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News for 01 November 2016

All the news for Tuesday 1 November 2016


Lions tame Tigers

by  Satwant Dhaliwal

Malaysia suffered a 3-1 defeat to England in their Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) opener on Monday night.

The English even temporarily played with eight players after three were flashed green cards in quick succession in the seventh minute, but Wallace Tan's men could not capitalise and ran out of ideas.

"We had a slow start and only got going after the opening few minutes. The second half was better but overall, we could have avoided conceding all the goals," said Wallace.

"To perform, we must be able to do well in attack and defence. We created chances but could not finish. That is something to improve against Australia tomorrow."

England broke the deadlock after 18 minutes when Nick Page found the top corner from open play, but gritty Malaysia drew level in the 23rd minute after Muhammad Anuar deflected Najib Hassan's cross into the board.

England almost immediately regained the lead through Will Calnan's penalty corner conversion in the 24th minute to silence the Taman Daya Stadium.

Malaysian custodian Azmi Ridzwan should have saved Calnan's shot but instead he allowed it to slip past his hands.

The hosts were more resilient in the second-half but England, a core of whom won the SOJC with Great Britain last year, increased their lead via Christopher Proctor's field goal in the 60th minute.

"I'm really pleased to get the first win out of the way. It was not how we wanted to play but the win sets a good momentum," said England coach Jon Bleby.

"We are here to win every game and the tournament."

Sultan of Johor Cup Official site



Pakistan serve a surprise

by  Satwant Dhaliwal

The Black Sticks got off to a poor start at the Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) after losing 5-2 to Pakistan on Monday.

New Zealand, who were put among the contenders for this edition, were stunned by Pakistan's energy in the final third.

Pakistan took a two goal lead into the halftime break with goals from Muhammad Bilal Qadir through a 22nd minute field goal and Ali Mubasshir's penalty corner in the 33rd minute.

The Black Sticks changed their rhythm as soon as the second half started and managed to pull one back through Sam Lane's field goal in the 46th minute.

Hopes of a comeback however, only lasted a couple  minutes as Rana Riaz scored from open play in the 48th minute to restore their two-goal lead.

The introduction of Mac Wilcox continued giving Pakistan problems, especially when he converted a penalty in the 59th minute and almost assisted an equaliser the very next minute. Rana again gave Pakistan a two-goal cushion, this time through a penalty corner in the 65th minute.

Pakistan skipper Muhammad Dilber made it 5-2 seconds before the final hooter.

"All the teams are still saving their best and have not fielded their strongest yet ... but beating a team like New Zealand will provide a psychological advantage ahead of the Junior World Cup in Lucknow, India," said Pakistan coach Zaman Tahir.

New Zealand coach Bryce Collins admitted Pakistan played well but his captain Brad Read wasn't too concerned after the match.

"Although we lost, we kept our attacking momentum. We were a bit unlucky to miss some of the chances created," he said.

Sultan of Johor Cup Official site



Aussies hit Japan for a sixer

by  Satwant Dhaliwal

Australia opened their campaign with a 6-0 win over Japan in the Sultan of Johor Cup at Taman Daya Stadium on Monday.

The Burras were clearly the more superior side, forcing the Japanese to sit back for most parts of the match in Johor Bahru. Australia would be keen to avoid last year's outing where they finished second from last.

"A good win indeed, especially under challenging conditions. Going against Malaysia tomorrow be another demanding match," said Australian coach Ben Bishop.

"Our penalty conversions got things going for us against Japan. We've been practicing that and hope it will be key for us.

Australia opened the scoring through Andrew Scanlon's penalty corner conversion after just six minutes. The men in yellow also had a goal ruled out minutes earlier.

Kiran Arunasalam doubled the lead from open play in the 19th minute before Joshua Simmonds made it three nil four minutes later.
Japan forced two penalty corners on the counter but failed to make any use of it as Australia later stretched their lead to five with goals from Max Hendry and Tom Craig. Hendry doubled his tally seconds before the hooter.

"Australia were too strong for us. The gulf of class was obvious and we lack experience at this stage. We need to challenge harder," said Japan's Mizami Takayasu.

Sultan of Johor Cup Official site



The Land of the Rising Sun debut in SOJC

Satwant Dhaliwal
 
Talented Japan are competing in the Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) for the first time since the under-21 competition was introduced in 2011.
Like  four other competing nations - Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and England - Japan too are using the SOJC as a platform to give their players a run before the Junior World Cup in Lucknow, India in December.

Japan, who will compete at the world meet for only the second time after doing so in 2009, have five experienced players that have earned caps with the seniors squad.

Miyu Tanimitsu, Shuhei Hatano, Shinichi Kamezaki, Kaito Tanaka dan Koji Yamasaki are among the players to take note at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Bahru starting next Monday.

Japan start their tournament with a big challenge against Australia on October 31, following by New Zealand and England on November 1 and 2 respectively.

Hosts Malaysia, the only team that will not compete at the Junior World Cup, awaits Japan on Nov 4 before ending the round-robin stage against Pakistan.
Although no big hope has been place on this Japanese side, they are still dangerous and have determination in their players. Japan are capable of being a darkhorse at the SOJC.

Sultan of Johor Cup Official site



Olympian Govers stays humble with under-21s

by  Satwant Dhaliwal

Australian forward Blake Govers insists he is just another player in the Burras squad at the  Sultan of Johor Cup.   

Govers, who has already made a step up to the Australian senior team, is as excited to play for the under-21 despite having already turned out in the Olympics.

"I'm eager to play at the Junior World Cup and this SOJC is an important step for our preparations," said Govers, who's brother Kieran is also an international.

"Having played for the Kookaburras, it's really the same preparation for the juniors. For myself, I'm trying not to overplay things and fit into the team ... it's me that needs to fit in, not the other way around.

"The Olympics in Rio de Janeiro was a massive learning curve although the results didn't go our way."

Govers' rise saw him go from the national development squad to the senior team in less than a year, making his full international debut at the Hobart International Challenge last year.

Govers was also a member of the Australian side that won the Oceania Cup, World League Semi-final and World League Final in 2015.

He still looked to be fitting into the sqaud in Australia's opening day 6-0 win over Japan at Taman Daya Stadium on Monday. He did not get on the scoresheet but felt the match was good warm-up to presumably tougher matches in coming days - including hosts Malaysia on Tuesday.

"We felt in control in the first half but only made things harder for ourselves in the second. Fortunately we got out of gear towards the end," said Govers.

The SOJC is the final tournament before the Junior World Cup in Lucknow, India in December. Australia lost to eventual winners Australia in the quarter-finals at the 2013 world meet.

Sultan of Johor Cup Official site



Burras victorious on day 1

Defeat Japan 6 - 0 at Sultan of Johor

Holly MacNeil



Day one of the 2016 Sultan of Johor Cup has taken place, with Australia delivering Japan a crushing 6 – nil defeat.

Australia were on fire from the beginning, with Andrew Scanlon socking a penalty corner straight in past goalkeeper Keita Matsuda in only the sixth minute of play.

It was exactly what the Burras needed, as they went on to score another two goals in the first half spurred on from the motivation of Scanlons earlier goal. It was Kiran Arunasalam who knocked in the first field goal of the match, with Joshua Simmonds flicking in a second penalty corner at minute 23.

The second half saw Max Hendry score a golden double with a field goal at minute 61, followed up by a field goal from Tom Craig at minute 63, before Hendry went on to score his second of the match giving the Burra’s the clear win over Japan.

The Burras take on Malaysia on day 2 of the Sultan of Johor Cup.

BURRAS 6 (3)
Andrew Scanlon 6 (PC)
Kiran Arunasalam 19 (FG)
Joshua Simmonds 23 (PC)
Max Hendry FG, FG (61, 70)
Tom Craig FG (63)

JAPAN 0 (0)

Full results from Day 1:
AUS 6 – 0 JPN
NZL 2 – 5 PAK
ENG 3 - 1 MAS

Hockey Australia media release



NZ Under 21s overcome by Pakistan


Photo: Megat Firdaus

The New Zealand Under 21 Men have been defeated 5-2 by Pakistan in their opening game at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia.

Pakistan opened a two goal lead through a Muhammad Bilal Qadir field goal in the 22nd minute and Ali Mubasshir's penalty corner just out from halftime.

New Zealand changed their rhythm early in the second half and pulled one back through Sam Lane's field goal in the 46th minute.

Hopes of a comeback only lasted a couple of minutes as Rana Riaz scored from open play to restore Pakistan’s two goal buffer.

The introduction of Mac Wilcox gave Pakistan problems, especially when he converted a penalty corner in the 59th minute and almost assisted an equaliser the very next minute.

Rana again gave Pakistan a two goal cushion, this time through a penalty corner in the 65th minute before skipper Muhammad Dilber made it 5-2 seconds before the final hooter.

New Zealand captain Brad Read said Pakistan played well while his side missed some quality chances.

“Although we lost the game, we kept our attacking momentum throughout. We were a bit unlucky to miss some of the chances created which could have changed the result,” he said.

New Zealand play Japan next at the tournament at 9:00pm tonight (NZ time).

Hockey New Zealand Media release



Malaysia lose opening game to England in Johor

by Mohd Farhaan Shah


England's Josh Pavis (in white) tussles for the ball with Malaysia's Rafizul Mustafa (left) and Aiman Nik Rosemi during the Sultan of Johor Cup at Taman Daya Stadium. - ABDUL RAHMAN EMBONG / The Star

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia began the Sultan of Johor Cup hockey tournament on a sour note after losing 3-1 to England.

Holders England silenced the home fans at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium on Monday by taking the lead through Nick Page’s field goal in the 18th minute.

But Malaysia replied four minutes later when forward Mohamad Akhimullah Anuar Esook converted Muhammad Najib Abu Hassan’s pass in the 22nd minute.

But it took England just two minutes to restore their lead again when Will Calnan converted a penalty corner in the 24th minute.

Christopher Proctor then made it 3-1 in the 57th minute to put the game out of Malaysia’s reach.

Malaysia coach Wallace Tan said the team played well but were let down by poor finishing.

“We need to convert our chances. In our next game, we will focus on our defence as we already have the right set-up in attack,” said Wallace, whose team face Australia today.

Earlier, Australia thrashed Japan 6-0 to lead the standings in the six-team Under-21 tournament. Andrew Scanlon (sixth minute), Kiran Arunasalam (19th), Joshou Simmonds (23rd), Max Hendrey (61st and 70th) and Tom Craig (63rd) were the scorers.

In the other match, a brace by Rana Riza inspired Pakistan to a 5-2 win over New Zealand. Rana was on target in the 48th and 65th minutes. Muhammad Bilal Qadir (22nd), Ali Mubasshir (33rd) and Mohammad Dilber (70th) contributed the other goals. Sam Lane (46th) and Max Wilcox (59th) netted for the Kiwis.

The Star of Malaysia



Pakistan juniors cruise through against NZ

By Nabil Tahir

KARACHI: The Pakistan Junior hockey team began their journey at the Sultan of Johor Hockey Cup with a 5-2 win over New Zealand in Johor Bahru, Malaysia yesterday.

New Zealand, playing in the tournament for the first time, were stunned by Pakistan’s energy as the Greenshirts took a two-goal lead into the halftime break. Muhammad Bilal Qadir opened the scoring through a 22nd minute field goal before Ali Mubashir’s penalty corner in the 33rd minute made it 2-0.

The Black Sticks changed their rhythm in the second half and pulled one back straight away through Sam Lane’s field goal in the 46th minute. Hopes of a comeback, however, only lasted a couple of minutes as Rana Riaz scored from open play in the 48th minute to restore Pakistan’s two-goal lead.

But Mac Wilcox made it 3-2 as he pounced on a penalty corner rebound in the 59th minute to set the cat among the pigeons.

New Zealand were forced to go in search of a late equaliser, which allowed Pakistan to play on the counter and pick them off. Rana Sohail was the first to benefit, delightfully deflecting home a Mohsin Sabir cross before skipper Dilber got on the scoresheet seconds before the final hooter to make it 5-2.

“All the teams are saving their best for later and haven’t fielded their strongest sides yet, but beating a team like New Zealand will provide a psychological advantage ahead of the Junior World Cup in India,” Pakistan coach Tahir Zaman told The Express Tribune. “More difficult matches are yet to come.”

New Zealand coach Bryce Collins admitted Pakistan played well but his captain Brad Read wasn’t too concerned after the match.

“Although we lost, we kept our attacking momentum. We were a bit unlucky to miss some of the chances created,” said Read.

The Express Tribune



Hockey India should retain coach Roelant Oltmans, says Viren Rasquinha

The former India captain believes that India must now transfer the Asian Champions Trophy form on to the international stage.


India coach Roeland Oltmans’ contract runs out next year. (Photo: AFP)

Mumbai: Former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha has been impressed with the progress made by current coach Roelant Oltmans, and believes that the country’s federation should do everything in their power to keep the Dutchman for the national team.

India reigned supreme at the recently concluded Asian Champions Trophy, in Kuantan, with a satisfying 3-2 win over arch-rivals Pakistan, on Sunday.

This win comes a few months after India defeated their arch-rivals to qualify for the Rio Olympics, earlier this year. While India have been impressive under Oltmans, their performance at the Rio Olympics left much to be desired.

Regarded as one of the many medal prospects for the country in Rio, India could only progress to the quarterfinals, where they suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of Belgium.

While Oltmans’ contract as the head coach of the men’s national team and the High Performance Director for Hockey India comes to an end next year, there has been talk of retaining the 62-year-old.

Ex-captain Viren Rasquinha said, that India should try and retain Oltmans, as the Dutchman has familiarised himself with how the sport is being governed in the country.

“Hockey Coach Roelant Oltmans knows the Indian system well. We should retain him,” said Rasquinha in an interview with NDTV.

The 36-year-old also went on to praise the national team, saying that any win against Pakistan is a big one.

“The composure of the current Indian hockey team is better than previous sides,” he said. “It's always great to defeat Pakistan in hockey. The rivalry goes back a long way.”

However, the 36-year-old, who is now the CEO of Olympic Gold Quest, an initiative that funds Indian athletes for their training, also said that the Indians must now carry this win forward from the continental to the international stage.

“Indian hockey team should now try to win tournaments at world level.”

Deccan Chronicle



Oltmans to be around till 2020

Sabi Hussain

It’s raining good news for Roelant Oltmans, chief coach of the Indian men’s hockey team. A day after guiding India to a title triumph at the prestigious Asian Champions Trophy in Malaysia, it has been learnt that the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has decided to extend the Dutchman’s contract till the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

His contract was to expire in January 2017, but SAI has agreed to Hockey India’s (HI) proposal to renew his contract for another four years after the men’s senior and junior teams logged in some impressive results under his mentorship. 

Besides, Oltmans would be relieved of his duties as high performance director; he would now work solely as the chief coach to prepare the team for the next Olympics. He was originally roped in as the high performance director in January 2013, but had been performing the dual role since the exit of chief coach Paul Van Ass in August last year.

John next high performance director

Australia’s David Ian John, a highly respected and experienced exercise physiologist, who had worked with the Indian men’s team for almost 18 months in the run-up to the London Olympics, will be the new high performance director, a senior SAI official told The Tribune.

A formal contract would be worked out in the coming days and John would be paid $15,000 per month, the same salary as drawn by Oltmans. It is learnt that John’s name was recommended by Oltmans as the Australian had done quite well during his earlier stint with the team. He had played a pivotal role in improving the team’s fitness, and the team secured a couple of podium finishes, including a gold at the Asian Champions Trophy, during his stint.  John’s contract will also run till the Tokyo Olympics, and he would oversee the development of both the senior and junior sides.

Under Oltmans, India have had four podium finishes — bronze at the World League Final last December, silver at the Champions Trophy in June, silver at the Azlan Shah Cup in April, and gold at the Asian Champions Trophy.

At the Rio Olympics, though, they finished eighth, which had raised doubts about his continuation. SAI and HI, however, feel that the team has shown noteworthy improvement under the Dutch. “The national side has been playing impressively with Oltmans at the helm. SAI doesn’t want to break the momentum,” the SAI official added.

The Tribune



A reiteration of India’s gradual growth: Sreejesh

Sardar was the architect of some of the most crucial goals

Uthra Ganesan


STAY CLINICAL: Roelant Oltmans asked his players to prioritise strategy over emotion.   

For once, it was the absence of acrimony that marked an India-Pakistan hockey game even as India reclaimed the Asian Champions Trophy with a 3-2 win over the two-time defending champion in the final to level it 2-2 in terms of number of titles held.

India won the inaugural edition five years ago and since then a lot has changed. Goalkeeper and captain P.R. Sreejesh missed out on the final with an ankle and hamstring injury and admitted to being disappointed. The 2011 final, against the same opponent, was the one where he first came into the spotlight by saving two penalties.

“It definitely was a little disappointing but I was confident. I knew we had it in us. I was a bit nervous because I have more experience of being inside the field at such times than on the bench! We missed a few chances but we had the hope and belief,” Sreejesh said from Kuantan.

Admitting that the tournament was special for him, Sreejesh added that it was a reiteration of India’s gradual growth, that from surprise winner five years back, it was considered favourite this time.

“We also proved that the Asian Games win was not a fluke,” he said. He is, however, likely to miss out on the upcoming four-nation event and the subsequent test series in Australia, concentrating instead on rehabilitation and strengthening over the next couple of months.

If Sreejesh became Indian hockey’s new hero after 2011, this edition did the same for the likes of Affan Yousuf and Nikkin Thimmaiah, both scoring goals in the final, and Akash Chikte, who replaced Sreejesh in three games including the title clash and impressed.

“I was lucky to get the goal but the victory was not all luck, we had planned and prepared for it and knew we could do it,” Thimmaiah said.

Coach Roelant Oltmans, though, has set his sights higher. Going into the tournament with three or four core players missing and then losing two more for the title clash was the perfect occasion for him to test the bench and he would have been pleased with the outcome. That he did not risk Sreejesh despite the high stakes against Pakistan was noteworthy.

“The pre-match meeting before the final was actually much shorter than normal,” Sreejesh said. “The coach spoke little but only reminded us repeatedly that it was time to put strategies over emotions. When we play with with emotions, we make mistakes.

“The coach only said, ‘pick up any data, any video, any statistics from the last few years and you will see that we are better in everything. We are a better team, we are a more skilled team, we are the higher-ranked team. All you have to do is keep control of the game and avoid your emotions’. It helped.”

The result was one of the cleanest India-Pakistan games ever with few cautions and no violence.

Five years ago was also when Sardar Singh had inexplicably and abruptly walked out of the preparatory camp for the tournament, along with Sandeep Singh, inviting censure and disciplinary action. As the senior-most player in the side now, he was the fulcrum of India’s attacks, proving his class and setting up goals for the forwards from either flank.

Mellowed with age and enriched by experience, the midfielder was the architect of some of the most crucial goals for India, including the winner against Pakistan and the equaliser against Korea in the semifinals.

The Hindu



‘Great feeling to score winner against Pakistan’

Shreedutta Chidananda


Nikkin Thimmaiah.

Nikkin Thimmaiah may have scored only two goals in the Asian Champions Trophy, but he’s not exactly downbeat because one of them was the late winner over Pakistan in the final.

“Scoring the winning goal against Pakistan is a totally different feeling,” he said from Malaysia on Monday.

“It feels great. The coach (Roelant Oltmans) and the physio (Shrikant Iyengar) had told me I’d score. I told the physio I’d celebrate with him if that came true. I kept my word.”

The quality of some of the opposition may have been debatable, but Nikkin insisted that the Asian Champions Trophy was still an important tournament. “We hadn’t won this after 2011. Pakistan, Malaysia and South Korea are all good sides.

“So it was important for us to perform well here. We dominated the league stages and totally deserved to win this,” he said.
Could have played better

The 25-year-old from Virajpet admitted, though, that India could have played better in the final. “For a couple of minutes, we failed to stick to our game plan. In the third quarter, we were off balance for a bit.

“There was a lot of pressure from Pakistan. We had to hold the ball better. But in the fourth quarter, we bounced back and controlled the game,” he said.

India was without the services of S.V. Sunil, also from Karnataka, in attack. This meant that the other forwards had to shoulder extra responsibility up front. “He’s a great player. Unfortunately, he was injured and we missed him here,” Nikkin said.

“Ramandeep (Singh) was there with me. Akashdeep (Singh), Talwinder (Singh), Affan (Yousuf) and Lalit (Upadhyay) all did well. Ramandeep and I had to take the responsibility and we did that.

“We forwards spent a bit of time together at the hotel, and spoke about what we had to do on the field. That helped.”

Nikkin felt he had demonstrated improvement in his game at the ACT. “Before the Olympics, I did not match the standards I had set for myself,” he said.

“But I’ve been gradually improving since. In Rio de Janeiro and here, I was much better.

“My receiving was not good enough, nor was my running with the ball and my passing. I worked on all of those issues and got the results.”

The Hindu



Birendra Lakra's honesty wins hearts in Hockey Asian Champions Trophy final vs Pakistan

NEW DELHI: Birendra Lakra, the Indian hockey player, presented a shining example of sportsman spirit in a hotly contested Asian Champions Trophy final against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.

India won the close contest 3-2 but not before surviving few anxious moments as Pakistan searched for an equalizer to keep their fight alive. It was during one such phase, in the final quarter of the match, when Lakra's gesture left everyone pleasantly surprised which could have potentially proved a dangerous proposition for his own team.

Lakra was hit on his leg as Pakistan made a late surge towards the Indian goal and immediately, their players appealed for a penalty corner. The on-field referee wasn't confident about their claim and consequently they had to make use of their final referral.

Seeing what was happening, Lakra approached the referee and told him what transpired, requesting him to not use Pakistan's referral.

A surprised referee halted the review process and awarded Pakistan the penalty corner. Later on, each Pakistani player was seen patting the Indian fullback on his back, praising him for his honesty in a pressure-cooker situation. The immediately assembled for the penalty corner but made a hash of it as India went on to win their second title.

Not only that, the Pakistan coach K M Junaid too hugged Lakra for his act, expressing his gratitude for the act.

India not only won the game on the field, but through Lakra, won the hearts and minds of fans belonging to either side of the border.

The Times of India



We now want to be best in the world: Sreejesh

Prasanth Menon

KOCHI: It's a tournament that catapulted PR Sreejesh into the spotlight as his stunning saves against Pakistan in a penalty shootout helped India triumph in the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy tournament at Ordos, China in 2011. Five years on, Sreejesh, now regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, led India to their second ACT crown on Sunday.

Even though he had little part to play in the final as a tore hamstring ruled him out of the game, the Indian captain is delighted at his team's achievement. "India won and that's most important. It is irrelevant whether I played or not. Obviously, I wanted to play but doctors advised me not to aggravate my injury. It's a proud moment for me as it is my first title as captain. The win is the result of teamwork. This victory is for our soldiers. Many of them would have missed their Diwali guarding our borders. It's the best we could do for them," the Indian captain told TOI from Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

India missed the services of a few of their regulars in the tournament including drag-flicker VR Raghunath but had players who stepped up and performed admirably. The skipper is pleased with the conversion rate in penalty corners with Rupinder Pal Singh emerging as the tournament's highest goalscorer.

"Rupinder was outstanding and his success rate augurs well for the team. But let's give credit to the others involved in the process - the pushers and the stoppers," he said.

Though Sreejesh feels that India could have done better than a quarterfinal appearance in Rio Olympics, the 30-year-old reckons that the Asian Games gold medal in 2014 and the victory in Malaysia now has made them the best team of Asia. But he thinks that the team needs to improve a lot to emerge as world beaters.

"Undoubtedly, we are the best in Asia. The hard work we have put in the last five years has made us more consistent. Our target is to become world's best. But the European level is a few notches above the Asian level. If we have to reach that level, we have to play them consistently and our game will improve even further. We should aim to win bigger titles - the Champions Trophy, Hockey World League, World Cup and Olympics. We are on the right track but we need to work even harder to beat top sides like Australia, Argentina, Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium. And this group is willing to put in those extra yards," said Sreejesh.

One of the key reasons for India's excellent performance in the recent past is the role played by chief hockey coach Roelant Oltmans. The Indian captain gave the Dutchman's work ethic a big thumbs-up.

"The biggest quality about Roelant is his understanding. He understands the game really well and makes changes according to situations. He understands the players really well and tries to get the best out of them. Moreover, in the last few years, he has been able to develop a core group of players. His faith and perseverance in them are paying off," Sreejesh said as he prepared to go for treatment on his injured leg.

The injury is likely to keep him out of action for at least a month.

The Times of India



Rupinder credits team's unity for title triumph

Manuja Veerappa

BENGALURU: If dragflick ace Rupinder Pal Singh is given the task of picking his favourite hunting ground, he won't have to look beyond Malaysia. It was here that he made his international debut in 2010 - as part of the gold-winning Indian team at the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament. His first international hat-trick too came in the same tournament a year later.

And, on Sunday he played a key role in ensuring India reclaimed the Asian Champions Trophy crown, with a 3-2 verdict against arch-rivals Pakistan in Kuantan, Malaysia.

While the win was hailed as a perfect Diwali gift to the nation by many, the 26-year-old from Punjab believes it is testimony of the team's unity and ability to back each other. As the highest ranked Asian side (world No.6), PR Sreejesh and his men were pre-tournament favourites, but what makes the victory count is the way in which the youngsters have stood up. Be it Yousuf Affan in the forward line or Akash Chikte in the goal, the rookie players were far from cookies that crumbled under pressure.

Rupinder, who emerged the highest scorer of the tournament with 11 goals told TOI on Monday: "There were a number of players who didn't have much of a big-match exposure. With them, we ensured they never felt the senior-junior difference. We always tell them, irrespective of the years we have put in, we all work towards a common goal."

Praising Chikte, who stood in goal in place of an injured skipper PR Sreejesh in crucial matches including the final, the defender pointed out: "Akash is very good goalkeeper who has been improving mentally and game-wise with each match. He played with a very positive mindset and didn't get nervous. We never made him feel he had big shoes to fill. Before and during the match, I made it a point to communicate with him to calm nerves and cheer him up."

Assessing the team's run, the 6'4" tall Olympian, said: "We wanted to win the title badly because we didn't want to end up third time unlucky. We had lost two finals - Azlan Shah and Champions Trophy - in recent times, so, we told ourselves we have to win this at any cost."

Apart from his goal conversion, Rupinder also shouldered the responsibilities in the backline. In the absence of VR Raghunath and Surender Kumar, who was suspended for the last two matches, Rupinder rarely slipped up. Talking about his scoring spree, Rupinder said: "Personally, it been a dream run. My role is that of a dragflicker and I have always wanted to contribute as much as I can in that area. I missed a few against Korea (in the drawn league match) and I know what accuracy in penalty conversion can do to a team's fortune and I didn't want to let go of that advantage.

Also, before the start of the tournament I worked on a few things and was successful in implementing them. After the Olympics we went back to the drawing board and re-worked on the penalty corner variations, especially faking in dragflicks."

The Times of India



Former hockey stars laud India's ACT title win

KOLKATA: Former national hockey team stars on Monday lauded the Indian team for winning the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT), defeating their arch-rivals in the sport Pakistan in final.

India's hockey team on Diwali gifted the country its second Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament title after beating Pakistan 3-2 in the final at the Wisma Belia Hockey Stadium in Kuantan, Malaysia, on Sunday.

India's two second-half goals from Rupinder Pal Singh (18th minute) and Affan Yousuf (23rd) were cancelled out by Aleem Bilal (26th) and Ali Shan (38th), but Nikkin Thimmaiah (51st) scored the winner for the reigning Asian Games champions.

In the third-place match, hosts Malaysia got their fourth bronze medal as they edged out south Korea via penalty shootout.

Amid the diplomatic feud between the two countries who are erstwhile hockey masters, the result of the match bore much more significance than the title.

Praising the Indian team for their performance, former national hockey team stars Gurbux Singh and Dhanraj Pillay said now the aim should be beating more accomplished teams at the world level.

"We need to fight against teams like Australia, Germany and the Netherlands. Also upcoming forces like Belgium (who beat India in the quarter-final of the Rio Olympics) and Argentina need to be quelled in order to take the next step," former India captain Pillay told IANS on Monday.

Gurbux, part of India's 1964 Olympics gold medal winning side, echoed Pillay, saying the aim should now be to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. India last won a World Cup in 1975 in Malaysia.

"World Cup should be our next target. After one year the Champions Trophy will stop and will be replaced by (Global) World League. We have been dominating Asia but it is time to look beyond that. We won a World Cup way back in 1975 and after that we have failed to put up an impressive performance on the world stage," Gurbux said.

India were world beaters at one point, winning 11 medals in 12 Olympics between 1920 and 1980.

Rupinder Pal Singh, who finished as the highest scorer, converted 11 penalty corners. Field goals were though at a premium during the tournament. Both Pillay and Gurbux expressed their concern with Pillay going to the extent of saying that selfish play is the reason for the drought inside the penalty area.

"The players are not being utilised enough. There is a lot of individuality. When we used to play, there was nothing of this sort between me and Gagan Ajit Singh or Deepak Thakur."

"I urge players to understand a simple fact that at the end of the day it is a team sport. It should not matter if Ramandeep (Singh) is scoring or Nikkin (Thimmmaiah) is scoring," Dhanraj said.

Gurbux added, "The forward line needs to improve in scoring field goals. Although there were field goals in the final, I don't see a lot of goals from open play."

"We have not conceded late goals which is a good sign. I have always said conceding goals is a worrying factor for us. Fitness is something that the Indian team has worked on a lot and is a very good aspect."

Pillay, who has been vocal about upcoming players needing financial support, shed light on the junior team beating Spain 3-1 in a four-nation Invitational Tournament ahead of the Junior World Cup in November in Lucknow, saying Hockey India and the central government have been supporting the youth teams a lot lately, and this is very important.

"Narinder Batra (Hockey India President) is going to contest for FIH (International Hockey Federation) presidency on November 12 and that is a very good sign for the state of affairs in India," he said.

"Of late, HI has supported the players a lot and so has the government. India junior team's performances in Valencia have been heartening and the junior World Cup in Lucknow is of utmost importance."

Former India striker Jagbir Singh also praised the Indian team.

"#ACT2016, Congratulations #hockeyindia Liked your confidence,attitude and dominance. Asian hockey can feel the growing gap amongst teams," Jagbir tweeted on Monday.

The Times of India



Next target should be beating stronger teams, say Gurbux and Pillay

KOLKATA: Lauding India's victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy final, former national hockey team stars Gurbux Singh and Dhanraj Pillay said now the aim should be beating more accomplished teams at the world level.

"We need to fight against teams like Australia, Germany and the Netherlands. Also upcoming forces like Belgium (who beat India in the quarter-final of the Rio Olympics) and Argentina need to be quelled in order to take the next step," former India captain Pillay told IANS on Monday.

Gurbux, part of India's 1964 Olympics gold medal winning side, echoed Pillay saying the aim should now be reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup. India last won a World Cup in 1975 in Malaysia.

"World Cup should be our next target. After one year the Champions Trophy will stop and will be replaced by (Global) World League. We have been dominating Asia but it is time to look beyond that. We won a World Cup way back in 1975 and after that we have failed to put up an impressive performance on the world stage," Gurbux said.

India were World beaters at one point winning 11 medals in 12 Olympics between 1920 and 1980.

Rupinder Pal Singh, who finished as the highest scorer, converted 11 penalty corners. Field goals were though at a premium during the tournament. Both Pillay and Gurbux expressed their concern with Pillay going to the extent of saying that selfish play is the reason for the drought inside the penalty area.

"The players are not being utilised enough. There is a lot of individuality. When we used to play, there was nothing of this sort between me and Gagan Ajit Singh or Deepak Thakur.

"I urge players to understand a simple fact that at the end of the day it is a team sport. It should not matter if Ramandeep (Singh) is scoring or Nikkin (Thimmmaiah) is scoring," Dhanraj said.

Gurbux added, "The forward line needs to improve in scoring field goals. Although there were field goals in the final, I don't see a lot of goals from open play. "We have not conceded late goals which is a good sign. I have always said conceding goals is a worrying factor for us. Fitness is something that the Indian team has worked on a lot and is a very good aspect."

Pillay, who has been vocal about upcoming players needing financial support, shed light on the junior team beating Spain 1-3 in a four-nation Invitational tournament ahead of the Junior World Cup in November in Lucknow, saying Hockey India and the central government has been supporting the youth teams a lot lately which is very important. "Narinder Batra (Hockey India president) is going to contest for FIH (International Hockey Federation) presidency on November 12 and that is a very good sign for the state of affairs in India," he said.

"Of late, HI has supported the players a lot and so has the government. India junior team's performances in Valencia have been heartening and the junior World Cup in Lucknow is of utmost importance."

The Times of India



India hockey captain PR Sreejesh 'not sure' about Australia tour participation

Bengaluru: Indian hockey captain P R Sreejesh on Monday said he is not sure about participating in the upcoming Australia tour beginning 23 November, but would try to get into the team.

"I am not sure, but I will try to make it into the team," Sreejesh told PTI after he arrived at the Kempegowda International Airport along with other players including Nikkin Thimmaih who was one of the goal scorers in Asian Championship Trophy finals.

The players arrived from Kuala Lumpur after India reclaimed the Asian Champions Trophy hockey with a hard-fought 3-2 win against the two-time defending champion Pakistan in the final to level it 2-2 in terms of number of titles held by either side.

India had won the inaugural edition five years ago. The 2011 final against Pakistan was the one where Sreejesh came into the spotlight for the first time by saving two penalties.

Sreejesh said that injury was part of the game.

"Injury is part of game - will definitely look after this and will do check-up with the doctors," he said.

India will play in the upcoming four-nation event and the subsequent Test series in Australia.

Firstpost



Scotland Women's Squad to Face Ireland

Scotland’s senior women will welcome Ireland to Glasgow for three friendly games, which will be played in Glasgow on Sunday 6 November at Titwood at 6pm; Tuesday 8 November at the National Hockey Centre at 5pm; and on Wednesday 9 November at the National Hockey Centre at 12 noon.

The squads for the three games have been announced and are as follows:

Sunday 6 Nov - Game 1 - 6pm @ Titwood

Nicola Cochrane (N/A)
Lucy Camlin (N/A)
Kareena Cuthbert (Western Wildcats)
Becky Ward (Dundee Wanderers)
Robyn Collins (Surbiton)
Rebecca Condie (University of Birmingham)
Amy Costello (University of Birmingham)
Nikki Lloyd (Wimbledon HC)
Alison Howie (Clydesdale Western)
Nicola Skrastin (N/A)
Kate Holmes (Clifton)
Heather Howie (Clydesdale Western)
Jennifer Eadie (Clydesdale Western)
Charlotte Watson (Dundee Wanderers)
Amy Brodie (Edinburgh University)
Becky Merchant (Edinburgh University)
Fiona Bruce (Clydesdale Western)
Sarah Jamieson (Grove Menzieshill)

Tuesday 8 Nov - Game 2 - 5pm @ The National Hockey Centre

Lucy Camlin (N/A)
Susan Al-Haddad (Edinburgh University)
Kareena Cuthbert (Western Wildcats)
Becky Ward (Dundee Wanderers)
Susan McGilveray (Clydesdale Western)
Robyn Collins (Surbiton)
Rebecca Condie (University of Birmingham)
Alison Howie (Clydesdale Western)
Nicola Skrastin (N/A)
Katie Robertson (Grove Menzieshill)
Mairi Drummond (Wimbledon HC)
Kate Holmes (Clifton)
Becky Merchant (Edinburgh University)
Camilla Brown (Clydesdale Western)
Fiona Bruce (Clydesdale Western)
Charlotte Watson (Dundee Wanderers)
Emma McGregor (Clydesdale Western)
Heather Lang (Clydesdale Western)

Wednesday 9 Nov - Game 3 - 12pm @ The National Hockey Centre

Lucy Alice Camlin (N/A)
Susan Al-Haddad (Edinburgh University)
Kareena Cuthbert (Western Wildcats)
Becky Merchant (Edinburgh University)
Susan McGilveray (Clydesdale Western)
Emily Newlands (Watsonians HC)
Karin Belch (Grove Menzieshill)
Nicola Skrastin (N/A)
Katie Robertson (Grove Menzieshill)
Kate Holmes (Clifton)
Mairi Drummond (Wimbledon HC)
Fiona Bruce (Clydesdale Western)
Charlotte Watson (Dundee Wanderers)
Amy Brodie (Edinburgh University)
Camilla Brown (Clydesdale Western)
Sarah Jamieson (Grove Menzieshill)
Lucy Lanigan (Clydesdale western)
Emma McGregor (Clydesdale Western)

Scottish Hockey Union media release



Scottish Women’s National League 1 serves up a couple of crackers

Other than Friday Night Lights, there were just two National League 1 fixtures played over the weekend, and both were high-scoring affairs. In the women’s top division Grove Menzieshill played host to Western Wildcats and Dundee Wanderers were at home to CALA Edinburgh.

Grove Menzieshill moved up to join Milne Craig Western at the top of the women`s first division after beating Wildcats 4-3 in a catch-up league fixture in Dundee. In a closely fought affair Katie Robertson was the catalyst for the Taysiders with a double, the other goals came from Iona Armour and Sarah Jamieson.

This was Wildcats’ first defeat of the season but the Auchenhowie side still remain in fourth place in the table.

MJV Dundee Wanderers leapfrogged Bromac Kelburne into fifth spot on goal difference after defeating bottom side CALA Edinburgh 5-0. Becca Murray, defender turned striker, scored the only goal of the first half from a penalty corner. Wanderers went on to add another four to their tally after the interval; Murray collected two more for her hat-trick while Jessica Ross and Vikki Bunce got the others.

CALA are still anchored at the bottom of the divison without a single point to their name.

Scottish Hockey Union media release



Bloemendaal’s magic eight wins from eight



Bloemendaal continued their perfect winning streak with a controversial 2-1 win over Amsterdam, making it eight wins from eight.

Justin Reid-Ross’s drag-flick put Amsterdam one up but Bloemedaal got back on terms with a crash ball touch from Tim Jenniskens.

And they got their winner with 13 minutes to go when Yannick van der Drift getting the faintest of touches – Amsterdam argued strongly that there was no touch – for the winning goal.

"That was a great moment," Van der Drift said. "It's not every day you make the winning against Amsterdam. Though I also scored in the previous game against Amsterdam but then it was not the winning one."

Bloemendaal now lead the table by six points over Amsterdam, two points ahead of Den Bosch and HGC who are in a share of third place with Kampong in fifth and Oranje Rood in sixth.

Kampong ended their weekend with two draws, coming from 2-0 down to tie with Rotterdam on Friday evening before sharing the spoils with Hurley on Sunday 1-1 with Bjorn Kellerman striking the winner with nine minutes to go.

HGC saw off Almere 4-1 with Tristan Algera netting twice. Oranje Rood won out against Tilburg 3-1, coming from a goal down. Thijs Bams had given the hosts the lead but Benjamin Stanzl levelled in the 47th minute. Mink van der Weerden scored his first of the season soon after before Milan van Baal completed the win in the 60th minute.

Euro Hockey League media release



UHC rise continues up to third in Germany



UHC Hamburg claimed four points from six this weekend, playing a spectacular 4-4 draw with Harvestehuder THC and beating Klipper 3-0 to move up to third place in the German league.

It is a far cry from their start to the campaign when they lost their first three games and only got one point out of 12.

But they have gone unbeaten since then to move from bottom to the playoff places. They closed out the first half of the season with that Klipper win thanks to two goals from Moritz Fuerste and one from Lukas Katterbach.

Coach Kais al-Saadi was not overly pleased with the performance but said he was happy with how his young side improved over the course of the campaign.

"It was nice weather and there were many spectators but it was not a game to remember," he said straight after the game.

"At the moment. I am annoyed by a weak performance from us but, in a few hours, it will certainly be detached from pride about how this team has developed in this first round. After the first match weekend, not many, including ourselves, would have expected us to be in this position."

On Saturday against HTHC, Fuerste scored six minutes from the end to earn the draw. Anton Pohling had given Harvestehuder the lead before goals from Julius Schmid swapped the lead.

HTHC scored the next two for a 3-2 lead before Peter Kohl levelled once more at 3-3. Michael Korper put Harvestehuder once more before Fuerste tied things up.

Euro Hockey League media release



Telkom Orange have one hand on hockey league trophy

By BRIAN YONGA


Audrey Omaido of Telkom Orange drags a short corner during their Kenya Hockey Union women's Premier League match against JKUAT at City Park Stadium on October 16, 2016. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

Champions Telkom Orange are just a point away from retaining their Kenya Hockey Union women’s Premier League title. The 18-time league champions thrashed Sliders 6-0 on Sunday evening to inch closer to an unprecedented 19th gong.

Kenya international Audrey Omaido struck twice in each half as Orange tore the Sliders’ defence apart in ruthless fashion. Lilian Aura and Jane Ofula were also on target during the one-sided affair. The win takes Orange’s points tally to 19 points from seven matches.

Orange will be crowned champions should they avoid defeat in their final match against Amira Sailors. Orange captain Tracy Karanja has called on her teammates to remain focused and complete their mission.

“We started the season slowly but our performances have grown with each match and I think we are in good form as the season nears its end,” Karanja told Daily Nation Sport.

“The early goals against Sliders helped us to settle and from then on, we had the confidence to get the result. We have to be focused in the final game.”

Should they slip up, second-placed Strathmore University Scorpions could claim their maiden title if they win their remaining two matches. The students beat Kenyatta University Titans 2-0 to reclaim second spot from Amira, who were held to a 0-0 by USIU Spartans.

Goals from skipper Yvonne Wanjiku and Nancy Wanjue propelled the Scorpions to 14 points, three more than Amira who are in third. Scorpions Coach Meshack Senge is hoping Amira can do his charges a favour.

“We have got to do our part which means win all our matches and hope they (Amira) can stop Orange but overall, I think it has been a good season for us, he said.

Spartans and Sliders lie in fourth and fifth places with 11 and nine points respectively. In the men’s Premier League, champions Butali Sugar Warriors ended their preliminary campaign with a 100 percent record.

Butali beat USIU 4-1 to move to 21 points from seven matches. Two-time champions Strathmore University Gladiators, who alongside Butali are through to the play-offs, beat KU Vultures 1-0 to end on 16 points.

Parklands pulled the shock of the weekend after they thrashed the 2012 champions Sikh Union Nairobi 5-2 to finish fourth in Pool A, a point behind Nakuru who have nine points.

League newcomers Chase Sailors put the disappointment of failing to reach the play-offs behind them with a 5-2 win over Parkroad Badgers in a Pool B encounter. Kenya Police and Greensharks qualified for the play-offs from the pool.

Daily Nation



Hockey Maharashtra, Association of Indian Universities win first ever 5-a-side national championship

Hockey Maharashtra and the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), on 31 October, were crowned champions of the 1st Hockey India 5-a-side National Championship for Men and Women respectively.

In the men's final, the hosts Hockey Maharashtra pipped Hockey Haryana 7-6 in a hotly contested final. The two teams traded goals in the first period, Mandeep Antil's goals (2', 4') cancelled out by Vikram Pillay (3') and Yuvraj Walmiki (6'). In the final minute of the period though, Preetinder Singh scored to give Haryana the lead.

It was Maharashtra's second period barrage though that gave them the eventual victory. Goals by Walmiki (12'), Rajat Sharma (14'), Pillay (16') and Girish Pimpale (19') were enough eventually to see them to victory and make them the inaugural champions of the tournament.

In the third place game for the men's championship, Hockey Odisha beat Hockey Karnataka 10-9 in a close and hard fought encounter.

In the women's final, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) defeated Hockey Haryana 3-2. Reena Rani scored the opener for AIU in the 4th minute, a strike that was cancelled out by Neha for Haryana in the 8th minute of the game.

The second period went goal less. Haryana took the lead in the 24th minute and looked to be heading to victory. AIU struck twice in the final two minutes, first through Rani in the 29th and then Pooja Rani in the 30th, to take a brilliant comeback victory and win the Championship.

In the third place game in the Women Championship, Hockey Punjab beat Hockey Maharashtra 3-1 in a shootout.

Catch News



No. 3 UConn staves off No. 12 BC in overtime

UConn Athletics


The Huskies enter the Big East tournament as the No. 1 seed. UConn Athletics

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The No. 3 UConn field hockey team picked up major momentum heading into the Big East Tournament with a thrilling 4-3 win over No. 12 Boston College in overtime on Sunday afternoon.

The Huskies (18-1, 7-0 Big East) bested the Eagles (10-8, 3-3 ACC) when junior Casey Umstead scored a goal in the 84th-minute off a penalty stroke, sealing the victory for UConn in the final game of the regular season.

Junior Charlotte Veitner, senior Anna Middendorf and freshman Barbara van den Hoogen each scored for UConn in the win. Veitner and Middendorf both scored in the 64th minute – helping the Huskies get to overtime.

Freshman Svea Boker had two assists, putting her season total at 13 – tied for second-most on the team. Umstead added an assist, prior to scoring the game-winner.

Redshirt junior goalkeeper Nina Klein had six saves for the Huskies, including a pair in overtime to keep the game tied. UConn had a 16-11 shots advantage on Sunday, as BC goalkeeper Audra Hampsch had six saves of her own.

Prior to playing in the Big East Tournament as the No. 1 seed, the Huskies were able to outlast Boston College – despite a late deficit. Trailing 2-1, Middendorf scored in the 64thminute to tie the game off a corner shot from the right side of the circle. 

Just 21 seconds later, Veitner scored on a shot from the center of the circle to regain UConn the lead at 3-2. In the 68th minute, the Eagles tallied the equalizer when Eryn McCoy scored to bring the game to overtime.

Late in the first overtime, UConn earned a penalty stroke to be taken by Umstead. The junior defender converted, making her 8-for-8 on penalty strokes this season, and the Huskies finished the regular season with an 18-1 record.

Veitner’s goal gives her 207 career points, just six away from tying Lauren Henderson for the most all-time points in program history.

UConn enters the Big East Tournament as the top seed and will play No. 4 Temple on Friday in the Big East semifinals. The Owls are hosting the tournament, so the game will be played at Howarth Field at 1 p.m. (ET).

If the Huskies win on Friday, they will play for their fifth-straight Big East Tournament championship on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. (ET) against either No. 2 Liberty or No. 3 Providence.

NCAA



Cal field hockey prepares for America East Conference Championships

By Lucy Schaefer


Daniel Ho

November Madness. The new month beckons the postseason field hockey tournament, where anything can happen.

The Cal field hockey team will certainly be relying on some of the magic of collegiate athletics to pull it through the America East Conference Championships, which start Thursday. Facing a four-game losing streak, the Bears will be looking to prove they can truly contend with their conference opponents.

“I knew from the start that it was about putting it together at the end of the season,” said Cal head coach Shellie Onstead. “I was always pretty sure we would be looking to make a move in the conference tournament.”

Cal (4-12) will be facing Maine (13-6) on Friday in Stockton, where all the games are being played, in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

The tournament is single-elimination with only three rounds. That means that if Cal triumphs over Maine, it will already be in the semifinals. A winner will be decided by Sunday.

“We are playing Maine, so the girls are stoked about that,” Onstead said. “This week we need to work on getting everybody nice and rested. We need to tune up our midfield steals, as we have not generated enough goals the last couple games.”

Earlier this season, the Bears logged an impressive 3-1 win over the Black Bears, despite junior goalkeeper Kori Griswold being concussed in the previous game. After losing backup goalie freshman Danielle Mentink, Cal played the first 25 minutes without a goalie at all but rather a kicking back. For the remainder of the game, fifth-year senior Lexi Collins suited up and went into the goal. Collins managed to make four saves throughout the game, and her attitude contributed immensely to the win.

The success for the Bears that game can also be attributed to the hard work of the defense and the range of players that were involved in goal-scoring plays. In order to record a repeat win, Cal first and foremost will have to channel positive energy despite recent road bumps in the season.

The five defenders that played the entirety of the last matchup — sophomore Keats Iwanaga, freshmen Kyra Kent and Femke Delissen, junior Mara Gutierrez and senior Monica Marrazzo — will have to be extremely focused to stop Maine’s offensive advances.

And Maine will have no such shortage.

Since their loss to Cal, the Black Bears have gone 3-1, namely logging a 4-1 win over Vermont — a team to whom the Bears lost.

If Cal comes out on top against Maine, it will be playing the winner of the Stanford-UMass Lowell game, both of which have worse records than Maine. At this point, however, the Bears should not get ahead of themselves. The key to success for this tournament is to take it one step at a time, starting with focusing on preparations for the Maine game.

“I was less concerned with the win-loss record in the regular season than making sure we were ready for post-season,” Onstead said. “I certainly expected to have a better record at this point, but it is nice that the format is anyone can make a run now.”

The Daily Californian



Polovnikoff on her way to Black Sticks goal

By Andrew Johnsen


Samantha Polovnikoff will be gaining invaluable experience as a travelling observer in the Black Sticks squad for the Trans-Tasman Trophy. Photo/Michael Cunningham

2015 Northland Secondary Schools Sportswoman of the Year Samantha Polovnikoff is one step closer to reaching her ultimate goal in hockey.

Polovnikoff has been selected as a travelling observer for Mark Hager's Black Sticks squad as they take on Australia in the inaugural Trans-Tasman Trophy.

Fellow Northlander Stacey Michelsen is the most experienced member of the squad, having played 216 matches for the side.

Polovnikoff was incredibly excited after hearing the news of her selection.

"I was emailed by Mark and I was very thrilled just to be given the opportunity," she said.

"I instantly forwarded the email to my parents and called them. They were just excited as me about the opportunity I was given."

Polovnikoff impressed when she turned out for Northland in the National Hockey League, played in Whangarei in September.

The striker scored a team-high three goals in the tournament and was a constant threat on attack.

Polovnikoff said the role she has been selected in will be invaluable for her.

"As a travelling observer it means I will travel with the Black Sticks during this Trans-Tasman series and get to observe, learn and experience what the Black Sticks environment is like by watching the games and seeing all the 'behind the scenes' work," she said.

"I've been training six times a week in my preparations. On two or three of these days I have been involved with the some of the Black Sticks in Auckland."

Hager said the Trans-Tasman Trophy is the first step in the next Olympic cycle leading into the 2020 Tokyo Games.

"It's a fresh start for us after a tough Rio campaign and we have eight players who played there and are keen to get straight back to business," he said.

"We've named a high quality group for the Trans-Tasman Trophy with plenty of players who have the opportunity to showcase their skills and put pressure on some of the more senior athletes for places in next year's squad, which will be named in December."

"This series is a great learning experience for all our players against an opposition who is in a similar transitional phase after the Olympics."

The series begins on November 17 at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland.

The Northern Advocate

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