Waikato teens chasing their inline hockey dreams

Ready to head to America are, from left, Quinn Andrew, Jaiden Pert and Jackson Horne. Photo: Blair Voorend

Dozens turned out for a special screening of Deadpool 2 on Sunday night to help support three Kiwi teens reach their dream of playing for New Zealand in inline hockey.

The movie screening is one of many different fundraising ideas the trio have come up with to raise funds to make the trip to America.

Jaiden Pert, 16, Quinn Andrew, 16, and Jackson Horne, 17, put on the event to help fundraise for the three of them to compete for the New Zealand U-16 team in the US. The trio are representing New Zealand at the 10-day Narch West Coast Finals Inline Hockey Tournament in California, which starts on June 21, where they will face countries like India, America and China.

Many turned out to watch Deadpool 2 and help the boys out with their fundraising.

This is the first time any of them have represented New Zealand. Finding out they had been selected was a dream come true for the boys, but hearing of it came in an unconventional way.

“I actually found out through Facebook, which was weird, but then later got the confirmation from an email so that was good,” Jaiden said.

All three have played the sport for many years. Both Quinn and Jackson have played together for six years, with Jaiden joining four years ago. They played for the U-19 Hamilton Devils Rep team and last year played for the U-16 team which were national champs two years in a row.

Quinn, top left, Jackson, top right, and Jaiden showing off their moves on the rink.

But even though the boys do all the work in the rink, their parents’ help off it is crucial. Jaiden’s mother Bonnie Milne, who ran the movie night, brings Jaiden over Waihi every week for training and games.

She has been doing the trip for four years. “I come down Monday and Tuesday nights because my youngest trains on Mondays and Jaiden on Tuesdays and also the games on Saturdays, which are mostly here also (Hamilton).” Bonnie said.

Although the boys are representing their country they have no funding support to help get to America. Bonnie said it would cost the boys between $5000-$6000 to attend the tournament.

The movie isn’t the only fundraiser, with the boys and their parents putting on various events. Those include a disco night, a Hakarimata Steps Challenge (they will run/walk them many times for sponsorship) and individual fundraisers such as a two-person passenger Harley Davidson tour with Bularangi Motorcycles Ltd.