Dion Bunt: The Man Behind the Mask

I recently caught up with one of New Zealand’s most dedicated and well-known inline hockey players, Dion Bunt. If you’ve been around the rink for any length of time, you’ll know him as a true pioneer of the sport. This year, Inline Hockey New Zealand (IHNZ) honoured Dion’s contribution to Inline Hockey by renaming the IHNZ National Premier League Presidents’ Cup to the Dion Bunt Cup. Dion, who is “overwhelmed, honoured and humbled” by this recognition, is very down-to-earth about his achievements and was only too happy to speak about his remarkable career in inline hockey. According to Dion, “I just played the sport I loved doing with everything I had” and the rest fell into place.

From Roller Skates to Roller Blades: Where It All Began

Dion’s journey into inline hockey started on roller skates. At just 5 years old, his mum took him to the local roller-skating rink, which he recalls as a pretty terrifying experience. “I was totally freaked out,” Dion laughs. “There’s this photo my mum has of me gripping onto the handrail with an absolutely terrified look on my face”.

But as fate would have it, this fear didn’t last long. Dion moved from field hockey to roller hockey to roller blading on the half-pipes, all while following USA’s NHL ice hockey, which served to whet his appetite for further sporting challenges. From the moment that, at age 12 in 1989, Dion’s best mate introduced him to roller hockey, Dion was hooked. What started as a casual introduction soon developed into a lifelong passion. In 1995, Dion really made his mark by starting up an inline hockey team in Nelson, named the Nelson Whalers, with the help of local administrative champion Kay Harris. Dion wasn’t just playing the game; he was building teams from scratch! For sure, team building was to become one of Dion’s greatest contributions to the sport and it was around this time that inline hockey in New Zealand really started taking off.

Competing Across New Zealand—and Beyond

Dion says the fast pace and the physicality of inline hockey immediately appealed to him and once he started, there was no stopping him. During his early 20s, Dion played all over New Zealand and competed at Nationals for various teams including the Christchurch City Reds, the Kapiti Rangers, the Nelson Whalers, the Glenfield Redhawks, the Marlborough Flames, the Christchurch Snipers, the Rimutaka Renegades, and the Christchurch Lions

Dion's love for the game only grew stronger as he advanced in his career. He went on to compete for New Zealand overseas in Canada and across Europe. Inline hockey has been Dion's lifeblood, playing consistently from childhood through adulthood. Dion’s ultimate goal is to complete “the cycle of all age grades” by competing for New Zealand at the Veterans at some point in the future—a goal that continues to drive him.

2023: A "Freak Accident" and a Major Setback

In 2023, Dion faced a major challenge when a "freak accident" at a social scrimmage in Christchurch left him with a badly broken leg that required extensive surgery. It was an accident that came as a complete surprise to Dion, a seasoned athlete well used to the physicality of inline hockey. "The injury has been a real setback, especially mentally," Dion admits, and for someone who always found inline hockey immensely therapeutic, the road to recovery has not been an easy one. However his passion for inline hockey remains unwavering, and Dion’s found

ways to contribute to the sport while he rehabilitates. As a coach and mentor, Dion is sharing his wealth of experience with younger players, helping guide the next generation of talent. Dion sees coaching is a way to give back to the sport that’s given him so much.

Despite still being in recovery from his injury, Dion manages to surf (his second-favourite sporting passion) year-round in his current hometown of Christchurch. Not for the faint of heart, as anyone familiar with the freezing water temperature of Christchurch beaches over winter would agree. This in itself is a true testament to Dion’s steely grit which he brought to the game of inline hockey and will undoubtedly see his return to the rink in the near future.

Advice for Aspiring Players: “Train as You Play”

If you ever need advice from someone who knows what it takes to reach for the stars as a sporting great, Dion’s your guy. Known as “Mr. Intense” during his heyday, Dion lived and breathed inline hockey, and his ongoing passion for the sport shows in his advice for younger players:

“Treat every training like you would treat a game. Train as you play, and give it 100%, 100% of the time,” are his words of wisdom. And it doesn’t stop there. “Always listen to your coaches and never think you know more. A player is the sum of the team—you have to play as a team member, not an individual.”

Dion believes that while some players try to stand out as the star of the rink, real success comes from teamwork. “It’s the team that creates winners, not individuals.”

The Dion Bunt Cup: A Humbling Honour

When Inline Hockey New Zealand named the National Premier League Cup after him, Dion was genuinely humbled, even surprised at the recognition. Despite his years of dedication and hard work, he’s still down-to-earth about his achievements. “I’m incredibly honoured. It’s humbling to know I’ve had an impact on the sport I love,” Dion shares. “Despite the fact that getting a Cup named after you sounds like I’ve retired. Which I haven’t!”, he assures us.

The Future of Inline Hockey in New Zealand

Though he’s currently sidelined from playing, Dion is still very much a part of the game. He’s definitely been keeping a close eye on the upcoming talent in the National Premier League. In the wake of a very intense weekend of inline hockey we saw during the NPL finals, Dion reckons we currently have “some of the best players I’ve ever seen in the game”. Dion refers to the cup winners, the Capital Penguins, as “a powerhouse team of inline hockey in this country and abroad”. Talent like this can only be a great thing for the future of inline hockey in this country

With players like Dion mentoring the next generation, it's clear that the future of inline hockey in New Zealand is in excellent hands. His legacy is a testament to the power of passion, commitment, and community spirit in building something lasting. We wish Dion all the best in his quest to return to the rink soon!

By Nadia Holland - IHNZ Social Media Officer.

#InlineHockeyNZ #DionBunt #DionBuntCup #IHNZ #InlineHockey #HockeyCommunity #HockeyLife #HockeyLegends #HockeyNews