16-05-2025
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."
