Edward's Story
Fast Facts
Sport: Hockey
Event: Mens
Olympic History: Beijing 2008 (Bronze), London 2012 (Bronze), Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 (Silver)
Highlights: Silver medal at Tokyo 2020, Bronze medal at Beijing 2008 & London 2012; World Championship Gold (2010, 2014)
Year Born: 1987
State Born: Hobart
About Edward
Edward Ockenden, a midfielder who doubles as a striker, made his Hockey International debut in 2006, making him one of the most experienced Kookaburra players.
Despite a disrupted 2020 for most athletes, one giant accolade came Edward’s way when he surpassed Jamie Dwyer (365) as the most capped Kookaburra with 366 when he played FIH Pro League matches against Argentina in Perth.
“In the scheme of things, it doesn’t feel like it means a lot because it is just a number of games, but when I sit back and think about it, it means a lot to have been in this team for this amount of time,” said Ockenden.
“I reflect on the guys that I have been able to play alongside and the friendships and my best mates in this team, so I think that is really cool…it’s a special team and I love being part of the Kookaburras so that’s what means the most to me.”
His excellence has been recognised with the FIH’s Young Player of the Year award in 2008, followed by being named Hockey Australia’s Player of the Year in 2010, 2014 and 2015.
Highlights of Edwards career include gold at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games stunning the India team 8-0 before their home fans, and scoring in the gold medal-winning game against Germany at the 2010 World Cup.
However, heartbreak came at the 2012 Olympics losing to Germany in the semi-finals – their first defeat of the tournament – but rebounding to win the bronze with a 3-1 over Great Britain.
World Cup gold in The Hague and Commonwealth gold in Glasgow, both in 2014, helped soften the blow but the Rio Olympics inflicted more pain. Australia were heavily-backed favourites to take Olympic gold but lost 4-0 to The Netherlands in the quarter-finals to finish sixth.
The Hockey veteran became a consecutive four-time Olympian at Tokyo 2020, where he achieved his best Olympic placing, receiving Silver. Ockenden was the backbone of the team, captaining the squad in the Gold Medal match in which they narrowly lost to Belgium in a tense penalty shootout.
In 2022 he would earn his 400th Australian cap in a friendly against India, becoming the Australian with the most field hockey appearances and the 7th in the sport overall to eclipse this.
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