McDougall (Scotland/Lake Hawea). Of the recognition, Coberger says it's "just a reflection of a team performance" by his fellow coach Tim Cafe, physio Alex Hull and serviceman Michi Haas, of Austria, who have "focused to give Alice everything she needs to perform at the highest level". "It was amazing to be included in the coaches award selection with coaches of world champions, world cup winners, [Crystal] Globe winners and an X Games medallist. "Team Alice is the reason I won this award, so the credit needs to go to Tim, Alex, Michi and our star, Alice." After undoubtedly one of Robinson's strongest European winters to date, Coberger says the highlight for him was seeing her win New Zealand's first silver medal at the alpine ski racing world champs in Saalbach, Austria, in February, followed by a string of results in her last 15 giant slalom races, in which she had just three DNFs and 12 podiums in a row. Looking ahead to this season, 'Team Alice's' focus is on the Winter Olympics, being held in Cortina, Italy, next February. Nagy, meantime, formerly the Stampede's biggest supporter, made his New Zealand Ice Hockey League (NZIHL) debut as a linesman two years ago, having reffed social league ice hockey for about six years before that, and is often head ref for NZ Women's Ice Hockey League matches. Taking the official of the year title from Craig Anderson (rugby) and Flick Wallace (snowsports), Nagy tells Mountain Scene it feels "surreal, amazing [and] unexpected" to have been recognised. "I don't think it [the recognition] was for NZIHL, I think it's more for Queenstown Ice Hockey Club and referees in general, just working with the kids, doing the referee stuff that needs to be done ... I don't think Queenstown's ever had a proper official that's taken it so seriously. "I just want to thank the people who have helped me along the way — the referees who have spent the time training me ... the people who have supported me and listened to me on the ice, and the referees who told me, 'If the referee's so bad, why don't you do something about it and become a referee?' "So I did." Stampede coach Cam Frear says the team's "incredibly proud" to have been named team of the year. The nine-time NZIHL champions, who last year stamped their name on the Birgel Cup for the fourth consecutive time, beat the Upper Clutha Rams Central Otago Premier rugby team, the Wānaka Football Club and the Wakatipu under-17 boys double scull, U18 boys double skull and U18 coxed quad in their category. "This recognition is a reflection of the hard work, passion and dedication from every player, coach, staff member and our loyal SkyCity Stampede supporters," Frear says. "It's a privilege to represent Queenstown and Central Otago — thank you to everyone who's supported us on and off the ice."
Otago Daily Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Stampede ready to charge
PHOTO: ODT FILES From friends to foes in less than a week. For the past couple of weeks, nine SkyCity Stampede ice hockey players were team-mates with four West Auckland Admirals players, representing the New Zealand Ice Blacks — under the guidance of Stampede coach Cam Frear — in the IIHF Division 2, Group B world champs in Dunedin. Come tomorrow night in Queenstown, they'll be arch rivals again, with Frear back on the yellow and blue bench in a rematch of last year's NZ Ice Hockey League final series, which Stampede won. While the Admirals have been able to train throughout the world champs, Stampede took a little break due to the number of players and support staff in Dunedin. That said, "I think we're pretty confident any time we play at home [and] the goal is always to win two games". Frear's looking forward to an almost full-strength team coming in to this weekend — Connor Harrison's still out following an injury during the Trans-Tasman Challenge in March, but will hopefully be back in the next month, "which will be huge for us going in to the crunch part of the season". As to progress on imports this season, Frear's coy. "You'll have to wait and see ... there might be some surprises this weekend."
