23rd July 2009

South West Academy of Sport hockey talent Ben Johnston has not looked back since swapping his field stick for a goal keeper’s uniform five years ago.

The Australind teenager has made State teams for the past two years and is currently ramping up training in preparation for the School Sport Australia U16 Hockey Championships at Rockhampton in August.

At just 15 years of age, Johnston is considered one of Western Australia’s top junior goalies and has a long list of credits to his name.

He is currently in the Under 16s State team, was part of the Under 15s State team in 2008 and included in the Under 15s State squad in 2007.

He defended goal for Western Australia at the Under 15 Men's Hockey National Championships in Canberra last year, earning the reputation as one of the competition’s best goalies.

Other achievements include being named Bunbury & District’s Hockey Association Junior Goal Keeper of the Year for 2008 and the South West Hockey Association’s Senior Goal Keeper of the Year for 2007.

Johnston was this year named in the South West Academy of Sport’s inaugural hockey program.

He said the academy’s high performance hockey program had helped him sharpen his game.

“Even before the season we were training twice a week, which is great for fitness and having an extra edge,” he said.

…ENDS