- Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Grace O’Hanlon (NZL)
- Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Jean-Paul Danneberg (DE)
- Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Grace O’Hanlon (NZL)
Grace O’Hanlon delivered a remarkable 2024-2025 season between the posts for the New Zealand women’s hockey team. Her standout performances in two major tournaments played a key role in the Black Sticks’ resurgence in international hockey and earned her this prestigious award.
At the FIH Hockey Women’s Nations Cup Chile 2024–25, Grace proved to be one of the best players of the tournament: her shot stopping, composure in high-pressure moments and consistent reliability helped New Zealand claim the title. Her performance was particularly notable in the semi-final and final, as both matches went into the shoot-outs, where O’Hanlon saved more tries than she allowed, to help New Zealand climb to the top step of the podium!
At the Oceania Cup, O’Hanlon was instrumental in guiding New Zealand to victory over neighbors Australia, securing top spot in the tournament and thus booking a place at the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026. Her reflexes in goal and leadership from the back laid the foundation for the team’s success at that decisive moment.
Across both events, O’Hanlon staked her claim as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, with her form providing the springboard for her team’s momentum into the World Cup cycle.
For these efforts and the clear impact she has had on her team’s key successes, Grace O’Hanlon is a worthy recipient of the FIH Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award.
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Jean-Paul Danneberg (GER)
Jean-Paul Danneberg has had another excellent season for the German men’s hockey team, showing that goalkeepers can be match-winners in their own right.
At the EuroHockey Championships, Germany lifted the trophy in dramatic fashion, a victory sealed in shoot-outs in which Danneberg played a starring role. His composure and ability to make saves in the biggest moments of pressure were crucial in both winning gold and securing qualification for the upcoming World Cup.
In addition to his continental triumph, Danneberg’s performances in the FIH Hockey Pro League also underlined his class. Week after week, he faced world-class opposition, commanded his circle, orchestrated the defense and produced momentum-changing saves with consistency. His level of performance in the major events has made him the best goalkeeper in the world this season.
With his top performances between the sticks having a direct impact on Germany’s success, Jean-Paul Danneberg is a fitting recipient of the FIH Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year Award.
Source: FIH.hockey
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