Sam Hiha
{{short description|New Zealand field hockey player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox field hockey player
| name = Sam Hiha
| image =
| fullname = Samuel Ruruarau Hiha
| height =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|8|26}}
| birth_place = Napier, New Zealand
| position = Forward
| clubs1 = Central
| years1 = 2016–2019
| caps1 = 21
| goals1 = 4
| clubs2 = Central Falcons
| years2 = 2020–
| caps2 = 7
| goals2 = 4
| nationalyears1 = 2016–2018
| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U–21
| nationalcaps1 = 16
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2021–
| nationalteam2 = New Zealand
| nationalcaps2 = 18
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's field hockey}}
{{MedalCountry|{{NZL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|Oceania Cup}}
{{MedalSilver|2023 Whangārei|}}
}}
Samuel Ruruarau Hiha (born 26 August 1997){{cite web |url=https://tms.fih.ch/competitions/1163/reports/teams |title=Team Details – New Zealand |publisher=International Hockey Federation |website=tms.fih.ch |accessdate=20 April 2021}} is a New Zealand field hockey player,{{cite web |url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/field_hockey/sam-hiha/431225/ |title=Sam Hiha – Player Info |publisher=FIH Pro League |website=fihproleague.com |accessdate=20 April 2021}} who plays as a forward.{{cite web |url=https://blacksticksnz.co.nz/men_team/cory-bennett/ |title=SAM HIHA |publisher=Vantage Black Sticks |website=blacksticksnz.co.nz |accessdate=20 April 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.fihproleague.com/players/hiha-sam__84522__5321 |title=HIHA Sam |publisher=FIH Pro League |website=fihproleague.com |accessdate=20 April 2021}}
Personal life
Sam Hiha was born and raised in Napier, New Zealand.
Hiha is a graduate of Napier Boys' High School.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/hockey-turf-teen-finds-traction/DJKUGOJ4RNSD5SZ47OPBNMED5I/ |title=Hockey: Turf teen finds traction |publisher=New Zealand Herald |website=The New Zealand Herald |accessdate=20 April 2021}}
His grandmother Margaret Hiha, coach in 1983 Women's Hockey World Cup.{{Cite web |title=From rugby lover to making the Hiha name proud - |url=https://blacksticksnz.co.nz/news_events/from-rugby-lover-to-making-the-hiha-name-proud/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Marg Hiha - a woman of her time, a woman ahead of her time |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/news/marg-hiha-a-woman-of-her-time-a-woman-ahead-of-her-time/JCQOBVRY24NRRXCZUNYODUIQU4/ |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web |title=HIHA Margaret |url=https://tms.fih.ch/people/20684 |website=FIH}}
Career
=Domestic competitions=
==Ford NHL==
Sam Hiha was a member of the Central Mavericks in the Ford National Hockey League (NHL), representing the team from 2016 to 2019. During his time with the team, Hiha won bronze medal in the 2016 edition of the tournament.{{cite web |url=https://hockeynz.altiusrt.com/people/160 |title=HIHA Sam |publisher=Hockey New Zealand |website=hockeynz.altiusrt.com |accessdate=20 April 2021}}
==Premier Hockey League==
Following the overhaul of the NHL and subsequent introduction of the Premier Hockey League, Hiha was named in the Central Falcons.{{cite web |url=https://blacksticksnz.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/TheCentralFalcons.pdf |title=Central Falcons |publisher=Vantage Black Sticks |website=blacksticksnz.co.nz |accessdate=20 April 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/300127850/manawat-flavour-to-central-falcons-in-new-premier-hockey-league |title=Manawatū flavour to Central Falcons in new Premier Hockey League |publisher=stuff |website=Stuff |accessdate=20 April 2021}} The league's inaugural edition was held in 2020, with the team taking home a gold medal.{{cite web |url=https://hockeynz.altiusrt.com/competitions/377 |title=2020 Sentinel Homes Premier Hockey League Men |publisher=Hockey New Zealand |website=hockeynz.altiusrt.com |accessdate=20 April 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/300176641/keepers-play-star-roles-as-central-falcons-claim-premier-hockey-title-in-shootout-thriller |title=Keepers play star roles as Central Falcons claim premier hockey title in shootout thriller |publisher=stuff |website=Stuff |accessdate=20 April 2021}}
=National teams=
==Under-21==
In 2016, Hiha made two appearances for the New Zealand U-21 team. His first was at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Johor Bahru, followed by the FIH Junior World Cup in Lucknow.{{cite web |url=https://tms.fih.ch/people/16230 |title=HIHA Sam |publisher=International Hockey Federation |website=tms.fih.ch |accessdate=20 April 2021}}
Two years later, in 2018, Hiha again represented the Under-21 team at the Sultan of Johor Cup.
==Black Sticks==
In 2020, Hiha was named in the Black Sticks squad for the first time, however due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic he made no international appearances.
Hiha was again named in the national squad in December 2020, for the 2021 Olympic year.{{cite web |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/hockey/wilson-back-black-sticks-first-time-2016 |title=Wilson back in Black Sticks for first time since 2016 |publisher=Otago Daily Times |website=Otago Daily Times |accessdate=20 April 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://blacksticksnz.co.nz/news_events/from-rugby-lover-to-making-the-hiha-name-proud/ |title=From rugby lover to making the Hiha name proud |publisher=Vantage Black Sticks |website=blacksticksnz.co.nz |accessdate=20 April 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Sports links}}
{{2022 New Zealand Commonwealth Games team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hiha, Sam}}
Category:New Zealand male field hockey players
Category:Male field hockey forwards
Category:Sportspeople from Napier, New Zealand
Category:Commonwealth Games field hockey players for New Zealand
Category:Field hockey players at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Category:2023 Men's FIH Hockey World Cup players
Category:New Zealand Māori people