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A PAIR of Bendigo Blaze inline hockey players have returned with reputations enhanced after representing Australia overseas.
Matilda Fitzpatrick and Callum Janssen donned the Aussie green and gold last month at the Roller Games World Championships in Nanjing, China.
Fitzpatrick’s under-18 women’s team finished the championships in fourth place behind Chinese Taipei, Italy and New Zealand.
The 17-year-old from Bendigo wasted no time in making her presence felt at the tournament, scoring two goals and recording an assist in an opening game win.
“It was a pretty awesome game for my first time on the world stage,” she said.
“We played eight games and a grand final.
“It was an amazing experience; I really enjoyed the opportunity.
“I learned a lot of new things about myself, made new friends and I really loved the level of competition at the tournament.”
The Australians lost a tight grand final playoff for third and fourth spot against the Kiwis in overtime.
Fitzpatrick, who has played inline hockey since the start of 2015, was encouraged to try the sport by a coach at the Blaze’s base at The Zone in East Bendigo.
She has never looked back.
Her performances in China and at last month’s Inline Hockey Nationals in Moe, where she won a gold medal with the senior women’s team and silver with the junior women’s team, have earned her a spot in the national team for next year’s world championships.
Fitzpatrick, who is a student at Catholic College Bendigo, encouraged anyone looking to try a new sport to consider inline hockey.
“This sport is great fun and has presented me with amazing opportunities – travelling the world being one of those and meeting new people,” she said.
The grateful teenager praised the support of her family and Bendigo Blaze coaches and club mates for helping her achieve her goal of representing Australia.
Janssen, who has played for 11 years, was part of the under-19 men’s team, which competed in China.
The 19-year-old said despite winning just one of their eight games, the team had improved throughout the tournament.
“We got thrown in the deep end a bit by having to play the Czech Republic, which is probably the top team in the world,” he said.
“Especially for a team which hadn’t trained together and who come for all over Australia. Only a few of us have ever played together.
“To play the top team was a tough ask, but as we progressed through the tournament we got better and better each game.
“It was like a whole new style of hockey over there, we had to adapt to the way they play, which is a real possession-oriented game, instead of get the puck, get to the net and try and shoot a goal.”
Janssen won gold on his return at the nationals as part of Victoria’s under-21 men’s team.
He said his Chinese experience had been another tremendous learning curve.
“Every tournament I have been to have learned new things,” he said.
“My first overseas trip was to New Zealand for an Oceania series against New Zealand and I have been to the NARCh competition in Hawaii.
“I’ve also been to the Junior Olympics in California and then China.”
Janssen, who combines university studies with his role as a teacher’s aide at St Francis of the Fields in Strathfieldsaye, now has his sights set on selection in the senior team for next year’s world championships.
