Hockey: Pontifex has proven himself to be a keeper

Black Sticks goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex has some lofty ambitions before he leaves the game. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Goalkeepers are Amazing People - so says the slogan for a company promoting hockey goalkeeping equipment. Long-serving Black Stick Kyle Pontifex agrees.

Others might contend "mad" or even "insane" is closer to the mark in watching the padded ones going about their work as the last line of defence in protecting their 2.14m high and 3.66m wide goal.

But the equipment used these days is a far cry from Pontifex's early experiences when he stood in the "cage" with nothing more than cane leg guards and cloth stuffed with bits of old mattresses for protection.

Indeed, in his long career, Pontifex's most serious injury came from falling off his bike rather than in action on a hockey turf.

"The gear we use today has been developed as the result of a lot of time spent on research. I would rather pay a bit more for the top-of-the-range equipment than risk it with something inferior," said Pontifex, 31.

"Today's padding, gloves and kickers are functional and flexible. When I go out to play I feel bullet-proof. Foot/eye co-ordination is key for a goalkeeper."

He should know. Pontifex has played almost all his hockey career in goal, although he did play in the field in his seventh form year at Wellington's Newlands College, where he and now long-time Black Sticks teammate Phil Burrows were the driving forces in the school's 1st XI.

Penalty corners have become a potent weapon in any team's scoring mantra.

Defending what many see as a one-sided contest has become a crucial part of a goalkeeper's armoury. "Penalty corners have, rightly or wrongly, become a huge part of the game," said Pontifex before his 131st international when he, as expected, plays against Germany on the opening day of the Owen G. Glenn FIH Champions Trophy at the North Harbour Hockey Stadium a week tomorrow. "As a goalkeeper you can expect to face eight or 10 penalty corners in a match.

"Every top 10 team in the world has a top-class drag flicker. They are all keen to work you over so you have to be well-prepared - physically and mentally. While we might look at videos to get some idea of what to expect, I don't face a PC with a preconceived idea of which way to go.

"As I was once told, only the ball can score so as a keeper you have to wait until it leaves the stick before committing yourself."

Pontifex, who somehow fits his busy hockey schedule in with family and business commitments (he works in IT for the ANZ Bank and is able to work remotely), has welcomed the switch from penalty strokes to the shootout as the means of deciding drawn matches at the business end of tournaments.

"The shootout is great. Penalty strokes are heavily stacked in favour of the flicker. You can have a fantastic game and still lose on strokes. The shootout still favours the attacker but the goalkeeper does have a better chance."

For 10 years Pontifex has been part of the Black Sticks. After making his debut against Malaysia in Hamilton, he was in and out of the team for the next few years as understudy to Paul Woolford.

Ironically, Pontifex and recently named captain Dean Couzins debuted in the same game but, as an outfield player, Couzins has had more opportunities and has totted up 233 caps.

While there is already plenty of talk about likely retirements after next year's London Olympics, Pontifex, who has Stephen Graham (25 caps) waiting in the wings, has yet to decide on his future.

"We would like to start a family but I'm not sure what the future holds. I see the chance to play at the Olympics as unfinished business. I played a few minutes against Belgium and the whole game against Pakistan in Beijing. You can't go past the Olympics as the highlight of your career."

That and getting together with his mates in an environment which he says is the reason he keeps coming back to play. That might mean, even if he turns his back on the international scene, playing a few more years for Wellington in the NHL and getting back on his bike.

He managed a respectable 4h 45m for the round Taupo race last year and is keen for more.

KYLE PONTIFEX

Born: February 5, 1980, Wellington

Position: Goalkeeper

International debut: v Malaysia, Hamilton 2001

Caps: 130

HonoursGold: Champions Challenge, Argentina 2009

Silver: Champions Challenge, Belgium 2007

Bronze: Commonwealth Games, New Delhi 2010

Individual: Goalkeeper of tournament, Champions Challenge 2009

CHAMPIONS TROPHY POOLS

Pool A
* Australia
* Great Britain
* Spain
* Pakistan

Pool B
* Germany
* Netherlands
* Korea
* New Zealand

New Zealand at the Champions Trophy

November 1978, Lahore, Pakistan: Lost to Pakistan 6-2, lost to Great Britain 3-1, beat Spain 4-0, lost to Australia 3-2.

Final placing: fifth.

October/November 1983, Karachi, Pakistan: Lost to Pakistan 3-0, drew Australia 1-1, lost to Netherlands 3-1, lost to West Germany 4-2, lost to India 2-1.

Final placing: sixth.

December 1984, Karachi, Pakistan: Lost to Pakistan 5-1, lost to Netherlands 3-1, lost to Great Britain 3-1, drew Australia 2-2, drew Spain 3-3.

Final placing: fifth.

December 2004, Lahore, Pakistan: Lost to Netherlands 5-2, lost to Pakistan 3-1, lost to Spain 3-1, drew Germany 1-1, drew India 1-1, lost to Germany (play-off) 2-1.

Final placing: sixth.

July/August 2010, Monchengladbach, Germany: Lost to Australia 9-1, lost to Germany 5-2, beat Netherlands 3-1, drew Spain 4-4, lost to England 4-3, lost to Spain (play-off) 3-2.

Final placing: sixth.

Statistics

Played 26, won 2, drawn 6, lost 18, 44 goals for, 81 goals against.