Welcome to the Fieldhockey.com Archives

All the news for Wednesday 4 January 2017

PIA to clash with NBP in final



LAHORE: Defending champions Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) qualified for the final of the 63rd National Hockey Championship by winning their respective semi-finals at National Hockey Stadium Lahore here on Tuesday.

PIA defeated Pakistan WAPDA 6-4 while National Bank defeated Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) 2-0. In the first semifinal, Zubair Khan opened the account for PIA in the seventh minute followed by an 18th minute equaliser by WAPDA's Rana Umair. WAPDA came out flying in the second half as Ejaz Ali scored a quick-fire brace to hand his side a 3-1 lead.

PIA, however, made a remarkable recovery from that point as they countered with three goals of their own in a frantic five-minute spell. Kashif Ali and Shafqat Rasool scored in the 38th and 39th minute before the former hit two more in 43rd and 53rd minutes to complete his hat-trick. Muhammad Waseem got one back for WAPDA in the final minute of the third quarter before Shafqat scored his team's final goal to complete a 6-4 triumph.

In the second semifinal, Dilber Hussain and Ammad Butt got their names on the score sheet. This contest also provided flowing hockey most of the time. After a cagey first five minutes, a swift move initiated by Atiq Ahmad was well finished by Dilber and the NBP were in front. NBP continued to have the better of exchanges in the first quarter. But the SSGC were certainly the more dominating side during the next quarter with phases of ascendancy. They couldn't make out of any of the four penalty corners, though once Abbas Haider's push came off the pole. So NBP carried the slender lead into the second half. SSGS's promising teenager Adeel Ahmad, after a mesmerising dribbling run saw his try on the goal saved by the custodian. But in the 35th minute, NBP doubled the lead. They raided from right flank. The initial attempt was padded away by the goal keeper. Ammad Butt pounced on the rebound to make it 2-0. NBP with a number of players from Pakistan's under-21 squad were well in control for the remainder of the time without increasing their account.

The Daily Times

PIA, NBP to contest final

KARACHI: Defending champions PIA and National Bank of Pakistan qualified for the final of the 63rd National Hockey Championship by winning their respective semi-finals at National Hockey Stadium, Lahore on Tuesday.

In the first match, Zubair Khan opened the scoring for PIA in the seventh minute followed by an 18th minute equaliser by WAPDA’s Rana Umair.

WAPDA came out flying in the second half as Ejaz Ali scored a quick-fire brace to hand his side a 3-1 lead. The airliners, however, made a remarkable recovery from that point as they countered with three goals of their own in a frantic five-minute spell.

Kashif Ali and Shafqat Rasool scored in the 38th and 39th minute before the former hit two more in 43rd and 53rd minutes to complete his hat-trick.

Muhammad Waseem got one back for WAPDA in the final minute of the third quarter before Shafqat scored his team’s final goal to complete a 6-4 triumph.

In the second match, NBP defeated SSGC 2-0 as Dilber Hussain and Ammad Butt got their names on the scoresheet.

The Express Tribune

Champions Telkom Orange hit Sharkia in ACCC build-up tie

By BRIAN YONGA


Telkom Orange's Barbara Simiyu (left) in action during their friendly match against Sharkia of Egypt on January 3, 2017 at the City Park Stadium. Both sides are preparing for the Africa Cup of Club Championship that gets underway on January 7, 2017. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

Champions Telkom Orange women’s hockey club warmed up for the Africa Cup of Club Championship (ACCC) with a 3-1 win against Egyptian Club Sharkia in a build-up match played on Tuesday at the City Park Stadium, Nairobi.

Orange had fallen behind to a seventh minute strike by Sharkia forward Hager Mostafa but hit back with a brace from veteran striker Jackline Mwangi to a take a 2-1 lead at the break before fullback Flavian Mutiva added a third late in the second half.

Orange coach Jos Openda was pleased with his side’s fight back noting that they are yet to hit top gear ahead of the Saturday kick-off.

“There are some grey areas that we still need to work on but so far I think we have the right frame of mind and the players know what is expected of them,” Openda told Daily Nation Sport.

Orange, who are bidding to win the title for a record ninth time, will represent the country alongside Sliders in the women’s competition. And Openda believes playing at home will give the local sides an edge in the 27th edition of the annual continental showpiece.

Since winning the first title in 1995 in Accra, Ghana, the 19 time league champions have dominated the continental stage. In 2009, they beat Sliders 2-1 in all-Kenyan final at City Park Stadium, having also won it at home in 2006.

They will face stiff competition from last year’s runners up Ghana Police, Ghana Customs, who won bronze as well as former champions Heartland from Nigeria.

Daily Nation

Sharkia chase more history

By BRIAN YONGA


Sharkia's Mohamed Essam controls the ball during the team's training session at the City Park Stadium on January 3, 2017 ahead of the Africa Cup of Club Championship that gets underway on January 7, 2017. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO

Egyptian men's hockey club Sharkia coach Mohy Saad expects stiff opposition from Kenyan and Ghanaian clubs at this year's edition of the Africa Cup of Club Championship that gets underway on Saturday at the City Park Stadium, Nairobi.

Sharkia, who are in the Guinness book of Records after winning the continental competition a record 23 times, will be aiming to reclaim the title they last won in 2014.

They were beaten 3-2 by counterparts Eastern Company in the 2015 final played at the Olympic Development Centre in Lusaka, Zambia.

The Egyptians alongside their women counterparts arrived in the country on New Year's Day for the week-long competition that will run till January 15. Saad is confident his charges will be able to reign supreme as they bid to make more history.

“It will be a tough competition and i am sure all teams are preparing well for the event. We believe we have good players who can help us claim this competition," Saad told Daily Nation Sport.

The squad of 16 players held a training session at the City Park Stadium on Tuesday with Saad laying emphasis on penalty corners and build-up play.

"We have been in camp since December 1 last year. Kenya and Ghana has good teams and whoever wins will be worthy champions."

The 27th edition of the continental showpiece has attracted 19 teams including 10 women's clubs. Kenya will be hosting the event for a third time having previously hosted in 2006 and 2009.

Eastern Company were the last Egyptian club to arrive, jetting in on Monday night. Nigerian clubs which include Heartland, Elrufai (both women) and men's champions Niger Flickers were due to arrive in the country on Tuesday night.

Ghana Police (women) Ghana Customs (men and women) are expected in the country on Wednesday. Uganda will be represented by Weatherhead and Wananchi men and women's teams.

Local teams will be led by women's champions Telkom Orange and Sliders while Butali Sugar Warriors and Kenya Police will do battle in the men's competition.

Orange beat Ghana Police 3-2 on post-match penalties in the previous edition to win their record eighth title, their fourth in a row. The teams had played out to a 1-1 draw after normal time.

Butali and Police will be seeking their maiden titles having won bronze in past editions. The only local side to have won the title was the defunct Armed Forces in 1998 in Namibia.

The fixtures will be released on Friday with the games set begin on Saturday.

Daily Nation

Keen to conquer

Orange ready to rule the hockey world

By Elizabeth Mburugu


Orange Telkom players celebrate after winning 4-0 against Amira Sailors when they played Premier Ladies at City Park yesterday, on 13/11/2016 PHOTO: JENIPHER WACHIE

Indisputable Africa queens Telkom Orange are gearing up for battle as they seek to extend their reign at the helm of women’s continental club hockey.

City Park Stadium will be a battlefield as the Kenyan girls lock horns with their opponents in the Africa Cup of Club Championships (ACCC) that begin this Saturday.

With eight continental titles to their name, Orange are not yet done and will be going for a ninth overall and an unprecedented fifth title in a row. Head coach Jos Openda told Feverpitch that his charges were working hard towards making their dream ninth gong a reality.

“We have been working very hard to make sure that we are in good form and I believe that with the amount of effort my players have put in we are ready to defend our honour,” Openda said. He added that his girls are ready and rearing to go so they can maintain the legacy of the club.

Orange whose dominance in African hockey has held Kenya afloat even after national teams sunk being overshadowed by South Africa, Egypt and now Ghana will lead Sliders in the quest for the women’s title. Orange first won the women’s ACCC trophy in 1995 in Accra, Ghana and have gone ahead to win seven more, four of which have been won in a four year reign since 2012.

The home girls will also be out for a third historic conquest at home having won the 2006 edition held in January 2007 and the 2009 both played at City Park. “This year’s trophy is very important to us because we don’t want to be dethroned at home. We have won twice here and we are determined to win again and maintain the status quo,” Openda said.

In 2009, Orange won 2-1 in an all-Kenyan final against Sliders who will be making a comeback to the African scene. All eyes will be on the Kenyan girls as the fans anticipate a repeat of the 2009 show.

They however, face an uphill task in the hands of bitter rivals Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) popularly known as Customs Ladies who finished third last year. Ghana Police who they played in last year’s final in Lusaka, Zambia have not confirmed their participation. Orange beat the Ghanaian law enforcers 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out to win retain the title.

Stiff competition will also come from former Africa champions Heartlands of Nigeria as well as Sharkia ladies of Egypt who arrived in the country early enough to acclimatize.

The Standard Online

Polo getting ready for annual Hockey Reyes tournament



Real Club de Polo will begin their 120th year in style with the annual Hockey Reyes tournament beginning on Friday and running until Monday.

In the senior male category, Polo will host Belgium’s KHC Leuven, who are the reigning champions, as well as two teams from Pedralbes. The Belgian side will play each of the Spanish sides with the game against Polo on Sunday the highlight.

On the women’s side, the Italian national side will compete as they continue their preparations for World League Round 2 in Malaysia later in January. They will meet the host club as well as English sides Surbiton and Leicester.

There are also junior boys and girls competitions with visiting teams from Belgium, England, Germany and the Netherlands.

It is the 69th edition of the competition.

Euro Hockey League media release

7th Hockey India Sub Jr Women National Championship to begin today

The annual event will feature the best talent in hockey from across the nation in the sub-junior category and will include 20 teams in A Division and 20 teams in B Division vying for top honours.

The 7th Sub-Junior Women National Hockey Championship 2017 is all set to begin on Wednesday at the SDAT Velumanickam Synthetic Hockey Stadium in Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu. The tournament will be flagged off with B division matches between January 4 and January 13 while the A Division matches will commence from January 11 and conclude on January 22. The annual event will feature the best talent in hockey from across the nation in the sub-junior category and will include 20 teams in A Division and 20 teams in B Division vying for top honours.

The A Division will include four pools with five teams each featuring defending champions Sports Authority of India, Hockey Punjab (2016 runners-up), Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy (2016 second runners-up), Hockey Haryana, Hockey Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh Hockey, Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, Delhi Hockey, Hockey Karnataka, Chhattisgarh Hockey, Hockey Jharkhand, Hockey Gangpur- Odisha, Hockey Bihar, Hockey Madhya Pradesh, Hockey Odisha, Hockey Patiala, Hockey Mizoram, Bengal Hockey Association and Hockey Andhra Pradesh and Hockey Maharashtra.

B Division too will feature four pools with five teams in each pool that include Assam Hockey, Citizen Hockey XI, The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd, Mumbai School Sports Association, Hockey Jammu & Kashmir, Sports Authority of Gujarat- Hockey Academy, Hockey Uttarakhand, Hockey Rajasthan, Hockey Gujarat, Hockey Puducherry, Hockey Bhopal, Goans Hockey, Dadra & Nagar Haveli Hockey Association, Vidarbha Hockey Association, Kerala Hockey, Hockey Himachal, Hockey Coorg, Hockey Madhya Bharat, Telangana Hockey, Hockey Him.

The national championships traditionally form the base for all future recruits into the national programs of the senior, junior and sub-junior categories, and this tournament boasts of showcasing the talent of over 700 budding hockey stars from all corners of the country.

The tournament this year is expected to be a preferred hunting ground for selectors, given the recent upsurge of hockey in India thanks to the incredible performances by the junior men's team that lifted the Junior World Cup, as well as the senior men's and women's team consistent show through the year.

Wishing the participating teams the very best, Hockey India President Mariamma Koshy said, "I am delighted and eager for the action to begin in the 7th Hockey India Sub- Junior Women National Championships in Ramanathapuram, TN. These championships have brought forward the future stars of Indian hockey and its nothing less than an honour to see how youngsters from all corners of the country are working hard towards making a career for themselves in the sport. I am confident that this year's national championships will unearth some bright future stars who will make it to the national teams in the future."

DNA

Three-day hockey meet gets underway


Members of the Baba Pallaha Hockey Tournament Committee honour Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in Amritsar on Tuesday. A Tribune PhotoGraph

Amritsar: A three-day hockey tournament organised by the Baba Pallaha Hockey Tournament Committee (BPHTC) kicked off today for the 40th time at the Inderbir Kaur Memorial Hockey Stadium amid huge rush of spectators.

Cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia was the chief guest. He said such tournaments went a long way to promote talented players.

“Villages like Butala deserve huge appreciation since the place is known for organising such tournaments. I congratulate the organisers and villagers, especially the NRIs, who come forward to support such initiatives,” the minister said.

As many as 16 teams arrived for the competition. Three matches were played today that displayed cut-throat competition. In the first match, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Hockey Academy, Amritsar, defeated Khalsa College, Amritsar, 3-0.

In the second match, Kurkshetra Hockey Club defeated Jalandhar’s Army Eleven team 2-1. In the last match, Baba Pallaha Sports Club of Butala won by 3-2 by defeating Mata Sulakhani Hockey Club, Batala.

Pritam Singh, an elderly villager, said, “I come every year to watch tournaments here. At the village level, sincere efforts are put in to promote hockey but if similar approach is adopted at national level, the game can also become popular like cricket.”

Prabhjot Singh Chahal, one of the hockey coaches from the village, said, “Besides boys, there are a large number of girls from the village who come here for hockey practice and regularly play in different hockey tournaments.”

The Tribune

Stats Speak- 2016: Indian Hockey in nutshell

By B.G.Joshi (sehore-Bhopal, India)

Achievements

Indian men won the silver medal in London Champions Trophy (June) after 34 years, prior to that in 1982 Amstelveen (Netherlands) India won the bronze medal.

Indian men and women won the Asian Champions Trophy in Kuantan and Singapore respectively. It was 3rd occasions when India won double crown. Prior to that India won the Hyderabad Afro Asian Games (2003) and Asia Cup (2003-M, 2004-W).

Indian men finished 8th in Rio de Janeiro Olympics, whereas Women stood last twelfth.

Indian eves set the Asian record by thrashing Nepal 24-0 in Guwahati South Asian Games(February), prior to that India beat Hong Kong by 22-0 in 1982 New Delhi Asian Games.

Indian juniors (U-21) won the World Cup after 15 years in Lucknow. Sub-juniors (U-18) won the Dhaka Asia Cup.

Stats are given below:

India in 2016

Fieldhockey.com

2017 focused on World Cup qualification for Canada's Senior men and women

Shaheed Devji


A shot of Rutledge Field in West Vancouver, British Columbia. Canada’s women will host World League Round 2 here from April 1-9, 2017.

After two years focused on the Olympics, Canada’s senior men’s and women’s field hockey team shift their focus to the World Cup this year.

The 2017 competition calendar for both National Team is centered around qualification for the 2018 Men’s and Women’s Hockey World Cups. The men’s tournament will be hosted in India, while the women’s will take place in London, England.

Both teams will have two chances to qualify for the World Cup. The first comes in the form of World League Round 2.

The men are up first, playing from March 4th to 12th in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where they are currently the top ranked team and will face South Africa, Egypt, Bangladesh, China, and Sri Lanka.

The women play at home from April 1st-9th at West Vancouver’s Rutledge Field. They currently are the second ranked team in the top tournament, and will face India, Belarus, China, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

Both teams must finish in the top two of the competition to advance to World League Round 3 (Semi-Finals) later in the year.

If Canada’s men and women advance, they will each play in one of their two respective World Cup qualifying events. For the women, it will be either in Brussels, Belgium from June 21st to July 2nd, or Johannesburg, South Africa from July 8th to 22nd. The men would play in London from June 15th to 25th or in Johannesburg from July 9th to 23rd.

The top 10 finishers from both men’s and women’s World League Semi-Final events would qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

Whether they have qualified or not by the end of the World League competition, Canada’s senior men and women will both compete at the 2017 Pan Am Cup in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from August 4th to 13th. The winner of each tournament (men and women) receive an automatic berth to the 2018 World Cup.

If Canada has yet to qualify for the World Cup by that time and does not win the Pan Am Cup, there is still an outside chance of qualification, based on their final standing in the World League competition.

A scenario which would see this outcome through would be Team A winning the Pan Am Cup and also having qualified as the 10th team in World League. Their World League qualification spot would become invalid, and the Team in 11th spot (which would be Canada) would qualify.

Neither Canada’s men or women competed at the 2014 World Cups in the Netherlands. However, Canada’s men did compete at the 2010 World Cup in India.

Field Hockey Canada media release

PAHF year 2016 in review

A busy year for PAHF and the National Associations in the Americas!

Sarah Juggins



As the year draws to a close, we can reflect upon some of the highlights of the hockey calendar. Of course, that magical night in Rio with Los Leones is the icing on the cake, but as we trawl back through the archives, it is clear that on the whole, PAHF and its individual nations have had a pretty good year of hockey.

Let’s take a look back over the past 12 months:

In February, the Asociacion Deportiva Nacional de Hockey de Guatemala learnt that it had been awarded the International Hockey Federation’s 2015 Pablo Negre Trophy, awarded to national associations for their dedication to promoting hockey and embracing the spirit of the sport. President of the Asociacion Deportiva Nacional de Hockey de Guatemala, Pablo Reyes, said: “The award is fundamental for us because it means we can take our hockey to the next level. Currently there is no hockey pitch in the whole of Central America.

“The pitch (supplied by Polytan STI) will help to develop hockey in Central America. Guatemala will be the principal beneficiary, of course, but we want to share this award with our neighbours.”

Looking back on the past few years, the president admitted it had sometimes been a slog: “We had the full support of the Guatemalan Olympic Committee and the PAHF when we started our journey 10 years ago but you have to bear in mind that, in the first five years, there weren't many balls and sticks – in fact no-one sells them in Guatemala – few places to play, few teams to play. To keep the interest of the people was not easy.”

April saw the Junior Pan American competitions burst into action, First was the women’s event, held in Tacarigua. The final was a resumption of rivalries between USA and Argentina and this time, just as in the 2012 edition, it was the south Americans who came away with the honours. They beat USA 6-0, while Chile took third place after an impressive 3-0 win over Canada.

The men’s competition, held in Toronto saw Argentina complete yet another clean sweep of the competition as they beat Canada by a 5-0 scoreline. This was their 11th consecutive defence of the title. Chile took bronze when they beat USA 4-1.

Also performing well at the Junior Pan-Am Championships was 23-year-old Tyler Klenk, who took his first steps into the international umpiring arena when he took charge of the pool match between Argentina and Trinidad and Tobago. The Canadian said he was grateful that his first international appointment had been on home soil. Later in the tournament, Klenk umpired the bronze medal match between Chile and the USA. 

July saw Argentina and USA women head over to England for the Champions Trophy. This was the last major international before Rio 2016, so both teams were keen to make an impression. And boy did both teams deliver! First, the USA put some unconvincing performances in the pool stages behind them to take the bronze medal in a display of defiant strength and courage against the world number three side Australia; and then Argentina wowed the crowds and the opposition – the Netherlands – with a virtuoso performance to take their seventh title.

The matches panned out very differently. For USA, it was a case of showing its now legendary ability to relentlessly work and turn things around, after the Hockeyroos took a 2-0 lead. Katie Bam hit back with a double and then Jackie Briggs reinforced her reputation as a great ‘keeper with a string of saves in the shoot-out. That performance is one of the many reason, Briggs is nominated for the 2016 FIH Goalkeeper of the Year award.

In the final, Argentina defended their title as they took a 2-0 lead against the world’s number one side the Netherlands which, although the Dutch clawed one goal back, the reigning champions never looked like conceding. Speaking after the final, captain of Las Leonas, Carla Rebecchi, who is nominated for the FIH 2016 Player of the Year, said : “Today was very different to yesterday [when Argentina lost to Netherlands in the pool match] there is something inside us that make us play better in finals. We know that when we get on the pitch in the final we have to give a little bit more than in other matches. We have to celebrate this victory.”

The highlight of the year was, of course, the Olympic Games on our own continental soil. It wasn’t just the fact that Argentina men made history by winning their first gold medal – in a thrilling 4-2 win over Belgium – it was the whole spectacle. From the blue, yellow and green pitch, which was so vivid on our screens, to the carnival atmosphere in the stadium, to the millions of fans around the world glued to their televisions, computers and smart-phones, this was hockey at its very best. Big, bold, loud and watched by millions both in the stadium and at home, this was hockey South American style.

And then there was Carlos. Nominated for FIH Coach of the Year award, Carlos Retegui proved just what a talented coach and manager of players he is. Speaking after the final, a barely coherent ‘Chapa” said: “I'm super proud of the guys, players who are a machine. They have blood in their hearts, we have heart and now we have entered the history books. The differences between winning and losing are minimal, a second, a fraction. It is a prize for which we work, work and work some more. This is a dream come true.”

Both Gonzalo Peillat and Lucas Vila are nominated for FIH Player of the Year awards, which will be announced in January.

From the huge, multi-event in Rio, hockey’s next Pan American event moved to Salamanca in Mexico, where four men’s teams and three women’s teams competed in one of the Hockey World League Round One events. Mexico women and USA men triumphed and will both be contesting the HWL Round Two events in Vancouver and Tacarigua respectively. Barbados men will also be joining the party as they were runners-up to USA.

In Chiclayo, Peru, the South American Championships doubled up as a HWL Round One. Whoever won the event would not just lift the South American Championship trophy but would also qualify for HWL Round Two and a chance to qualify for the 2018 World Cup via the HWL process. In the women’s competition it was the top two seeds who finished in first and second place and both teams will be competing in Vancouver, Canada in April 2017. Uruguay lifted the trophy after a 1-0 win over Chile, their higher ranked rivals. Chile men made it a double when then beat Paraguay in the penalty shoot-out. The result means the new South American Champions will compete in HWL Round Two in Tacarigua, Trinidad and Tobago in March 2017.

In October, the Central America Indoor Tournament saw Guatemala men and Panama women resume their winning ways as both teams successfully defended the titles they have won for the past three editions. Guatemala saw off the challenge from Costa Rica, while the Guatemala women put Panama under huge pressure in the women’s final.

The men’s and women’s Junior World Cup competitions, held in Santiago and Lucknow respectively, were a showcase for the future of hockey. For Argentina U21 women and their coach Agustin Corradini, this was the perfect end to a campaign that had begun a year before the Pan Am Junior Championships.

“I feel very proud. The players showed a very dynamic, collective and focused way of playing hockey and were also very kind and respectful off the field,” said the coach as he reflected on the event.

“For me the quarter finals were the most nerve-wracking time. If they had lost at that stage, we would not have been able to show the magnificent progress this team has made in two years.”

Corradini need not have worried. His team won the quarter-finals and the semi-finals and then “played without fear” against the top-ranked Dutch to take the title. “We were very intense when we were defending, and very dynamic in the attack,” said the 32-year-old coach, “we played with aggression with the ball and did not let emotion get in the way of the thought processes.”

Argentina’s rivals in the quarter finals were another Pan Am team, USA. Head coach Janneke Schopman, who has been nominated for FIH Women’s Coach of the Year, gave her reflections on the tournament: “The Junior World Cup has been a great experience for our team. The level of the tournament, especially playing teams like Holland and Argentina showed our players what the highest level in youth hockey is and what is needed for the next step. We have shown a lot of growth since the Junior Pan Ams and were able to play more competitively against these high calibre teams. Similarly playing different countries with different playing styles like an Asian country (Korea), gave the team much needed exposure and familiarity with different hockey styles. With the limited preparation time we had in comparison I think we performed well and gained the necessary experience for the potential next step to the national team for these junior players.”

Danae Andrada, newly elected to the FIH Executive Board, praised the Chile Hockey Association for its organisation of the Women’s Junior World Cup. “Chile has made a great commitment to organize a World Cup on South American soil. The outcome was a world level hockey party which demonstrated the level of excellence at which our junior teams are performing. The techniques, power, speed, tactical systems and professionalism which were showcased in Santiago show us a very promising future for our sport. Officials, referees, leaders, coaches and the general public have been able to be stars in a tournament that was broadcast to the whole world and that encourages us to continue perfecting ourselves in our roles within the sport.”

And so to Lucknow, where Argentina and Canada were flying the flag for PAHF at the Men’s Junior World Cup. Unfortunately this was not to be either team’s moment in the sun. Argentina finished fifth, with Canada in 16th position. Argentina will consider themselves unlucky in the quarter-finals when they lost on shoot-out to eventual silver medalists, Belgium, but an earlier draw with Austria and losses to India and Australia in the pool games, indicated that this would not be their year. For Canada, this was a baptism of fire as the young team finished the tournament with no wins recorded. Forward Amrit Sidhu put the results into perspective: “As the youngest team in the tournament it’s been a big learning curve. The pace of the games and the quality of teams is something we don’t see very often in Canada.”

What is so clear from this round-up of events, is the speed with which hockey is developing across the PAHF region. While the hockey super powers of Argentina, USA and Canada continue to perform at the top level, it is teams such as Chile, Uruguay and Mexico that are providing waves of excitement on the international stage.

The future of hockey as a global sport lies in attracting more nations into the hockey family and a myriad of events for all levels of player – such as the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival in Guyana, which has just come to its exciting conclusion – is evidence that the sport in Pan-America is very much on an upward curve.

Pan American Hockey Federaion media release