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All the news for Friday 23 September 2016

Scotland U21 men defeated but produce performance of the summer


Scotland U21 Head Coach Graham Moodie

Scotland U21 men lost 3-2 to England but produced their best performance of the summer. The Scots outplayed their hosts at Lilleshall but were beaten by the clinical finishing of their top-class opposition.

The score was 1-1 at half time; England took the lead before Scotland equalised through a Lee Morton volley into the bottom corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. It was another impressive performance by Morton and the goal was a good reward for his contribution.

Scotland’s second goal was scored by Cameron Golden; a great attack down the left fashioned an opportunity for Luke Cranney, his shot was saved but Golden was on hand to finish.

Penalty corners were again a thorn in the Scots’ defence and the goals conceded were possibly avoidable. However, the target was to build on the recent performances in Spain and Head Coach Graham Moodie was pleased at the definite improvement from the Spanish trip.

The young players stepping up from U18 level played well - Golden had an excellent performance as did Aiden McQuade. Their recent performances in the U18 EuroHockey Championship II tournament earned them a place in the Scotland U21 team and Moodie was impressed by their contribution.

Moodie said Scotland played great hockey against a very good England team who came third in the Euros last year. The Scots were unlucky not to take something from the game.

Scotland U21 Head Coach Graham Moodie added: “We have to congratulate England for the wins, they’re an excellent side but I’m really pleased by our standard of play and the improvement from the games in Spain is very pleasing.”

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Scotland women to compete at Rabo EuroHockey Championships 2017



Rabo EuroHockey Championship logoScotland senior women will compete at the Rabo EuroHockey Championships 2017 on 18-27 August 2017 at the Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam.

The tournament will take place in the newly renovated Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam. Tickets for the Championships go on sale 22 September at 12.30 CET and are available from the tournament website, www.rabo-eurohockeychampionships2017.com

Over the 10 days in August 2017, eight men’s and eight women’s teams from ten different European nations will compete for the Rabo EuroHockey Championships title. During the Pool phase (18-23 August) every team will play 3 pool games. Scotland have been drawn in Pool B with England, Germany and Ireland.

The opening match of the tournament on Friday 18th August will be The Netherlands vs Spain (women). The Official Opening Ceremony of the renovated Wagener Stadium will also be held that day. The finals will take place on Saturday 26th August (women) and Sunday 27th August (men).

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Clifton Robinsons target Slough scalp


Jess Bloom celebrating Clifton Robinsons’ first goal against Canterbury last weekend. Credit: Peter Smith.

Having beaten last year’s finalists Canterbury last weekend, Clifton Robinson’s will be targeting another win as they head to newcomers Slough in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday.

Their 3-0 win on the opening day gave them a great start, and comes after a summer of change with Clifton merging with Robinson’s Men’s Hockey Club after several seasons of close co-operation.

New faces at Clifton include Rio gold medallist Alex Danson and another ex-Reading player in goalkeeper Sarah Ellis, as well as a host of younger talent including England Under-18 star Elisha Evans. Conversely, Els Mansell has moved to Sweden.

“We will be on our guard a bit against Slough,” said Clifton Robinsons’ manager Alistair Kilfoil. “They had a good result last weekend against a Leicester side who played well in our pre-season match.

“We won’t have our full team available as the internationals (Danson and Jo Leigh) aren’t available until probably November, but we have good depth.”

Elsewhere, the University of Birmingham will want to remain top of the early table when they head to champions Surbiton, while Holcombe – who held Surbiton to a draw with a last-minute goal last weekend – go to Reading.

Canterbury and will be aiming to get back on track as they play host to East Grinstead.

Finally, Bowdon Hightown and Leicester will do battle at South Downs Road.

Sevenoaks will want to build on their big opening day 5-0 win last weekend as they go to Cambridge City in the Investec Conference East on Saturday. Meanwhile, Harleston Magpies – who also scored five last weekend – host Northampton Saints.

The Investec Conference North sees Brooklands Poynton go to Sutton Coldfield, while Ben Rhydding are also away, at Timperley in Cheshire. Beeston take on Belper on Friday evening under the lights at the Nottingham Hockey Centre.

Gloucester City and Stourport both recorded victories in the opening weekend, and they face each other in the Investec Conference West at Stourport on Saturday.

For full details of all pre-season player movements see http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/fl/ehl/playermovement_f.asp?l=3342

FIXTURES – Friday, September 23

Investec Conference North

Beeston v Belper 19:30

FIXTURES – Saturday, September 24

Investec Women’s Hockey League

Investec Premier Division

Slough v Clifton Robinsons 12:15
Bowdon Hightown v Leicester 13:45
Surbiton v Univ of Birmingham 15:30
Canterbury v East Grinstead 16:00
Reading v Holcombe 16:30

Investec Conference East

Cambridge City v Sevenoaks 12:30
St Albans v Southgate 13:00
Chelmsford v Hampstead and Westminster 14:00
Wimbledon v West Herts 14:00
Harleston Magpies v Northampton Saints 14:00

Investec Conference North

Univ of Durham v Liverpool Sefton 12:00
Loughborough Students v Wakefield 12:30
Sutton Coldfield v Brooklands Poynton 14:00
Timperley v Ben Rhydding 14:30

Investec Conference West

Buckingham v Isca 12:00
Exe v Olton and West Warwicks 13:00
Trojans v Oxford Hawks 14:00
Stourport v Gloucester City 14:30
Bristol Firebrands v Swansea City 14:30

England Hockey Board Media release

Hampstead have Surbiton in their sights


Hampstead and Westminster celebrating a goal against Canterbury. Credit: Mark Clews.

A raft of new signings helped Hampstead and Westminster record an emphatic 7-2 opening day victory over Canterbury last weekend, and they will be aiming to keep that form going when they head to Surbiton in the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division on Saturday.

Among the many new signings are Head Coach Kwan Browne from Canterbury. Matt Guise Brown and Chris Cargo have moved from Southgate and Royal Racing Club de Bruxelles Belgium respectively, while Michael Watt has joined from Lisnagarvey HC in Ireland.

Both Watt and Guise Brown scored hat-tricks in their opening day win, while Cargo scored the other.

Other new faces include five former Surbiton players including Ireland’s Geoff McCabe and Welsh duo Rupert Shipperley and David Kettle, as well as youngster Will Calnan and Stephen Kelly.

Harry Gibson has left Hampstead to go to Surbiton, while Richard Springham has returned to Reading.

“We’ve made a lot of exciting new signings, the main one being Kwan Browne as Head Coach,” said Team Manager Thea Hitchcock. “He has proved a big draw for a lot of players.

“We started recruiting early and have had a really good pre-season starting in July. We’ve really concentrated on having an intense pre-season because we knew it would be such a big new group so it would take time to gel.”

In other top flight action, last season’s beaten finalists Reading play host to Holcombe, while East Grinstead head to Canterbury and Brooklands Manchester University take on Beeston at King’s School in Macclesfield due to rebuilding works at their Georges Road pitch.

And Sunday sees last season’s champions Wimbledon play Loughborough Students.

In the Men’s Conference East Cambridge City, who enjoyed a good win at Teddington last week, are at home against another team who won in week one, Sevenoaks. And Oxted will be aiming to repeat last weekend’s four-nil win when they play Brighton and Hove.

Olton & West Warwicks and the University of Durham meet in Men’s Conference North having both laid down strong markers in their first games; Olton beating Leek 8-0 and Durham winning 4-1 at relegated Cannock.

Having put six goals past Fareham last weekend, newcomers Old Georgians will be aiming to keep their great early form going when they go to the University of Birmingham in the Men’s Conference West.

For full details of all pre-season player movements see http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/fl/ehl/playermovement_m.asp?l=1

FIXTURES – Saturday, September 24

Men’s Premier Division

Brooklands Manchester Univ v Beeston 12:00
Canterbury v East Grinstead 18:00
Surbiton v Hampstead and Westminster 18:00
Reading v Holcombe 18:30

Men’s Conference East

Cambridge City v Sevenoaks 12:30
Southgate v Indian Gymkhana 15:30
Oxted v Brighton and Hove 17:00
Wapping v West Herts 17:30
Richmond v Teddington 18:00

Men’s Conference North

Univ of Durham v Olton and West Warwicks 14:00
Preston v Doncaster 14:00
Leek v Sheffield Hallam 14:00
Oxton v Bowdon 14:30
Cannock v Deeside Ramblers 18:00

Men’s Conference West

Chichester v Isca 12:15
Univ of Birmingham v Old Georgians 12:30
Univ of Exeter v Cheltenham 12:30
Cardiff and Met v Univ of Bristol 12:30
Fareham v Team Bath Buccaneers 13:30

FIXTURES – Sunday, September 25

Men’s Premier Division

Wimbledon v Loughborough Students 14:00

England Hockey Board Media release

Focus is on bringing variations in midfield: Roelant Oltmans

BENGALURU: Back in the national camp after a four-week break since the Rio Olympics, an upbeat Indian men's hockey team have now shifted focus to the new season which starts with the Asian Champions Trophy in Malaysia where they will meet arch-rivals Pakistan.

"The mood in the team is very good and the players have moved on from their quarter-final loss against Belgium," said Roelant Oltmans, chief coach India men hockey team and director High Performance.

"They don't have bitter feelings about the Olympics because now they know they are on par with top teams in the world and they are often complimented by hockey lovers not just from India but around the globe for how they played at the Olympics. Though we were not happy with the result."

The selection trials to pick the team for Asian Champions Trophy and Australia Tour will be held on Friday at the SAI, South Centre in Bengaluru. The team will also be put through a rigorous fitness test.

"For the senior team they have a busy schedule with the Asian Champions Trophy and Australia Tour then the Coal India Hockey India League, where as the juniors will play in the Australian Hockey League, Spain 4-Nations Tournament and then the Uttar Pradesh FIH Junior Men World Cup in Lucknow in December," said Oltmans.

"It's only in March that we will look at having a strong pool of probables which will have quite a few junior players who can be potential players for the 2020 Olympics and even the World Cup in 2018," he added.

Oltmans will join the junior team for the Australian Hockey League (AHL) starting September 29 and in his absence, the camp will be spearheaded by fellow Dutchman and Strategic Coach Roger van Gent who will be assisted by Tushar Khandker.

"The focus during this month-long camp will be to bring about variations in the midfield and forward line structure. Of course fitness too will be a priority," Oltmans said.

"We have shown in the past one year that we are as good as any other top team in the world but we need to bring in consistency and create results that are in our favour. That's the key and we need to work on it," he added.

The Times of India

You should play to win, not to defend: Oltmans

Manuja Veerappa

BENGALURU: There are two ways to look at the Indian hockey team's performance at the Rio Olympics. One, they fared better than their 12th place finish in London in 2012. The other: they showed promise but in the end it panned out to be all bluff and bluster. High performance director and chief coach of the senior side Roelant Oltmans sees both facets in his team's eighth-place finish.

"We analyse after every tournament. We look forward and see where we want to go.What we do is: identify the problem areas; try to bring in changes and do better in certain areas and circumstances," said Oltmans on the eve of the selection trials of the team for the Asian Champions Trophy to be held in Malaysia next month.

Dwelling on the key areas they need to work on, the Dutchman pointed out, "We need to work on a few new ways of playing in the midfield and we also want to give some attention to positioning of the forwardline. We also need to improve in skill, execution and penalty corners."

The 62-year-old said the team is improving and it is a long-term process. "We are really close to the top sides in the world. Look at the way we competed against teams like Germany, The Netherlands and Argentina. Those were very good games for us. Now the big step is to show we can perform consistently. Not just perform well but get the results too."

Oltmans asserted that age will not be a factor to retain players in the team. "Seven in the gold-winning Argentina team were above 30. What matters is fitness, experience and the role they play. Age doesn't matter. I test them not only physically but mentally too. Mentally they should be into the game at the top level. They are not here just to play, they have to be eager to win the next game."

'Women's team lacks experience'

The Indian women's hockey team is back at the camp in Bhopal, dejected but not defeated. The high of their maiden qualification for the Olympics was shadowed by the sacking of skipper Ritu Rani, who announced her retirement on Wednesday, and their 12th-place finish. But the young team is looking to put the Olympics behind and start afresh. High performance director Roelant Oltmans said the key drawbacks of women's hockey is cultural difference and lack of experience.

"In India I can't think of a women player who is still playing at 31. Most of them get married and settled down by that age. That is the problem of Indian women's hockey. They lack experience and exposure and at the domestic level they hardly have any tournaments."

The Times of India

Omani hockey team thanks Pakistan for the hospitality

By Nabil Tahir


Oman’s team manager Mohammad Abdullah alBatrani says his team will take home fond memories of their trip to Pakistan and are glad to help the hosts end their international hockey drought. PHOTO: PHF

KARACHI: The recent visit of Oman’s U18 hockey team to Pakistan for a four-test series ended the host nation’s eight-year-long wait for international hockey on home soil.

And while the visitors were beaten 3-0 in the series, their manager Mohammad Abdullah alBatrani was happy Oman played their part in the revival of the sport in a country which was once a top hockey nation and produced elite talent for fun.

“We are glad that we brought back international hockey to a country that has produced so many great hockey players. We were also thrilled about seeing a country that is among the pioneers of the game and has proved the very best [in the past],” alBatrani told The Express Tribune prior to both the teams’ departure for Dhaka to participate in the Boys U18 Asia Cup that begins on September 24.

“Although we lost the series, Pakistan showed us what real passion for the game looks like and our players learned many skills too,” he said. “As both the teams will stay together in Dhaka, the side-by-side trainings will help us even more.”

The Omani manager was also impressed with Pakistan’s hospitality and thanked the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) for making their trip safe. “The security arrangements were excellent. More importantly, we didn’t remain confined to our hotel but frequently went out and did a lot of sightseeing,” said alBatrani.

“It is hoped that Pak-Oman hockey ties will grow further,” he said before adding, “Pakistan has always been very helpful for our hockey growth.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s U18 team, captained by Bahawalpur’s Junaid Manzoor and whose vice-captain is Lahore’s Moeen Shakeel, will face Chinese Taipei tomorrow, China on Sunday and Hong Kong on Tuesday as part of their Boys Asia Cup ties. The semi-finals will be played on September 29 and final on September 30.

The Express Tribune

Pakistan National senior hockey camp from 28th

LAHORE – The second phase of training camp of the national senior probables will start from September 26 here at the National Hockey Stadium.

The national team players are preparing for participation in the 4th edition of the Asian Men’s Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament to be played in Kuantan, Malaysia from October 20.

The 36 invited players by PHF are Imran Butt, Amjad Ali, Mazhar Abbas, Waleed Akhtar, Hafiz Umair, Ali Haider (goalkeepers), Asad Aziz, Aleem Bilal, M Irfan, Nawaz Ishfaq, Syed Kashif, Shah Faisal, Qazi Asfand, Rashid Mahmood, Tasawar Abbas, Faisal Qadir, Fareed Ahmad, Tousiq Arshad, Rizwan Jr, Kashif Javaid, Taimoor Malik, Abid Bhatti, Zohaib Ashraf, Ali Hassan (defenders), M Irfan Jr, Fayyaz Yaqoob, Umar Bhutta, Arslan Qadir, Ali Shan, Ijaz Ahmad, Rizwan Ali, M Rizwan Sr, Rana M Umair, Abdul Haseem, Faisal Rashid, Abbas Haider (forwards).

The Nation

Clements Confirms USMNT Roster to Contend at Upcoming Hockey World League Round 1

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -  Sporting fresh pressed Team USA kits, they stand in a single file line – waiting. It’s in these moments, before the national anthem, before a crowd-pleasing performance, before the forward’s fast pull and the defense who is able to react with a legendary jab, dashing a dream-shot on cage, that the athletes dive into a deeper focus. Perhaps it’s to internally review scouting reports one final time or pull to mind a family member, a younger brother or a mother, that they’re dedicating the next 60 minutes to. Whatever it is, these moments are sacred; the calm before the impending storm. And a downpour of dramatic play is on the horizon for the U.S. Men's National Team as they prep for their upcoming four-game schedule at the Hockey World League Round 1 in Salamanca, Mexico. With the Hockey World League competition being the International Hockey Federation’s pipeline to the 2018 World Cup, finishing first in Mexico holds ultimate importance as the top team will advance to Hockey World League Round 2. Chris Clements, USMNT Head Coach, has named the roster that will contend Tuesday, September 27 to Sunday, October 9 in Salamanca, Mexico.

"This is our first tournament since July 2015, and we are looking to continue our progress as a program, providing further opportunities for younger players to gain senior experience, and qualifying for World League Round 2," said Clements.

U.S. Men’s National Team’s Hockey World League Round 1 Roster

MICHAEL BARMINSKI #3 | MIDFIELDER 52 CAPS VENTURA, CA	TOM BARRATT #14 | DEFENDER 33 CAPS GREENSBORO, NC	SEAN CICCHI #20 | DEFENDER 29 CAPS THOUSAND OAKS, CA	AJAI DHADWAL #12 | MIDFIELDER 76 CAPS AGOURA HILLS, CA
MOHAN GANDHI #26 | MIDFIELDER 50 CAPS VENTURA, CA	ALEX GRASSI #6 | MIDFIELDER 36 CAPS BROOKEVILLE, MD	WILLIAM HOLT #11 | STRIKER 103 CAPS  CAMARILLO, CA	BRANDON KARESS GOALKEEPER 6 CAP CHULA VISTA, CA
KAI KOKOLAKIS MIDFIELDER 4 CAPS WIESBADEN, GERMANY	MANNY MARTINEZ #15 | STRIKER 22 CAPS LAKESIDE, CA	NICK MOLSCAN STRIKER 4 CAPS WANGANUI, NEW ZEALAND	JOHNNY OROZCO #22 | DEFENDER 47 CAPS VENTURA, CA
NICK RICHARDSON DEFENDER 4 CAPS KENT HILL, ME	PAUL SINGH #18 | MIDFIELDER 36 CAPS SIMI VALLEY, CA	TYLER SUNDEEN #4 | STRIKER 75 CAPS SIMI VALLEY, CA	ANDY ZAYAC #28 | GOALKEEPER 9 CAPS HAYWARD, CA

"We're looking forward to the tournament and putting together some good performances against our opponents," said Alex Grassi, USMNT athlete (Brookeville, Md.). "We are excited to be gaining more international experience by playing in this event."

USFHA media release

NZ Under 21 Men named for Junior World Cup


Photo: www.photosport.nz

New Zealand Under 21 Men’s head coach Bryce Collins has named a strong team to compete at the Junior World Cup in December.

The Men’s Junior World Cup takes place in Lucknow, India from 8-18 December with the Kiwis confident of putting in a top performance.

It’s a talented side which is led by current Black Sticks National Squad members Nic Woods, Hayden Phillips and Dominic Newman.

Around those players are also several Development Squad athletes, and plenty of top level talent from around the country.

New Zealand will be gunning for the title alongside Australia, Argentina, England, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, South Africa, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Pakistan and Spain.

Collins said it was exciting to be taking away such a talented side which is strong at every position.

“This is a very good side and we’re encouraged by the quality of players on show at this year’s National Under 21 Tournament and Ford National Hockey League,” he said.

“It’s pleasing to see the development of these guys both as athletes and people while the competition for selection has been fierce – some very good players missed out.”

Next week a New Zealand team will be named to compete at the Sultan of Johor Cup at the end of October in Malaysia.

The Women’s Junior World Cup will be played in Santiago, Chile from 24 November – 4 December with a New Zealand team to be announced in the coming weeks.

NEW ZEALAND UNDER 21 MEN
JUNIOR WORLD CUP – LUCKNOW, INDIA

NON-TRAVELLING RESERVES

Hockey New Zealand Media release

Experience the key for Canada as Men's Junior World Cup prep continues

Shaheed Devji


Canada’s Under-21 celebrate a goal at the 2016 Junior Men’s Pan American Championship in Toronto earlier this year (By Yan Huckendubler)

With the 2016 Men’s Junior World Cup less than three months away, Canada’s Junior Development Squad is back training together in Vancouver. But preparation for the biggest tournament in the Junior cycle has been underway for much longer.

Last year’s Junior Pan American Championship in Toronto, where Canada qualified for the 2016 Junior World Cup, was the perfect primer for what is now the home stretch of World Cup prep.

Eighteen of the Under-21 men named to a 48-man Junior World Cup training squad earlier this summer were at the qualifier in Toronto, and the majority of the rest were involved in the lead-up, making the group vastly more experience than it was just six months ago.

“I feel like the chemistry is definitely there,” says Ottawa’s Rohan Chopra, who competed at the Junior Pan Ams in May and is one of a handful of athletes who have made the trip from Eastern Canada to Vancouver for the lead-up to the World Cup. “For me, I think I have more of a role on the squad, having experience gone to Pan Ams, and just brining it back to the team.”

Canada’s men are now centralized in Vancouver training as a group, not only training together but competing with each other for a coveted spot on the Junior World Cup team.

That has made the first week back together demanding.

“It’s gone pretty well,” says Brandon Pereira, a native of Surrey, British Columbia, who captained Canada at the 2016 Junior Pan Ams. “Pretty hard and intense training sessions, but we’ve got to do it before we go to the World Cup.”

Pereira knows the value of this period and the value of training as a team for an extended period of time, something that not all Junior teams the luxury of doing.

As one of two players on the squad – the other is Balraj Panesar – who is aiming to competing in his second Junior World Cup, he knows the qualification for the tournament was only the beginning.

“We have a lot to work on, he says. “We’ve got to be consistent. And we’ve got to work on playing more as a team.”

Team play is important and the players’ ability to work well within the team structure will likely have a large impact on the final selections Junior coach Indy Sehmbi makes.

But so will individual performance, which makes each training session from now until selection a little bit more intense.

“It’s competitive,” Chopra says. “I love how everyone is pushing each other, making sure everyone is working hard. For myself, it’s just pushing myself to that next level, that World Cup standard.”

With many of the athletes set to take part in the Senior Men’s National Program Carding and Identification camp at the beginning on October, Canada’s 2016 Men’s Junior World Cup team will be named shortly after.

The 2016 Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup takes place in Lucknow,  India form December 8-18. Canada features 16 of the world’s best junior men’s teams including Argentina; Australia; Austria; Belgium; Canada; Egypt; England; Germany; India; Japan; Korea; Netherlands; South Africa; New Zealand; Pakistan and Spain.

Field Hockey Canada media release

Gaddum calls time on Black Sticks career


Photo: www.photosport.nz

The most capped Black Sticks Women’s player of all time has announced her retirement from international hockey.

Emily Gaddum has decided to hang up the black singlet and prepare for a more settled lifestyle with her first child due in January.

The 30-year-old midfielder/defender made her debut in 2004 and has amassed an unrivalled 274 caps for New Zealand.

Over 12 years she competed at three Olympic Games (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012) and three Commonwealth Games (Melbourne 2006, Delhi 2010 where the team won the silver medal and Glasgow 2012 which saw a bronze medal finish).

“It was definitely a tough decision but I feel the time is right now to look ahead to the next challenge,” she said.

“I’m pretty comfortable in finishing after a good career, my last game was against Australia in Darwin where we won the final so that was a nice way to go out.”

Gaddum (nee Naylor) has always been known for her hard-nosed style of play and incredible skill and composure, in earlier years as a midfielder and most recently back in defence.

She has gone through several different coaching regimes under Ian Rutledge, Kevin Towns and Mark Hager who has been with the team for the past eight years.

“They’ve all been great coaches and I’ve taken things off each of them along the way. Mark in particular has been a huge part of my hockey career on a personal level, he really changed the game for us in creating an up tempo attacking style.”

Gaddum was just 18 years old when she played her first test for New Zealand and has made plenty of good friends who she has played alongside, none more so than Kayla Whitelock.

“It’s been pretty amazing playing alongside Kayla for last 12 years, particularly growing up together in Palmerston North, it’s been a very special bond from a young age.

“Playing for New Zealand was always a dream so to debut that young and have the privilege to wear the shirt so many times is unbelievable.

“I’ve had great support from my family, husband Harry and all my coaches and had some amazing times and memories so I feel very fortunate.”

Despite her retirement, Gaddum will still be heavily involved in hockey at a local level both as a player and coach, having helped coach Iona at the recent Federation Cup secondary school tournament.

She is currently working for Hawke’s Bay Hockey and will also remain working for the popular Hawke’s Bay Festival of Hockey, which is set for its fourth year in April next year.

Head coach Mark Hager said Emily has been an integral part of the squad during his time at the helm for the Black Sticks.

“Emily has been the backbone of the Black Sticks defence throughout her career. When I first came on board in 2009 she was part of the leadership group that helped create a team first approach,” Hager said.

“She was a player who led from the field with her ability to defuse many attacks from opposition teams. Currently still as the highest capped player shows the commitment Emily had for her country and her love of hockey.

“Emily showed our group a professionalism required to play on the International stage and has achieved a great deal throughout her hockey career.

“It has been a pleasure to be a part of her career and I wish Emily and her family all the best for the future. She will be missed and will go down as one of New Zealand’s best ever defenders.”

Hockey New Zealand Media release

Emily Gaddum retires from international hockey


Emily Gaddum. Photo / Warren Buckland.

New Zealand's most-capped women's player has retired from international hockey.

Defender Emily Gaddum (nee Naylor) played 274 internationals from her debut in 2004. She made herself unavailable for the Rio Olympic Games as her first child is due in January.

Gaddum competed at three Olympic and Commonwealth Games, where New Zealand won a silver (Delhi, 2010) and bronze (Glasgow, 2014) medal.

"It was definitely a tough decision but I feel the time is right now to look ahead to the next challenge," Gaddum, 30, said. "I'm pretty comfortable in finishing after a good career, my last game was against Australia in Darwin where we won the final so that was a nice way to go out."

Gaddum played under three national coaches, Ian Rutledge, Kevin Towns and Mark Hager and had high praise for them all.

"Mark, in particular, has been a huge part of my career on a personal level. He really changed the game for us in creating an up tempo attacking style."

Gaddum was 18 when she made her international debut and her career has run parallel with good friend, and fellow former Palmerston North student Kayla Whitelock.

"Playing for New Zealand was always a dream so to debut that young and have the privilege to wear the shirt so many times is unbelievable," Gaddum said.

Gaddum will remain involved in hockey as player and coach at local level. She is working for Hawkes Bay Hockey and works for the Hawkes Bay Festival of Hockey, which is set for its fourth year in April.

"Emily showed our group a professionalism required to play on the international stage and has achieved a great deal throughout her hockey career," Hager said.

"She will be missed and will go down as one of New Zealand's best ever defenders."

The New Zealand Herald

Black Sticks veteran Emily Gaddum calls time on international career


Long-time Black Stick Emily Gaddum has called it quits on her hockey career. Cameron Burnell

The most-capped Black Sticks women's player, Emily Gaddum, has announced her retirement from international hockey.

Gaddum (nee Naylor) is preparing for a more settled lifestyle with her first child due in January.

The 30-year-old midfielder-defender debuted in 2004 and has played 274 tests since then, going to three Olympic Games (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012) and three Commonwealth Games (Melbourne 2006, Delhi 2010 and Glasgow 2012).

New Zealand won a silver medal in Delhi and a bronze in Glasgow.

"It was definitely a tough decision, but I feel the time is right now to look ahead to the next challenge," she said. "I'm pretty comfortable in finishing after a good career, my last game was against Australia in Darwin where we won the final so that was a nice way to go out."

She had been in line to go to the Rio Olympics this year, but pulled out when she became pregnant.

Manawatu's Gaddum has always been known for her hard-nosed style of play and incredible skill and composure, in earlier years as a midfielder and most recently back in defence.

She has gone through several different coaching regimes under Ian Rutledge, Kevin Towns and Mark Hager, who has been with the team for the past eight years.

"They've all been great coaches and I've taken things off each of them along the way," Gaddum said. "Mark in particular has been a huge part of my hockey career on a personal level, he really changed the game for us in creating an up tempo attacking style."

Gaddum was just 18 when she played her first test and has played alongside a lot of good friends, none more so than Kayla Whitelock.

"It's been pretty amazing playing alongside Kayla for last 12 years, particularly growing up together in Palmerston North, it's been a very special bond from a young age.

"Playing for New Zealand was always a dream so to debut that young and have the privilege to wear the shirt so many times is unbelievable.

"I've had great support from my family, husband Harry and all my coaches and had some amazing times and memories so I feel very fortunate."

Despite her retirement, Gaddum is involved in hockey in Hawke's Bay where she lives, as a player and coach, having helped coach Iona College at the recent Federation Cup secondary school tournament.

She is working for Hawke's Bay Hockey and the international Hawke's Bay Festival of Hockey.

Black sticks coach Hager said Gaddum has been an integral part of the squad during his time.

"Emily has been the backbone of the Black Sticks defence throughout her career. When I first came on board in 2009 she was part of the leadership group that helped create a team first approach.

"She was a player who led from the field with her ability to defuse many attacks from opposition teams. Currently still as the highest-capped player, shows the commitment Emily had for her country and her love of hockey.

"Emily showed our group a professionalism required to play on the International stage and has achieved a great deal throughout her hockey career.

"It has been a pleasure to be a part of her career and I wish Emily and her family all the best for the future. She will be missed and will go down as one of New Zealand's best ever defenders."

Most hockey caps for NZ:
Emily Gaddum 274 tests
Kayla Whitelock 255
Anita McLaren 247
Gemma Flynn 246
Suzie Muirhead 238
Charlotte Harrison 222
Krystal Forgesson 220
Stacey Michelsen 216

Stuff

Terengganu HT and Sapura in drivers seat

All the best - Final destination

By Jugjet Singh


THT captain Fitri Saari (front) in action against Maybank during the TNB Cup Semi-Final first-leg match at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium. THT won 6-1.

TERENGGANU Hockey Team (THT) have no plans to pull the brakes in the Second Leg Semi-finals of the TNB Cup today, even though they have a five-goal cushion over Maybank.

And Sapura coach Yahya Atan feels his players' desire to play in the final will be the key to beat Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club (KLHC) again in the return leg to solidify their two-goal cushion.

Both the return legs will be played at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium, where THT hammered Maybank 6-1 and Sapura beat KLHC 3-1 on Wednesday.

"A five-goal cushion can be overcome in modern hockey, but we are not about to let it happen. Even though the final is just a day's break after the Second Leg, I will field my best players to stabilise the match before deciding on my reserves," said THT coach Sarjit Singh.

THT, double champions for the last two seasons, has won the League title and are looking good to defend their TNB Cup as well.

As for Sapura: "My players showed more desire than the opponents in the First Leg and even though we hold a slim lead, I believe it will be the same performance from them in the Second Leg to cement our spot.

"It has been too long since we last won the TNB Cup (2006 last Overall title) and are just two steps away. It will not be easy, but not an impossible dream either," said Yahya.

KLHC have been bogged down by injuries, and the fact that two of their top players could only play for 30 minutes this season, saw them struggle with a skeleton crew.

Razie Rahim, the nation's top penalty corner flicker, and national midfielder Nabil Fiqri joined inspector training and the team suffered badly.

When asked about his heavy-footed players in the First Leg, KLHC coach Harun Rashid said fatigue and injuries and work commitments left him with a thin squad on the bench.

"Fatigue is always an issue with a 'thin' squad and a packed schedule playing midweek as well (Alagendra Cup)..

"Umar Bhutta (Pakistan import) didn't play the first leg due to foot injury, Syamim Yusof and Kevin Lim carry hamstring injuries.

"Nam Hyun Woo carries a back injury, while Rashid Baharom's shoulder is injured.

"However, as long as we have the time and opportunity, a come-back is always possible in a two-leg race. It's not how one starts, the finishing is more important," reasoned Rashid.

TODAY: TNB Cup semi-finals Second Leg: Kuala Lumpur HC (1) v Saura HC (3) (KLHA, 6pm), Maybank (1) v Terengganu HT (6) (KLHA, 8pm).

President's Cup: Semi-finals Second Leg: SSTMI (3) v UiTM-KPT (4) (Tun Razak, 6pm), Politeknik (2) v TNB Thunderbolts (3) (Tun Razak, 8pm).

Vivian Soars Cup: Semi-finals Second Leg: ATM Pernama (0) v Blue Warriors (1) (Ministry of Education, 6pm), PKS-Uniten-KPT (0) v SSTMI (2) (Ministry of Education, 8pm).

Jugjet's World of Field Hockey

Habib Public School's hockey team wins big in Malaysia

By Nabil Tahir


PHOTO COURTESY: HPS

KARACHI: The U14 hockey team of the Habib Public School (HPS) was honoured on Thursday for winning the International series of hockey matches organised by Raja Ashman Shah at AHF-MHC Hockey Academy in IPOH, Malaysia.

The 14-member hockey team along with the vice principal Shahwar Ahmed, sports manager Kumail Abbas and hockey coach Shakir Ali had gone to Kuala Lumpur on August 17.

The team went on to win the series in a penalty shootout and returned to Pakistan on August 25 while their reception was held on September 22.

HPS played five matches against different schools of Malaysia, which included Anderson Excellent School, Anderson High School and Seagate High School.


PHOTO COURTESY: HPS

While talking to The Express Tribune, coach Ali revealed that the HPS school’s team was the youngest in the tournament. “Our team had the youngest players in the tournament while other teams had players ranging from 16 to 18,” said Ali. “Even then our team was able to level the series after which the organising committee arranged a penalty shootout to decide the winner of the tournament, which we won by 3-2 to bring the trophy home.”

Ali also revealed that the team was accommodated in the hostel of the Azlan Shah Stadium, which increased the confidence of the youngsters. “The players were accommodated in the sports hostels of the Azlan Shah Stadium, where the international team of Pakistan is facilitated every year for Azlan Shah Tournament,” he said. “This had increased their confidence and made them feel like a star all thanks to the organisers.”

He also recalled that HPS has been a hub of producing international players in the golden days of Pakistan hockey. “As our national team participated less in the international matches and failed to win the tournaments that they once ruled, the interest of the students decreased,” he explained.


PHOTO COURTESY: HPS

“Following the low interest of the student, the HPS management still retains interest in the national game, and thus decided to help the new Pakistan Hockey Federation management in reviving the sport’s lost glory by working on grass root level as HPS has around 2000 students enrolled.

“We held trials and started coaching again with one period of an hour, four days a week to give hockey training along with swimming and we gradually able to produce a fair team. We’re happy that they ended up winning the tournament on their first international trip sponsored by ex-habibians in Tapal and California Pizza.”

Ali further added that the reception of the winners had been postponed due to the examinations. “This ceremony and especially the trophy has increased the interest of the students in this game and now we have around 55 students training for hockey with age group from U10 to U18,” he added.

Meanwhile, Ipoh’s Mayor Dato Rahim along with Tourism Officer Hanim also facilitated the students by arranging a trip to Taiping Zoo, Lost world of Tampun and Safari followed by a boat trip up to the point where they could feed the sea eagles.

The Express Tribune

Legendary Resham Bains to receive FIH's Order of Merit award

By BRIAN YONGA


Resham Bains unveils the Kenya Hockey Union logo on May 1, 2013 at City Park Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

Former Kenyan international Resham Bains will receive hockey's Order of Merit in November for his exemplary service to the game, Federation of International Hockey (FIH) announced on Thursday.

Bains, who played hockey for Kenya during the 1971 World Cup in Barcelona and at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, will receive the award that is granted to members of FIH for distinguished service over a period of at least 10 years for exceptional contribution towards the sport.

"It will be a befitting tribute for my former opponent on the field to receive the award during the same month I will be leaving office after serving at the helm of hockey for eight years," FIH President Leandro Negre said Thursday in a statement in its website.

Bains, a former Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) chairman, will become the second Kenyan to receive the award after Hardial Singh was honoured by the world governing body in 1984.

The Olympian was one of the players who were honoured on Monday night during Sikh Union Club’s Mahan Hall of Fame launch.

The Mahan Hall of Fame, which was officially inaugurated by Negre, is a tribute to all the Olympic, World Cup and national team players who have held the stick over the last 85 years.

Negre, a former Spanish goalkeeper, called on the government invest more in hockey so as to restore the sport back to its glory days.

Bains, who served as KHU president between 2005 and 2013, played in the half-back position and took up umpiring after retiring in 1975.

He served as a member of the FIH Umpiring Committee from 2003-2005, vice-president of the Africa Hockey Federation and is a member of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Noc-K).

“I am humbled at the recognition and I hope the award will inspire others to continue working to ensure the sport's image is restored,” Bains told Daily Nation Sport.

Meanwhile, Kenya is likely to host the 2016 Africa Club Championship tournament after Zimbabwe pulled out of hosting the annual continental club event.

KHU chair Nahashon Randiek said the Hockey Association of Zimbabwe had pulled out of hosting the event due to financial constraints.

“With Zimbabwe out of the running to host the event and no other country willing to take it, we are in discussion with African Hockey Federation to see if we will host the event,” he said.

Kenya last hosted the event in 2009 with Telkom Orange winning the women’s event.

Daily Nation

Supporting National Growth in Serbia


2016 Coaches SNG Serbia   

Nine young coaches from  Serbia, Bulgaria and FYROM met in Zrenjanin, Serbia last weekend (16 -18 September) to prepare for their FIH Academy/EHF Level 1 Coach award. Three of the coaches were women, who came from three different towns in Serbia.

Coach Educators Norman Hughes and Antonio Antonov were present and held several sessions throughout the weekend, including styles of communication, and the role of the coach. Saturday saw the group spend a full day on the pitch, discussing how to best coach for basic skills with a group of U12 children.


2016 Coaches SNG Serbia

The skills covered included:

·         The grips
·         Moving/Running with the Ball
·         Passing skills
·         Defensive skills
·         Goal scoring skills

Another hands on lesson on Sunday, when local hockey beginners joined the group and were coached by each delegate for a 20 minute mini session. These practical sessions were the final component to the assessment needed to complete the Level 1. All nine coaches succeeded in their practical assessments.


2016 Coaches SNG Serbia

The Balkan region has now gained nine new motivated coaches who have the desire and responsibility to share their knowledge in their region. This was another great example of EHF staff and volunteers delivering in partnership with FIH Academy and the National Federations.

EHF would like to thank Serbian Hockey Federation for hosting the seminar in what will become the new hockey town of Zrenjanin.

EuroHockey media release