For the third year in a row, Great Britain and England goalkeeper Maddie Hinch has been named the FIH Female Goalkeeper of the Year.

The 30-year-old, currently on a break from international hockey held off a strong challenge from the star of Ireland’s remarkable World Cup campaign, Ayeisha McFerran to win with 39.9% to McFerran’s 37.7% of the public vote.

Australia’s Rachael Lynch (8.1%), Maria Ruiz of Spain (7.9%) and China’s Ye Jiao (6.4%) were also nominated in a category Hinch has dominated since first winning the title in 2016.

During 2018, the goalkeeper, who plays for SCHC in the Netherlands, helped England to Commonwealth Games bronze as well as playing in every one of her country’s World Cup games.

“Maddie has made a phenomenal contribution to the achievements of England and Great Britain Hockey, not only in the women’s programme, but also across the sport in Great Britain.” said Ed Barney, Great Britain Hockey’s Performance Director.

“Her passion and commitment for the sport and goalkeeping is something very special and valued by all. The award is thoroughly deserved and a mark of a very special contribution to the sport.”

Hinch was not the only repeat winner of the Hockey Stars Awards. Belgium’s World Cup winning duo Arthur Van Doren and Vincent Vanasch retained the Male Player of the Year and Male Goalkeeper of the Year awards they won last year.
Netherlands Head Coach Alyson Annan took the Female Coach of the Year prize, also for the second year in a row.
Belgium Head Coach Shane McLeod was named Male Coach of the Year, adding a second title to the one he shared with Netherlands coach Max Caldas at the 2017 Awards.

Another World Cup winner, Eva de Goede was crowned Female Player of the Year whilst the two Rising Star awards went to Belgium’s Arthur De Sloover and Argentina’s Lucina von der Heyde. Von der Heyde’s win ensures the title goes to Argentina for the fourth time in five years. Florencia Habif won in 2014 before Maria Granatto claimed back to back titles in 2016 and 2017.

Michelle Meister was chosen by the FIH Officials Committee as Female Umpire of the Year and Poland’s Marcin Grochal won Male Umpire of the Year.

Coaches of the Year were chosen by an FIH panel and the Umpires by the FIH Officials Committee. The Player, Rising Star and Goalkeeper awards consisted of both a peer vote of fellow players and coaches as well as a fan vote on http://www.fih.ch, which saw over 110,000 votes being cast. The votes were calculated as a weighted percentage (75% for the peer votes and 25% for the fan votes).

Voting results:

Female Player of the Year 2018
Winner: Eva de Goede (NED – 28.7%)
Fellow nominees: Lidewij Welten (NED – 23.5%), Stacey Michelsen (NZL – 17.1%), Xan de Waard (NED – 16.5%), Georgina Oliva (ESP – 14.2%)

Male Player of the Year 2018
Winner: Arthur van Doren (BEL – 28.1%)
Fellow nominees: Simon Gougnard (BEL – 27.3%), Barry Middleton (ENG – 24.7%), Billy Bakker (NED – 13.9%), Jake Whetton (AUS – 6%)

Female Rising Star of the Year 2018
Winner: Lucina von der Heyde (ARG – 26.4%)
Fellow nominees: Lena Tice (IRL – 22%), Marijn Veen (NED – 22%), Nike Lorenz (GER – 16.6%), Ambrosia Malone (AUS – 13%)

Male Rising Star of the Year 2018
Winner: Arthur de Sloover (BEL – 34.2%)
Fellow nominees: Thijs van Dam (NED – 33.1%), Timm Herzbruch (GER – 15.6%), Tim Brand (AUS – 11.2%), Jake Harvie (AUS – 5.9%)

Female Goalkeeper of the Year 2018
Winner: Maddie Hinch (ENG – 39.9%)
Fellow nominees: Ayeisha McFerran (IRL – 37.7%), Rachael Lynch (AUS – 8.1%), Maria Ruiz (ESP – 7.9%), Ye Jiao (CHN – 6.4%)

Male Goalkeeper of the Year 2018
Winner: Vincent Vanasch (BEL – 46%)
Fellow nominees: Pirmin Blaak (NED – 18.7%), George Pinner (ENG – 14.9%), Tobias Walter (GER – 12.4%), Tyler Lovell (AUS – 8%)

Female Umpire of the Year 2018

Michelle Meister (GER)

Male Umpire of the Year 2018

Marcin Grochal (POL)

Female Coach of the Year 2018

Alyson Annan (AUS) – Head Coach, Netherlands Women

Male Coach of the Year 2018

Shane McLeod (NZL) – Head Coach, Belgium Men