By JARROD POTTER
FINISHING on a golden note, hockey superstar Chris Ciriello made it two major international victories in as many months as he earned a Commonwealth Games gold medal last week.
The 29-year-old, formerly from Endeavour Hills, emulated his Hockey World Cup final hat-trick with another last Sunday in the men’s hockey gold medal match against India.
From humble beginnings at Springvale/Noble Park Hockey Club (now Greater Dandenong Warriors’ Hockey Club) all the way to international glory, the champion drag-flicker’s efforts from the spot gave Australia a 4-0 victory in the gold medal match in Glasgow – his second Commonwealth Games gold medal after earning his first in 2010.
“It’s been a great month – I guess you can’t wish for any more,” Ciriello said.
“I guess it’s good to see that after working pretty hard it’s all coming together.
“I’m lucky enough that this is my second one (Commonwealth Games gold medal), and that was a good experience as we beat India in the final there (in Delhi) as well, it was a bit of ‘déjà vu’ – except for the settings and the weather.”
With eight changes to the squad that won the World Cup in the Netherlands last month, the Kookaburras had to adapt their game-plan, but it paid off in the end for a four-goal triumph.
“The guys on the team stepped up – they wanted to play and it was a fair change from the World Cup with eight different guys,” Ciriello said.
“It was always going to be a bit of a struggle, but everyone expected the same outcome and the same process pretty much with a different set of puzzle pieces.
“We came together pretty well and there were a few hiccups along the way, but the young guys coming through look really promising.”
Taking place as the team’s go-to man from the corners, his 146th Australian cap will forever hold significance for Ciriello.
He drilled the first volley past the Indian keeper in the 13th minute before adding number two just before half time to keep the Kookaburras 2-0 ahead at the main break.
Playing against team mates and rivals from his Hockey India League stint with Punjab, Ciriello iced the game with his third from the penalty spot before team-mate Eddie Ockenden sealed the gold medal victory with a deflection in the dying minutes.
The atmosphere of the big stage suits Ciriello best and he relished the chance to prove his talents in the premier matches.
“I like to play in the bigger games,” Ciriello said.
“There’s a fair bit of pressure in the Comm Games as most people think there’s the Olympics then the Commonwealth Games and you get a fair few people starting to watch.
“In the final I was lucky enough to get three corners and the guys pushed the ball out well and stopped it – and I took my shots well.”
Ciriello will now set his gaze on state duties as the star drag flicker for the Victorian Vikings in the Australian Hockey League, starting in October.
