Milestone matches for dynamic duo

Pictured above: Shane Kenny, left and Ian Schulz, right. Photographs: Andrew Blanchard

Two of our region’s top hockey players, Shane Kenny and Ian Schulz, have reached the same sporting milestone just two weeks apart.

Both played their 300^th Brisbane Hockey League Division One matches last month – Kenny on July 2 and Schulz on July 16.

Their careers in Brisbane’s top flight both started in 2004 with debuts for Pine Rivers St Andrews (Saints) before going to Redcliffe and then Commercial.

Kenny - who is married to former Hockeyroos great Jodie Kenny (nee Schulz, sister of Ian) – is now back at Saints. Schulz still plays for Commercial.

Special day

“I had no idea I was nearing 300,” Kenny, 33, said. “It’s special to get there. Physically and mentally I feel I’ve got a far bit still in the tank.

“There are plenty of guys older than me still playing first and second grades, but we do have two kids and another on the way.”

Following the weekends of their milestones, Kenny had played 64 games for Saints, 141 for Redcliffe Hockey Club and 97 for Commercial Hockey Club.

He won the Australian Hockey League with Queensland Blades and has represented Brisbane Blaze in the Hockey One national league.

Highlights

Schulz, originally from Wamuran, had played three games for Saints, 156 for Redcliffe and 141 at Commercial.

He won the Brisbane Hockey Association Best & Fairest Medal in 2017 and represented South Australia and Queensland in the Australian Hockey League.

Kenny said one of his career highlights was reaching the 2009 Grand Final. “We didn’t win, but you never know if you will get there again,” he said.

Three Redcliffe players have been named in 21-strong Australian indoor hockey squads for the 2023 World Cup in South Africa. On February 5-13.

Joshua Blakey and Josh McPaul are in the men’s squad and Annelyse Tevant in the women’s squad. Selections will be narrowed to 12 in each later this year.