Benjamin Culhane
{{short description|New Zealand field hockey player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox field hockey player
| name = Benjamin Culhane
| full_name = Benjamin James Culhane
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2003|04|23}}
| birth_place = Invercargill, New Zealand
| position = Defence
| years1 = 2022–
| clubs1 = Otago
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| nationalyears1 = 2022–
| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U–21
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2023–
| nationalteam2 = New Zealand
| nationalcaps2 = 11
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's field hockey}}
{{MedalCountry|{{NZL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Junior Oceania Cup}}
{{MedalSilver|2022 Canberra|Team}}
}}
Benjamin James "Benji" Culhane (born 23 April 2003){{cite web |url=https://tms.fih.ch/competitions/1416/reports/teams |title=Team Details – New Zealand |publisher=International Hockey Federation |website=tms.fih.ch |accessdate=22 November 2023}} is a New Zealand field hockey player, who plays as a defender.{{cite web |url=https://www.blacksticksnz.co.nz/mens-team |title=Men's Squad |publisher=New Zealand Hockey Federation |website=blacksticksnz.co.nz |accessdate=22 November 2023}}
Personal life
Culhane was born and raised in Invercargill.{{cite web |url=https://archive.nzc.nz/Players/2263/2263965/2263965.html |title=Benji Culhane |publisher=New Zealand Cricket |website=archive.nzc.nz |accessdate=22 November 2023}} His father, Simon, is a former international rugby union player.{{cite web |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/04/14/former-all-blacks-son-to-debut-for-black-sticks-men/ |title=Former All Black's son to debut for Black Sticks Men |publisher=1News |date=14 April 2023 |website=1News |accessdate=22 November 2023}}
Career
=Under–21=
Culhane made his international debut for New Zealand at under–21 level. He was a member of the team at the 2022 Junior Oceania Cup in Canberra, where he won a silver medal.{{cite web |url=https://tms.fih.ch/people/29013 |title=CULHANE Benjamin |publisher=International Hockey Federation |website=tms.fih.ch |accessdate=22 November 2023}}
In 2023, Culhane was named as captain of the Junior Black Sticks.{{cite web |url=https://hockeynz.co.nz/2023-junior-black-sticks-squads-announced/ |title=2023 JUNIOR BLACK STICKS SQUADS ANNOUNCED |publisher=New Zealand Hockey Federation |website=hockeynz.co.nz |accessdate=22 November 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://southlandtribune.substack.com/p/culhanes-whirlwind-2023-thats-included |title=Culhane's whirlwind 2023 that's included captaining his country |publisher=The Southland Tribune |date=8 November 2023 |website=southlandtribune.substack.com |accessdate=22 November 2023}} He represented the team at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Johor Bahru, finishing in sixth place. He was also named in the squad for the FIH Junior World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
=Black Sticks=
Following his junior debut, Culhane was called up to make his senior international debut in 2023. He made his first appearance for the Black Sticks during season four of the FIH Pro League.{{cite web |url=https://southlandtribune.substack.com/p/culhanes-surprise-news-after-a-day |title=Culhane's surprise news after a day hunting |publisher=The Southland Tribune |date=6 April 2023 |website=southlandtribune.substack.com |accessdate=22 November 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/hockey/culhane-ready-debut-fih-pro-league |title=Culhane ready for debut in FIH Pro League |publisher=Otago Daily Times |date=15 April 2023 |website=Otago Daily Times |accessdate=22 November 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{FIH|29013|Benjamin Culhane}}
- {{Hockey New Zealand|13771|Benji Culhane}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Culhane, Benjamin}}
Category:New Zealand male field hockey players
Category:Male field hockey defenders
Category:People from Invercargill
Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen
{{NewZealand-fieldhockey-bio-stub}}