Promising goalkeeper and IAS Graduate, Max Hughes has played a key role in Australia winning gold in a revamped hockey competition at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China. The IAS Graduate shot-stopper was Australia’s hero in a penalty shootout triumph over Canada in the Hockey5 final in Nanjing. Hockey5 is an exciting, innovative form of field hockey featuring teams of five, including a goalkeeper, playing on a shortened field. Hughes was among just two NSW players in the Australian Youth Olympics (under 18s) team and made his mark in the final with some brilliant saves in normal time and then in the one-on-one penalty shootout. Hughes, 17, saved a penalty in normal time to preserve Australia’s 1-0 lead during the middle of the three periods. The Canadians equalised but Australia scored twice more to lead 3-1 with only four minutes remaining. The gold medal was tantalisingly close but Canada stormed home with two goals to take the match into a penalty shootout. Hughes then stepped up to make a crucial save and earn the Australians the gold medal. “Coming into the penalty shootout I was really nervous,” Hughes said. “I was in the corner not knowing what to do. “Guesty [Australian coach David Guest] said a few things to me before the shootout which made me believe that I could save the goal.”
