Silver Lions: BOP Senior Men’s Epic Run to 2nd at the 2025 National Hockey Championship .
They came, they roared, and they very nearly conquered. Our Bay of Plenty Senior Men’s team returned from the National Hockey Championship in Christchurch (14–20 September) with Tier 3 silver medals around their necks and a whole lot of pride in their hearts.
Coached by the outstanding Louis van Dyk, this squad of debutants and veterans gelled in record time – literally. The full 16-man team had their first (and only) full squad training session together the night before their opening game. What followed was one of the most inspiring weeks in recent BOP hockey history.
The Lions’ Roar – Tournament Recap
Canterbury: 1-1 draw
Tasman 1-5 loss. A tough match, but the wake-up call these Lions needed.
Then the switch flipped.
4-3 win vs Central Otago
3-1 win vs Southland (Two wins in one day – massive effort on tired legs!)
3-0 win vs Wellington (Quarter Final)
7-1 demolition of Taranaki (Semi Final)
1-3 loss in the final against Canterbury
From a shaky start to four consecutive victories and a spot in the final – an incredible turnaround built on heart, adaptability, and fearless hockey.
Debutants Who Stole the Show
First-timers Ben Cleghorn, Braythyn Lemon, Carmerlo Maynard-Holm, Cory Warnedford, Ethan Hoggard and Jono Hair stepped straight into the fire and thrived. As well as being their first games at NHC, some of them went further playing in unfamiliar positions to get the right balance in the side.
Veterans Leading the Pride
Captain Amish Fermah anchored the team with calm authority, while draft players Callum Jarvis-Hall (Waikato) and Tyler Williams (Otago) were rocks at the back. When the semi-final needed goals, Tyler even popped up on the scoresheet!
Attack Ignited
Seven different players scored across the tournament – the ultimate proof of teamwork. Harmanpreet Singh led the way with 6 goals, but the spark came when Coach Louis made some changes to the Lineup in Game 3, Braythyn Lemon was shifted into central midfield, Ethan Hoggard moved into the Halves and Fynn Pierce forward into the strikers. Suddenly the link between defence and our lethal strikers was electric, and the goals flowed.
That 7-1 semi-final rout of Taranaki? Pure joy: Goals from Karambir Singh (2), Braythyn Lemon (2), Harmanpreet Singh, Tyler Williams, and Kees Goodman.
What the Coach Said
Louis van Dyk didn’t call them a team – he called them Lions. “Fearless, proud, and hungry. They played for each other and for the Bay.”
The Changing-Room Moment Everyone’s Talking About
Our boys were gutted after the final loss but our amazing Manager Dr Karandeep Lall brought some joy to the team. Check out the pure happiness after the final whistle – BOP hockey at its finest!
Huge congratulations to every player, to Louis and the management team, and to the families who cheered them on from near and far. Silver today – but this pride of Lions has shown exactly what Bay of Plenty hockey is capable of.
The hunt for gold in 2026 starts now. Who’s in?
#BOPLions #NHC2024 #SilverAndProud