Welcome to the Fieldhockey.com Archives

Daily Hockey news updated @ 10:00 GMT

News for 21 January 2017

All the news for Saturday 21 January 2016


SA wins first match in Cape Town Summer Series

The South African Women’s hockey team started the Cape Town Summer Series at Hartleyvale with an easy 3-0 victory over Chile on Friday evening.

With four minutes left in the match local Western Province player Illse Davids scored the third and final goal of the game. The halftime score was 2-0 after goals in the last minutes of both chukkas by Marizen Marais and Candice Manuel, also from Cape Town. The crowd really enjoyed the goals from the local players.

There is quite a gap between South Africa and Chile on the world rankings with SA in 13th place and 23rd place. But it was obvious that the South Africans barely got out of second gear in this encounter. Even though there were not goals in the third chukka it was by far the local team’s most aggressive period of play. The South Africans were desperately looking for goals in the final chukka to give some weight to their performance.

If there is one aspect of play the coach Sheldon Rostron and his players would have been disappointed with it will be the lack of more goals. While Chile barely looked like scoring during this encounter, the South Africans created many chances but did not use nearly all of them.

Against Belgium and China they will have to be sharper and deadlier on attack. But seeing that the team hasn’t played in more some six months it should take a match or two to find its rhythm.

The next game in the series is tomorrow when the SA Women will be in action again, this time they will come up against China at 16:00. The SA Men will start their series on Sunday against Netherland at 18:00. Before that match China and Chile (women) will play at 16:00.

SA Hockey Association media release



Daunting task for Malaysian women to get past tight Italians

KUALA LUMPUR: The odds are heavily stacked against Malaysia in the semi-finals against Italy in the Women’s World League Round Two at the Tun Razak Stadium today.

Italy are ranked world No. 15 and will start as favourites against the No. 21 ranked Malaysians.

The Italian, who have not let in a single goal in four matches, beat Wales (3-0), outplayed Thailand (5-0) and hammered Singapore (9-0) in their group matches.

In the quarter-finals, they trounced Hong Kong (7-0).

The hosts opened their group matches with a 9-0 win over Hong Kong but were edged 1-2 by Ireland before routing Kazakhstan 13-1. They beat Thailand 3-0 in the last eight.

If the hosts harbour any hope of stopping the marauding Italians, they will need to shackle Valentina Braconi, who has netted nine goals in four matches.

National coach K. Dharmaraj admitted that it would be tough to get the better of the Italians.

“Italy are definitely the favourites as they have a solid strike force and a tight defence.

“They are also the only team not to concede a goal.

“Our plan will be to penetrate into their semi-circle and try to find a goal,” said Dharmaraj.

“My players are in high spirits and they have vowed to give their best.”

Malaysia must finish in the top two if they hope to advance to the World League Semi-Finals – to be played in Brussels, Belgium (June 21- July 2) and Johannesburg, South Africa (July 8-22).

Dharmaraj was relieved that midfielder Raja Norsharina Raja Shabuddin, who did not play in Malaysia’s last two matches after twisting her ankle against Ireland on Monday, will be back in action tomorrow.

The Star of Malaysia



SA hockey get set for World Cup qualifiers

Ockert de Villiers


Lisa Deetlefs will be part of the South African team at the Summer Series. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky, BackpagePix

South Africa’s men’s and women’s hockey teams are primed for international action when they take on some of the world’s top teams in the Cape Town Summer Series at Hartleyvale Hockey Stadium from Friday to February 3.

The men’s side will be looking to build on some of the positive results they produced at the corresponding series last year.

They finished the 2016 Summer Series on a high with a 2-0 victory over Canada before suffering a three-Test series whitewash against London 2012 Olympic champions Germany.

Ranked 15th, the South Africans have a mountain to climb as they go up against World No 3 The Netherlands and Belgium, who are ranked fifth.

The women’s side have a slightly easier task as they cross sticks with eighth-ranked China, Belgium (14th) and Chile (23rd).

Last year the women’s side opened their season with a 1-0 series defeat to India before securing a 2-1 series victory over Scotland.

In their last international appearance in March 2016, they suffered a 5-1 defeat to Germany before forcing a creditable 1-1 draw.

The Summer Series is the perfect dress rehearsal for the South African teams ahead of the Hockey World League semi-finals later this year.

The tournaments for both men and women’s teams are qualifiers for the 2018 Hockey World Cup, and will be the biggest event of its kind to be hosted in South Africa.

The South African women’s team will open their campaign in the Summer Series on Friday when they take on Chile, while the men take on the Dutch on Sunday.

Independent Online



Round-up EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championships Day 1


Photograph: Italy v Czech Republic (Frank Uijlenbroek (c))

A great start to the EuroHockey Indoor Junior Championships here in Vienna as 8 games were completed and no teams are sure of the semi-final line up as yet and the final Pool games tomorrow morning are critical.

In Pool A, Czech Republic and Italy are tied on 4 points with Russia just behind on 3 points. Turkey havent picked up any points yet, but are capable of making a huge change in the leaderboard as they face Czech Republic tomorrow morning. Pool B is even closer with Belarus on 4 points, Poland on 3, Switzerland on 2 and Austria on 1 point, so it really is wide open as to who will make it through to the semi-finals.

 

Match Round-Up:

 

Match 1 – Turkey v Italy  3-4 (1-3)

 

A lively start in the opening game as Turkey’s captain Fatma Songül GÜLTEKIN opened the scoring with a powerful drag flick into the top corner from a PC. Italy replied quickly with a goal from open play scored by the stylish Camilla BARRICELLI. A wide from a Turkish corner and a good save from the Italian keeper, were game changers as Italy pressed hard and were rewarded with a further 2 goals from Camilla BARRICELLI and Federica CARTA  to lead 3-1 going into half-time.

 

Second half started with a deflected corner strike from Turkey, bringing the score line back to a one goal difference. A very intense last 10 minutes with both teams having chances to score, but it was Italy who finally broke down the Turkish defence, Turkey got one back and had a really unlucky strike that hit the post!

 

Italian Coach Daniela Possali was “very happy with the win to the start to the Tournament, which was our plan” It was a nice game and she was delighted with how her girls played. start tournamnent in a good way, now grab. gk made some good saves, cze skilled game

 

Watch the Highlights here:

 

http://hockeytv.at/video/indoor-hockey/euro-hockey-indoor—junior-women—vienna-2017/20-01-2017/turkey-u21w-italy-u21w/21520-chance–u21w-2

 

Match 2 – Russia v Czech Republic  3-5 (1-3)

 

Both teams exchanged goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, but it was Czech that dominated the first half against the current champions, with striker Anna KOLAROVA being on target twice from penalty corners. Michaela KUČEROVÁ drew in her marker and with some lovely close skills flicked the ball into the net in the 12th minute.

 

The second half started slowly with both teams playing a patient game and looking to build attacks. Czech stretched their lead in the second half as Kolarova was set for the strike but deflected beautifully for Veronika KUČEROVÁ’s strike. Russia went into a power play in the 34th minute to try and lower the deficit and indeed did with a goal from Iuliia SARTAKOVA they then conceded a corner which was expertly taken off the line by the kicking back! In the 36th minute Russia scored again via, again via SARTAKOVA. But again conceded a corner, a mistrap but it fell to the stick of Monika VYBÍRALOVÁ who struck it home giving Czech Republic the win over the current Champions.

 

Czech manager Lukáš NOCAR spoke on behalf of his coach “We are very happy to win our first game, that is always important at an indoor Tournament, we were impressed with the Russian’s, especially as they defended 2 corners without a goal keeper. We are now looking forward to our game against Italy.” When asked about their target for the Tournament he stressed that “a semi-final place is the target, after that we shall see!”

 

Watch the highlights here:

 

http://hockeytv.at/video/indoor-hockey/euro-hockey-indoor—junior-women—vienna-2017/20-01-2017/russia-u21w-czech-republic-u21w/21555-spezial-russia-u21w-1

 

Match 3 – Poland v Belarus 0-3 (0-2)

 

A more cagey start to this game then we have seen so far. However Belarus did get the better of the half going ahead with 2 goals from play, the second a brilliant deflection from Viktoryia RAISKAYA. A strong run by Natallia SHTSIN set up the tap in for Hanna TSABROVA’s second of the game and a lead of 3 -0 was enough to seal the win for Belarus as there were no goals in the second half.

 

Watch the highlights here:

 

http://hockeytv.at/video/indoor-hockey/euro-hockey-indoor—junior-women—vienna-2017/20-01-2017/poland-u21w-belarus-u21w/21644-chance-belarus-u21w-17

 

Match 4: Austria v Switzerland 2 – 2 (0 – 1)

 

In the final match of the first round of games hosts Austria faced Switzerland. Switzerland scored first as Swiss Julia INTELMANN seemed to glide through the Austrian defence, she then layed off the ball and made herself available again for a diving strike! 1-0 to Switzerland. The score continued like that until Austria won a corner in the 27th minute and Daria BUCHTA struck home,  she controlled the ball at the top of the circle, the keeper was committed and she flicked the ball high over the keeper and the lines’woman’ to level the score 1-1. 2 really important saves by the Austrian keeper kept the score 1-1. An attack by Austria led to a second goal from play by Ruth KONRAT. Austria equalised in the final minute as Léonor BERLIE drag flick from a pc was too pacy for the Austria defence.

 

Watch the highlights here:

 

http://hockeytv.at/video/indoor-hockey/euro-hockey-indoor—junior-women—vienna-2017/20-01-2017/austria-(w)-u21w-switzerland-u21w/21688-tor-0:1-switzerland-u21w-5#

 

Match 5: Czech Republic v Italy (1-1)

 

A top of the table game as both teams had taken 3 points in their first game of the day, so a must win for both teams to ensure a semi-final slot. Czech had more chances in the first half but a solo run from her own D saw Sara PUGLISI lay off beautifully to Veronica MARROCCOLI to slot home the opening goal.

 

Power play as Italy no 8 off on a 4 minute yellow card, payed off as they used the advantage of 6 field players v 4 and equalised the score. A fantastic reverse stick save off the line by Czech kept the score 1-1 heading into the last 10 minutes. Czech had a chance to clinch the game in the final minute but the pc strike was off target. The final score of 1-1 leaves both teams on 4 points, with Czech ahead on goal difference and all to play for tomorrow morning!

 

Watch Match Highlights here:

 

http://hockeytv.at/video/indoor-hockey/euro-hockey-indoor—junior-women—vienna-2017/20-01-2017/czech-republic-u21w-italy-u21w/21757-chance-czech-republic-u21w-54

 

Match 6: Turkey v Russia 4-7 (3-1) 

 

Both teams came into the game on zero points, so any ambitions to get through to the semi-finals would be dependent on getting at least 3 points on the board! Russia opened the scoring in the first minute, but Turkey fought back and ended the half 3-2 ahead. Turkey went 4-2 ahead, but with their captain off, Russia clawed one back in the 32nd minute. Russia on the attack equalised via a direct strike from Iuliia SARTAKOVA, her second of the game. Moments later in a lapse of concentration from Turkey, Russia went ahead for the first time in the game with a Alina KHALIMOVA goal popping the ball over the keeper. Russia ran away with the final minutes of the game as they finished a deserved 4-7 ahead.

 

Watch Match Highlights here:

 

http://hockeytv.at/video/indoor-hockey/euro-hockey-indoor—junior-women—vienna-2017/20-01-2017/turkey-u21w-russia-u21w/21767-chance-%3Cnull%3E-u21w-2

 

Match 7: Belarus v Switzerland 2 – 2 (0 – 1)

 

An interception by Switzerland’s Léonor BERLIE led to Switzerland’s goal in the first half. A decent tackle and a quick pass to Jessica AEBI who capitalised on being free from her marker and slipped passed the defence with a fine finish in the 8th minute. No more goals in the first half, but plenty of action as both teams pressed hard. A save off the line, but deemed to have hit the body of a Swiss defender led to a stroke which Volha SKRIBA struck home for Belarus. 1-1 and all to play for. Belarus had more possession during the next few minutes, pressed hard for a corner which they won. Swiss no 12 broke the line, leaving a hole in the Swiss defence and Yuliya YUBKO slotted home with a direct strike, hard and low. The score now 2-1 to Belarus and 10 minutes to play! Switzerland earned a corner in the 26th minute, but a decent save and then an offence from Switzerland kept the score 2-2.  A pc in overtime for Switzerland was bravely saved by the Belarus keeper, so the scoreline held.

 

Watch Match Highlights here:

 

http://hockeytv.at/video/indoor-hockey/euro-hockey-indoor—junior-women—vienna-2017/20-01-2017/belarus-u21w-switzerland-u21w/21850-chance-switzerland-u21w-2

 

Match 8: Austria v Poland (2-0) 

 

An animated and partisan crowed had something to cheer about as the hosts made an impressive start and racked up a 2-0 lead over Poland in the final game of the day here in Vienna. The first a direct strike from a pc in the 2nd minute from captain LAGINJA, the second from play. The half ended 2-0 in favour of the hosts. In the second half Poland had the better of the first 10 minutes, putting 3 goals with no reply on the board and going ahead 2-3. In the final 2 minutes Austria used the power play to try and earn the draw but they ran out of time.

 

Speaking to us after the game Polish Coach Krzysztof RACHWALSKI said “I am really happy now but the first half was terrible, it was a really important game for us as we are now closer to the semis. Tomorrow we play Switzerland and I think we can beat them.”

 

Watch Match Highlights here:

 

http://hockeytv.at/video/indoor-hockey/euro-hockey-indoor—junior-women—vienna-2017/20-01-2017/austria-(w)-u21w-poland-u21w/21896-chance-austria-(w)-u21w-1

 

All photographs are now online on our FaceBook page

EuroHockey media release



Top hockey action as Coal India Hockey India League hits the screens



With a dazzling display of skills and some of the best-known faces in men's international hockey on show, the Coal India Hockey India League (HIL) is back for its fifth edition.

The event, which takes place in cities across India, sees the world's elite players representing franchises in a six-week long glorious celebration of all that is good about the game.

The teams, in which players are bought in an auction, is a combination of Indian players and top foreign players from around the globe.

Fast, furious action on the field and packed stadia full of knowledgeable, enthusiastic and noisy crowds. Big, bold and loud is the FIH Hockey Revolution goals and HIL certainly delivers.

The matches are all broadcast and streamed live through Star Sports*, so audiences across the globe can watch and admire the power, speed, skill and sheer professionalism of the players.

This year’s event, which springs into action on 21 January with a opening match between Dabang Mumbai and Ranchi Rays, culminates in a glittering final on 26 February, at the Chandigarh Stadium, home to last year’s champions, Jaypee Punjab Warriors.

As defending champions, Jaypee Punjab Warriors will be among the early favourites for the title this year as they return to the fray with some familiar faces from their winning squad.

These include two of last season’s stars Armaan Qureshi and SV Sunil, plus the voices of experience provided by Mark Knowles and Mink van der Weerden.

Looking to turn last year’s final table on its head will be the Uttar Pradesh Wizards. The team finished in sixth place in 2016 but with national favourite PR Sreejesh in goal and Argentina's Olympic gold medal winning hero Gonzalo Peillat leading the search for goals, this will be a team you would be wise not to discount. The addition of young Belgium superstar Arthur van Doren and the Netherland’s Seve van Ass make the Wizards a force this year.

The winners in 2013 and 2015, Ranchi Rays, are a team looking to restore their standing as the number one side. To help achieve that aim, the MS Dhoni-owned franchise splashed out a whopping USD $75,000 for Germany’s Christopher Ruhr. This makes Ruhr, who is debuting at the HIL this year, the highest paid foreign buy this season.

Returning to the Ranchi franchise is India’s Manpreet Singh who recently revealed that playing for one of India’s most successful cricket captains is a real inspiration: “The single most important motto of our team is to stay cool like MS Dhoni,” said the midfielder.

Delhi-based side and 2014 champions, Delhi Waveriders, will be captained once again by New Zealand’s Simon Child, while the defence is shored up by the arrival of Belgium goalkeeper Vincent Vanasch. Last year’s Player of the Tournament, Rupinder Pal Singh, will once again be a popular figure with the supporters.

Kieran Govers and Jeremy Hayward are entering their third season with Dabang Mumbai and the two forwards are among a number of Australians who will be using the HIL as a chance to pit their skills against the best in the world.

Fellow Australian Jay Stacey has the reins as coach of Dabang and he will be hoping to lead his side to at least a Semi-Final berth this year after missing out by a whisker in the 2016 season.

The final team of the super six are the Kalinga Lancers. Coached by New Zealand’s Mark Hager, this is a team that will not be short on fire power with Australian hot-shot Glenn Turner leading the attack.

Last year the Lancers made the final but were comprehensively outplayed by Jaypee Punjab Warriors, but the previous two editions had seen the Lancers finish sixth and fifth, so this is a team that is making fast progress.

The teams have all arrived in India and Twitter and Instagram is full of pictures and snippets of information from training sessions. The next six weeks promise to be full of amazing hockey action so keep tuned in and enjoy this spectacular hockey showcase. Live streaming is available here and you can keep up with the results and news via the Coal India Hockey India League website.

*In the following territories, the Coal India Hockey India League will be shown on the below networks:



FIH site



HIL 5: Fifth Hockey India League commences today

s2h team



The fifth edition of the globally acclaimed Hockey India League starts today with a match between the host Dabang Mumbai and Indian coach led Ranchi Rays. International array of stars includes the likes of Ashley Jackson, Moritz Fuerste, Florian Fuchs, Pelleit Gonzalo while every Indian star dazzle in each team, though the focus will be on the inclusion of side-lined Olympian Gurbaj Singh.

After India's winning spree post Rio, the nation talks about hockey more intensively and passionately.

Hockey is back on the collective consciousness of the country for all positive reasons.

Therefore, it is expected the fifth edition of HIL will be watched keenly.

The new found status of Indian stars like Nikkin Thimmaiah, who struck the winning goal against Pakistan in the Kuantan Asian Champions Trophy, Gurjant Singh, the junior star whose goal in the Lucknow Junior oup final against vastly improved Belgium -- a lofted backhand that sent the ball crashing on the other side netting -- are still afresh in the mind.

Junior World Cup stars in particular will be watched closely, and are expected to blossom in the next one month.

Perhaps since the commencement of the HIL, Indian junior internationals will be cornering the spotlight overshadowing the seniors.

This statement fact shows healthy development for Indian hockey which hosts the next Senior World Cup next year.

Indian fans therefore will be influencing the choice and it will depend on how the juniors shape up.

This will also be wake up call for senior players who are now well-entrenched in the team ranks, but will face survival dilemma as the HIL will come to close in a month's time.

The healthy competition will be the feature of the fifth HIL edition.

Globally, the attraction remains the price the players commanded for the ongoing edition whose auction took place in 2015.

Next edition will mark new auction as this year marks the end of 2-year auction period.

Hockey India League will expand to seven next year, and many known heads may not last the third Auction. Therefore the veterans here need to perform or perish.

Its a known sporting fact that when the situation becomes tight the best out-performs.

The existing condition therefore provide each member of six franchises a pressure, a purpose and an objective.

We, the fans, are the most benefitted in such environ, and are looking forward to a cracking matches for a month to come.

Stick2Hockey.com



Hockey India League 2017: Dabang Mumbai entertains champions Ranchi Rays in opener

Mumbai: Dabang Mumbai, who had never made it to the semi-finals of the previous four editions of Hockey India League, are hoping that season 5 will turn out better as they play their five home games at a stretch here from Saturday till the end of the month.

Mumbai open their campaign against two-time champions Ranchi Rays and then clash with UP Wizards (Jan 24), defending champions Punjab Warriors (Jan 27), 2014 champions Delhi Wave Riders (Jan 30) before concluding their home leg against last year's losing finalists Kalinga Lancers (Jan 31).

The home side - coached by four-time Olympian Jay Stacy of Australia - has the right mixture of experience and youth, both in attack and defence.

The presence of five players - who were all part of the Indian World Junior Cup winning squad will be of interest as national coach Roelant Oltmans has said he will be watching the juniors’ performance in HIL with a keen eye.

"We deliberately gave some pitch time to the five boys last year and since then they have significantly improved and got exposed to higher levels of hockey, lots of international games and training, and of course success in the Junior World Cup in Lucknow," said head coach Stacy.

The five are goalkeeper Krishan Pathak, drag-flick penalty corner exponent Harmanpreet Singh, midfielders Nilakanta Sharma and Manpreet Singh and forward Gurjant Singh.

"I am rally pleased that they are going to be able to impact matches this year. I'm pleased with their confidence and the form they are showing. I was in Lucknow to watch the Australian team and I was also watching the Indian team perform. Those boys, in particular, performed very well. I am very happy with the condition that they are in," Stacy added.

German striker Florian Fuchs, of six foreign nationalities represented in the squad, will lead the team.

The squad has David Harte and Pathak to guard the goal, while Harmanpreet, Jeremy Hayward, Gurmail Singh would form the defensive wall.

There have been three new additions in Belgium defender Emmanuel Stockbroekx and the Dutch duo -- Sander De Wijn and Robert Kemperman.

Nilakanta Sharma, Danish Mujtaba, Vikas Sharma, Tyron Pereira, Manpreet and Vikas Sharma will form the midfield while Fuchs, Roshan Minz, Affan Yousuf, Gurjant Singh, John Bjorkman would lead the attack.

Stacy was confident the team will make the play-offs after missing the bus in earlier editions.

"We need to get more results, but we made significant improvement last year from the previous edition when we won just one game. Last year, we won four and missed the play-off on goal difference, showing we are heading in right direction.

"We have to tighten up a few areas -- in decision making, in set pieces and things like that - but I am optimistic we can make the play-off this year," the Australian said.

Indian forward and Olympian Nikkin Thimmaiah and Australian mid-fielder Keiran Govers are back after missing out on action last year due to injuries.

The visitors, guided by Junior World Cup winning coach Harendra Singh, are no push-overs as they have retained England’s Ashley Jackson and Barry Middleton, along with Australian defender Fergus Kavanagh.

In addition they have a strong Indian presence in Gurbaj Singh, Kothajit Singh, Manpreet Singh and Birendra Lakra and four juniors who were part of the victorious Indian Junior World Cup squad.

Christopher Ruhr, who won the bronze medal with Germany in last August's Rio Olympics, will also lend extra edge to the team along with Australian defender Timothy Deavin, who was a member of his country's gold-medal winning team in the 2014 World Cup.

"This time all the teams are of equal strength and anybody can go on to win the title. I am also happy that all our Junior World Cup players have got a chance to play in the HIL. I know that all foreign players want to play in the League, not only for the money for also for the experience," said Harendra Singh.

"First match of the league. Because of the Olympic Games in summer lot of players had taken time off and then come here directly. I am are very lucky to be here and especially playing for Ranchi which gets very good crowd. We are also two-time champions," said Jackson.

"More importantly, you have the juniors to fill in the places. We have four in our team. For me the league is the reason why India won the Junior World Cup title. HIL is very important for Indian hockey," the English player added.

"They are a year older and year more mature. They had a very successful WC and unbelievable experience. You can say they are more confident. They have played hockey for a long time and understanding of how to play the game and hopefully we will see it in the quality of the games this year."

Firstpost



Mumbai take on Ranchi in HIL opener

Mumbai: A fiercely-competitive Hockey India League (HIL) is primed to roll out with the clash between Dabang Mumbai and Ranchi Rays at the Mahindra Hockey Stadium on Saturday.

New imports such as Germany’s Christopher Ruhr, Dutch veteran defender Robert van der Horst, Dutch midfielders Robbert Kemperman and Billy Bakker, defender Sander de Wijn, Australian forward Tom Craig, Belgians Florent van Aubel, Emmanuel Stockbroekx and Arthur Van Doren will add to the flavour of the six-team tournament.

Varun Kumar and Arman Qureshi, two of the Junior Hockey World Cup-winning team members, will feature in Punjab Warriors, who will be looking to keep their title. The team looks formidable this year with the likes of veterans Mark Knowles, van der Horst, Sardar Singh, SV Sunil in its ranks. Injured drag-flicker Christopher Ciriello has been replaced by Dutchman Mink van der Weerden, who will make his HIL debut. Punjab will begin their title defence against Mumbai on January 27 in Mumbai.

The teams will play a double round-robin preliminary league played on home and away basis followed by the semifinals and final on February 25 and 26, respectively.

The Tribune



Chance for aspirants to crack the big league

Nandakumar Marar


Harender Singh. 

MUMBAI: This year’s Hockey India League promises to be different from similar franchise-based leagues where Indians are viewed as support cast to foreigners in team line-ups.

Coming after the high of 2016’s junior World Cup triumph, members of the junior squad will be under the spotlight as much as the foreign faces.

India senior coach Roelant Oltmans is on record that ambitious juniors from the World Cup, looking to break into the senior probables list, will be expected to make their presence count in HIL 2017.

Ranchi Rays head coach Harender Singh agreed with Oltmans. On the eve of this season’s opener at the Mahindra Stadium where his team takes on Dabang Mumbai, Harender said: “With Oltmans saying that HIL performances will count, the juniors need to deliver. At the junior World Cup, they were boys. Now they are men, playing against the world’s best.”

With 33 junior World Cuppers distributed among different teams and leading pros from major hockey nations, Harinder said, each of the six sides were title contenders.

Mumbai coach Jay Stacy said his team’s focus was on developing young talent. “Last season we took a conscious decision to give the juniors a chance, with a view to give them exposure,” he said.

Harender promised an open game in Saturday’s opener.

“Ranchi Rays is never defensive,” he said.

Ashley Jackson, Ranchi captain last season, spoke of the how the League has helped the Indian youngsters.

“Last year they were younger by one year,” he said. “After a year of exposure to international level, they will have developed.”

“I always say the HIL is the reason for India winning the junior World Cup.”

The Hindu



HIL 2017: Nikkin Thimmaiah ready to roar for Dabang Mumbai

Vineet Ramakrishnan

NEW DELHI: Hailing from Coorg, the hotbed of hockey in India, it was natural for Nikkin Thimmaiah to become a hockey player. Though he was a good athlete with a silver medal to his name in the 400m in junior nationals, hockey is where he had to end up.

Thimmaiah dazzled during his early years with the men's national team before a string of injuries lead to a slump in form. After undergoing a shoulder surgery in 2015 that forced him to miss the 2016 Hockey India League (HIL), Thimmaiah roared back and led India to Asian Champions Trophy triumph in October last year. Leaving behind his injury woes, he is now focussed to do well for his HIL franchise Dabang Mumbai in the upcoming season.

In an exclusive chat with TOI Sports, the 26-year-old spoke about his team's objective, his personal goals and his most cherished memories with the men's national team.

Excerpts:

How have preparations been for the upcoming Hockey India League?

Preparations are going strong, we are practicing really well. We've got youngsters and very good foreign players and it has been good training with all of them. Last year the boys played really well but the results were not on our side. This year we have decided that whatever happened last season, we are not going to think about it and train hard and take the positives from the upcoming season and make sure we get in to the semis, and then go on from there.

Expectations for 2017?

This league is going to be tough for all the teams this year. I think others have a balanced unit. We have the Junior World Cup-winning players and they are a great addition to the squad. I missed out on playing with (Florian) Fuchs last year and am looking forward to playing with him. He is one of the best forwards the game has seen in recent memory. We have Robbert Kemperman, Nilkanta, Manpreet from the junior team and Affan Yousuf and these guys have done really well and I think the team gets a boost seeing their performance. It is like you have to do 10 per cent more because you are a senior in this team, and it is a healthy competition within the team itself and this will be a good season for us.

Missing last year's HIL was tough...

It was a bad feeling that I couldn't be part of the team last year. But this time, I am focused and looking forward to do whatever I am good at and contribute to the team's success and make sure we reach the semi-finals.

Indian hockey had a fantastic 2016. What according to you were the reasons behind the success?

It is like a four year cycle for us - Olympics to Olympics. We put in a lot of time in our practice and that preparation got us good results. Personally for me, it was about getting back stronger after every injury. In 2015, I injured my shoulder and underwent a surgery but I got back stronger. I worked hard and that helped a lot. Whatever I could contribute I did. My team-mates supported me and the team gelled together well and we had a great season.

Talking about your contribution, it was your goal in the final against Pakistan that helped India win the Asian Champions Trophy last year...

Definitely winning against Pakistan is always memorable and scoring the winner was a great thing for me. It will always remain in my memory and will cherish that forever. We had decided that we had to win the tournament because we are Asia's No 1 team; we are ranked sixth in the world. So we wanted to remain Asia's top team by winning the tournament. We had a different strategy under Roelant Oltmans and that worked. It was a good tournament for us.

One of your best performances at the international level came in the 2015 Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy where you scored a hat-trick against Australia. How important was that tournament for you?

It was a great tournament for me. I scored five goals and it was under Paul Van Ass. Beating Australia was a memorable moment and a dream come true because they are such a good team. Going on to win and having hat-trick to my name was something great. Credit goes to the entire team, the coach. We had a lot of up and downs in that tournament but the team had the belief and confidence and it will always be a tournament that I will remember.

You have been part of teams coached by Roelant Oltmans, Paul Van Ass and Terry Walsh. How has your development been as a player under all three?

Under Oltmans (then high performance director) I made my debut in the 2013 Asia Cup which I will never forget. It was a great learning experience for me. I learned a lot under him. He explains things very well with one-on-one chats with the players. It is nice to have him around. Terry was a great coach as well. I think I developed in to a good player under Terry. And all the coaches I worked under helped me gain confidence as a player. Oltmans is helping me now. He told me that I had to work on my weak points like I used lack a bit of vision, my stealing wasn't that good and he recognised that and asked me to work on in. I concentrated on that then worked on my fitness as well. I had to strengthen my whole body as I was prone injury. I missed out on the World Cup (2014) because of an injury (hamstring) and I don't want that to happen again.

Was playing hockey always your dream?

Back in Coorg, hockey is big. You might be know that the biggest hockey tournament in the world - The Family tournament (Kodava Hockey Festival) - takes place there every year, so naturally I got interested in hockey. My dad was a hockey player too and he supported me a lot. Then I joined a school in Bangalore, St. Joseph's Indian High School, which is really good for sports. I was good in all the sports and so I decided to give Athletics a try. I bagged a silver medal in the Under-16 400m nationals. But it came down to a point where I had to choose what sport to pursue further. It was a tough decision and my dad helped with that. My mom has been a very supportive person and she has helped me through my ups and downs. She has been like my mentor and now here am playing for India.

Any childhood idols growing up?

I used to look up to Dhanraj Pillay, Sardar Singh - these two are the role models for me. Then Teun de Nooijer was someone whom I followed. But mainly my dad, for obvious reasons.

Any personal goals that you have set for the upcoming HIL season?

As I missed out on the last season I want to see my team get to the top and I will put all my efforts in to that. I am working on it, also my goal scoring and all the activities the team is doing is aimed at finishing the job at hand.

The Times of India



Van Aubel one of four Belgians in HIL



KHC Dragons’ Florent van Aubel became the fourth Belgian player to get a call for the Hockey India League which gets under way this weekend.

He follows club mate Arthur van Doren, Vincent Vanasch and Manu Stockbroekx with van Aubel stepping in for the injured Jamie Dwyer with the Uttar Pradesh Wizards.

Speaking about getting the late call, van Aubel told the Hockey Belgium website: "I was pretty disappointed in November when I was not selected to play in the competition. I told myself that I was going to concentrate on my studies.

“I had to pass exams very soon but this is an opportunity that you cannot refuse.”
Belgian coach Shane McLeod agreed to allow van Aubel to travel over to the competition and he is looking forward to playing with some familiar faces.

"What's great is that I can play alongside guys I know well for years. I will be playing alongside Sander Baart [Real Club de Polo] and Agustin Mazzilli [Mannheimer HC].

“I know India well since I have been there three times. So I know perfectly what to do and not to do on a hygiene level. Our ambition is to play for the title and I think we have serious things to prove! "

Euro Hockey League media release



Men's National Team and Senior Development Squad named for 2017

Shaheed Devji


Canada’s Men’s National Team during a match vs Ireland at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 11, 2016. Photo by Yan Huckendubler.

Field Hockey Canada’s Men’s National Program has named the Senior Men’s National Team and Development Squad rosters for the 2017 year.

Thirty-six athletes have been named to the two squads, with the National Team consisting of 24 players who have an average of 88 senior international games played.

The National Team features 14 of the 16 players who represented Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The remaining two – Benjamin Martin and Jagdish Gill – have since retired from international competition.

New additions to the Men’s National Team include a handful of athletes who make the jump from the junior level and recently competed at the 2016 Junior World Cup in India: Balraj Panesar, Brandon Pereira, Harbir Sidhu. Oliver Scholfield joins threein making the jump from last year’s Senior Development Squad, up to the National Team.

Floris van Son also joins the National Team after having been a part of the squad that prepared for the Olympic Games.

The Senior Development Squad also features young blood, many of whom competed at this year’s Junior World Cup including Amrit Sidhu, Fin Boothroyd, Iqwinder Gill, Jamie Wallace, Rohan Chopra, and Thomson Harris.

Midfielder Paul Wharton bring his 60 games of senior international experience to the roster which is largely filled with players who will be looking to earn their first senior caps.

The Men’s National Team is now centralized in Vancouver preparing for World League Round 2 in Bangladesh this March.

2017 Men's National Team

 

 

2016 Senior Development Squad

 

Field Hockey Canada media release



USMNT Travel to Spain for a 10 Day Training Camp



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The U.S. Men’s National Team is diving into 2017 with a training camp from Friday, January 20 to Monday, January 30 in Barcelona, Spain. Twenty-four national team athletes will spend the 10-day period as their initial phase of preparation for FIH Hockey World League Round 2 which will be held from March 25 - April 3, 2017 in Tacarigua, Trinidad & Tobago.

The red, white and blue will arrive in Spain today and begin competition Monday, January 23 at the Federative Stadium. As the five-match series unfolds, the squad will sharpen their stick skills against Catalunia and Wales while holding several practices and team meetings to shape the direction of the program under a new coaching staff.

"We are very excited to be given the opportunity to train and compete in Spain for 10 days, said Rutger Wiese, USMNT Head Coach. "As a staff we are looking to not only outline the direction for the new year but also to select the squad that will compete at World League Round 2 in March. The squad currently in Spain has several returning players but also includes several U-21 Junior National team players. We will face stiff competition and train very hard this camp and set the tone for the year."

Spain Training Camp Schedule:
 Monday, January 23      USA vs Catalunia      12:00 p.m.
 Tuesday, January 24      USA vs Catalunia      12:00 p.m.
 Friday, January 27      USA vs Wales      2:00 p.m.
 Saturday, January 28      USA vs Wales      5:00 p.m.
 Sunday, January 29      USA vs Wales      10:00 p.m.
* The competition time is based off the event’s location. Barcelona is 6 hours ahead of the Eastern Standard Time Zone.

Although the friendly matches will not be streamed or live tweeted, view a recap of the series by visiting usafieldhockey.com in the coming days.

Team USA Spain Training Camp Roster:

Michael Barminski (Ventura, Calif.), Tom Barratt (Greensboro, N.C.), Sean Cicchi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Ajai Dhadwal (Agoura Hills, Calif.), Mohan Gandhi (Ventura, Calif.), Alex Grassi (Brookeville, Md.), Pat Harris (Moorpark, Calif.), William Holt (Lakeside, Calif.), Deegan Huisman (Almere, The Netherlands), Aki Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany), Brandon Karess (Allentown, Pa.), Amor Khokar (Valencia, Calif.), Kai Kokolakis (Wiesbaden, Germany), Manny Martinez (Boston, Mass.), Adam Miller (Panama City, Fla.), Nick Molcsan (Wanganui, New Zealand), Johnny Orozco (Ventura, Calif.), Keeling Pilaro (South Hampton, N.Y.), Nick Richardson (Kent Hill, Maine), Moritz Runzi (Boston, Mass.), Paul Singh (Simi Valley, Calif.), Tyler Sundeen (Simi Valley, Calif.), Ruben van Dam (Valkenswaard, The Netherlands), Andy Zayac (Hayward, Calif.).

USFHA media release



2017 U.S. U-21 Women's National Team Announced



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - With a new year comes change and with that comes a new list of athletes given the opportunity to represent their country. Coming off of 2016 with valuable experience against international competition, USA Field Hockey is pleased to announce the 2017 U.S. U-21 Women's National Team roster.

"As the past couple of years have shown the U-21 team is a great opportunity for our best athletes in that age category to train and play together," said Janneke Schopman, current U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach and former U-21 USWNT. "We see these athletes improve and become better players every time they are together. They also show great energy and commitment and are a great group to work with. I’m excited to see this group of players with lots of talent develop further!"

Schopman and her staff evaluated athletes throughout the year at U-21 training camps, high performance and Junior National Camps, the Young Women's National Championship and during the college season. The selection process took into account the willingness to learn and athletes' abilities to improve and grow with the ultimate goal to become a national team player.

The 2016 year was jam packed for the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team. In January, the U-21 USWNT hosted Great Britain's U-21 Team at Spooky Nook Sports in Lancaster County, Pa. for a five-game test series where they finished 3-1-1. In March, Team USA traveled to Trinidad & Tobago for the Junior Women's Pan American Championship. After cruising through pool play and both quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, the U-21 USWNT met the only other undefeated team, Argentina, in the final. The silver medal finish earned Team USA a qualifying spot at the the women's Hockey Junior World Cup in November in Santiago, Chile. Playing some of the top international junior teams while gaining valuable experience, the U-21 USWNT finished the event in 8th place.

In addition to welcoming more strong, new talent to the squad, the 2017 roster contains 14 veterans. Congratulations to the following athletes who have been named to the U.S. U-21 Women's National Team:

Maddie Bacskai (Princeton, Berwyn, Pa.), Kelsey Bing (Stanford, Houston, Texas), Jennifer Bleakney (Syracuse, Columbia, Md.), Virginia Bramley (Penn State, Elizabethtown, Pa.), Amanda Collins (UConn, Binghampton, N.Y.), Brooke Deberdine (Penn Manor, Millersville, Pa.), Skyler Fretz (Penn State, Oley, Pa.), Linnea Gonzales (Maryland, Bel Air, Md.), Danielle Grega (ODU, Kingston, Pa.), Alex Halpin (UNC, Mohegan Lake, N.Y.), Caroline Hanks (Maryland, Niskayuna, N.Y.), Ashley Hoffman (UNC, Mohton, Pa.), Laura Hurff (Syracuse, Newark, Del.), Abby Julius (Liberty, Hummelstown, Pa.), Kelee Lepage (Maryland, Honey Brook, Pa.), Gabrielle Major (UNC, Royersford, Pa.), Erin Matson (WC Eagles, Chadds Ford, Pa.), Madison Morano (Penn State, Hammonton, N.J.), Margaux Paolino (Duke, Villanova, Pa.), Jenny Rizzo (Penn State, Hershey, Pa.), Taylor Stone  (Louisville, Herndon, Va.), Julianna Tornetta (Princeton FHC, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), Sophia Tornetta (Princeton, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), Casey Umstead (UConn, Green Lane, Pa.), Nicole Woods (Louisville, Beverly, Mass.), Corinne Zanolli (WC Eagles, Newtown Square, Pa.)

The U.S. U-21 Women's National Team has two training camps scheduled for 2017. The first will happen February 11-15, 2017 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. Here the U-21 USWNT will practice as well as scrimmage the U.S. Women's National Team. The second training camp weekend will take place March 17-19, 2017 at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

"I am very excited to see what the 2017 U.S. U-21 Women's National Team has to bring this year," said Hurff. "Last year we had a very talented group and are lucky enough to have most of the team returning. As a program, we are looking forward to seeing what the new members of the U-21 squad will bring. To have the opportunity to travel to California to train with the U.S. Women's National Team will be a rewarding and beneficial experience. As a group, we will learn what it takes to continue on in the U-21 program and what being apart of the senior squad entails."

USFHA media release



High-riding UniKL make it four out of four

by Aftar Singh

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) are on a roll.

The team helmed by A. Arulselvaraj registered their fourth straight win with an impressive 6-2 victory over Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM)-KPT at the Kuala Lumpur Hockey Stadium yesterday.

This is their best-ever start since featuring in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) in 2011.

The league leaders were forced to dig deep for the win by a stubborn UiTM side that packed their defence.

But in the end three well-executed penalty corners saved the day for UniKL.

UiTM took a shock lead in the eighth minute through Steffen James. But UniKL’s Aleem Bilal cancelled the lead off a penalty corner in the 22nd minute.

UniKL then stamped their mark and scored another five more goals through Najmi Farizal Jazlan (35th), Izwan Firdaus Tajuddin (44th), Ignacio Santiago Salas (54th), Aleem (58th) and Azrul Hasbullah (60th).

UiTM managed to pull one back through Nazirul Mubin in the 55th minute.

Arulselvaraj said they started poorly in the first quarter as his players took things lightly.

“UiTM’s first goal was a jolt as it woke up the players and they started showing more urgency,” said Arulselvaraj. “It is good that our penalty corners worked today and that will give confidence to the players.”

The Star of Malaysia



NSW secure the double in the U18 Indoor Champs

Hat trick for Ehren Hazell

Holly MacNeil



(Wollongong, NSW) – NSW has come away victorious in both the men’s and women’s U18 Australian Indoor Championships this morning, securing victory over WA and VIC respectively.

The women’s game was up first, and Victoria were off to a great start with an early lead coming in the form of a penalty corner goal for Carly James in just the third minute of play. New South Wales weren’t letting the play get away from them so early in the game however, with Taylor Thomson nailing a field goal only a minute later.

Securing the 2 - 1 victory for NSW was Emma Corcoran who, in the 15th minute of the game converted a penalty corner for the home team. Both teams had chances at penalty corners in the second half but were unable to make the most of the opportunities, leaving the final score at 2 – 1 and giving NSW the crown of the U18 Women’s Indoor Champions. Corcoran went on to be awarded the Player of the Final.

Over in the U18 men’s final, NSW stormed to victory courtesy of a hat trick from the top goal scorer of the tournament, Ehren Hazell, along with a double from Daine Richards. WA gave themselves a fighting chance with an early goal from Jesse Ryan, but they couldn’t come back to seal a win over the home team. 

The final score in the U18 men’s competition 5 – 1, with NSW’s Daine Richards awarded the Player of the Final and team mate Ehren Hazell the top goal scorer of the tournament.

Now that the U18 Australian Indoor Championship has concluded, all eyes will turn to the final tournament of the Australian Indoor Championships – the U15 Australian Indoor Championships.

Supported by Destination Wollongong, Illawarra South Coast Hockey Association, the University of Wollongong and Hockey NSW, the Indoor Festival of Hockey is a three-week extravaganza of indoor hockey, showcasing the best players in the country at Open, Under 21, Under 18, Under 15 and Under 13 level.

Now in the second year of an initial two-year agreement, more than 1000 participants, spectators and volunteers will be involved over the next three weeks.

Anyone visiting Wollongong for the Indoor Festival of Hockey over the next three weeks is encouraged to visit the Visit Wollongong website for information and ideas of what to see and do.

Hockey Australia thanks all of its partners and the outstanding team of volunteers and officials for their great work at the Indoor Festival of Hockey.

Final standings –  U18 Women’s Australian Indoor Championship

1. NSW
2. VIC
3. WA
4. QLD
5. ACT
6. TAS
7. SA

Award Winners - U18 Women’s Australian Indoor Championship
Player of the Tournament: Riley Sutherland (VIC)
Player of the Final: Emma Corcoran (NSW)
Top Goal Scorer: Clara Quirk (WA) (10 goals)

Final Standings – U18 Men’s Australian Indoor Championship

1. NSW
2. WA
3. ACT
4. QLD
5. VIC
6. SA
7. TAS

Award Winners - U18 Men’s Australian Indoor Championship
Player of the Tournament: Aaron Knight (ACT)
Player of the Final: Daine Richards (NSW)
Top Goal Scorer: Ehren Hazell (NSW) (17 goals)

Hockey Australia media release



English Super 6s juniors in full swing this weekend

Super 6s action focuses on clubs with Men’s and Women’s Division Two as well as the Boys’ and Girls’ Under 16 and Under 18 finals.

In the senior competitions Men’s Division Two is being played at University of West of England in Bristol and the Women’s at Three Hills Sports Park, Folkestone. The top two teams in Division Two earn promotion to Division One for 2017-18.

The Boys’ Under 16 tournament takes place at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton with the Under 18s at Phoenix Leisure Centre in Dawley, Telford.

The Girls’ U16s are also at Aldersley with the U18s playing at Whitgift School, Croydon.

For details of the various competitions including participating teams and how to keep up with the action click on the links below.

Boys’ U16 & U18 championships

 

Girls’ U16 & U18 championships

 

Men’s Division Two

Women’s Division Two 

England Hockey Board Media release



Super 6s Final Four: Canterbury


Eliza Brett and Sarah Kerly celebrate a Canterbury goal

The third of our contenders for the Women’s Super 6s title is Canterbury. The Kent side are chasing a history making first title in this competition and will be raring to go at Wembley.

Runners up in last year’s competition and semi-finalists the year before the experience will not be new to Canterbury who will be roared on as ever by their passionate travelling green and white army of fans.

The side from Polo Farm booked their place on the final day of qualification thanks to vital wins over fellow final four qualifiers Sutton Coldfield and Bowdon Hightown. Now they will face a rematch with Bowdon, the side they bested 5-3 to seal their place at the finals day.

“We’re really pleased to have made it through.” said Captain Sarah Kerly. “After the first weekend we were fourth and we knew it was going to be close. We needed to perform to our best and make sure it was in our hands rather than relying on someone else. To get the job done and get to Wembley is very satisfying. “


Canterbury Indoor finals day 2017

Kerly has revelled in her role as senior player and captain this time out. In a squad with a number of young players the striker who is not exactly long in the tooth herself at 26 has shown her team the way with 12 goals in qualifying including a splendid hat-trick in the 6-5 win against East Grinstead.

Another player who has relished the challenge is Great Britain and England star Grace Balsdon. A rock solid defender with a rocket of a penalty corner up her sleeve the 23-year-old bagged nine goals of her own as the Kent side showed their potency in front of goal with 35 strikes in qualifying. 

Balsdon and teenager Nina Steikowsky are two who Kerly has singled out as threats but she is keen to stress the role played by the likes of Lizzie Neal and Eliza Brett commenting that Canterbury are a “strong unit throughout.”

Indeed the captain is correct, what the Canterbury side lacks in years and experience it more than makes up for in raw talent with some hair-raising skills on display from their array of young guns.

Previous heartbreak at finals day is still fresh in the mind but Kerly is determined to help her side go all the way this time:

“We know what it feels like to lose out so we want to win it this time. It’s a really exciting place to be and not something you get to do too often as a hockey player, so with last year’s experience under our belts we know what to expect and can hopefully do ourselves justice.”

Can Canterbury make history and capture the title? Will the famous name of Kerly be lifting another trophy at the end of the final? We don’t have to wait long to find out.

England Hockey Board Media release



Pivotal weekend as indoor hockey enters the Pool stages


Dundee v Inverleith Indoor women

With the league section of the first division championship done and dusted the competition enters the pool stages, with semi-final places on offer for the top two sides and the spectre of relegation for the bottom teams.

In the men's competition, champions Inverleith have the toughest of openings; first up they take on their traditional rivals Grove Menzieshill, and then face bottom side Western Wildcats later in the day.

Inverleith top the pool after taking forward the results from the league programme following a narrow 3-2 win over the Taysiders but that could be seriously challenged if Grove Menzieshill can win this weekend`s return. It was a close call last time, the sides were locked at 2-2 with a couple of minutes left, then Patrick Christie stepped in with a late winner from open play.

Stuart Neave, Inverleith`s coach, will be encouraged by his side`s increasingly potent penalty corner routine with Adam McKenzie and Stephen Dick in form, that could give them the edge over their Tayside rivals.

On the game, Neave casually said: "Our focus will remain on how we are playing regardless of who the opposition is.

"That said, the Grove Menzieshill game will certainly give us a good test of that, as they obviously have some very capable players."

The incentive is clear, a win over Grove Menzieshill would guarantee them a place in the semi-finals, and avoiding high-flying Bromac Kelburne at the same time.

Inverleith`s second outing is against Wildcats who they beat 7-3 last week in the league, and yet the score was only 3-2 and then 4-3 at certain points in the game.

Perhaps the pressure is more on the Taysiders, they have to win to have a more realistic chance of topping the pool. But since dropping five points on the opening day, the Dundonians have been in rampant form with four straight victories and 34 goals in the process.

The 19-times Scottish champions will be feeling confident in their second outing against Clydesdale, a side they put ten past in the league.

Kelburne and Grange would appear to be the chief contenders for the top places in the other pool with the league winners from Paisley in pole position on maximum points.

Grange are three points behind Kelburne at the top of the pool and may have to settle for second place unless they can stifle the lethal finishing of Johnny Christie. The former Scotland striker scored five times in Kelburne`s 6-3 win in the league encounter - his total count has now risen to 29 in seven games.

The Edinburgh side will then need to see off Hillhead in their second game to hold on to second spot. Grange will rely on the sharpness of Frank Ryan, Luke Cranney and Callum Milne to see them through that hurdle.

In a second competition there will be a drive to avoid bottom place in the respective pools and the unwelcome invitation to the relegation play-off. That dubious honour could fall to either Hillhead or Uddingston in Pool A along with Clydesdale and Wildcats in the other group, and these side face each other head-to-head in early part of the day.

Pool B in the women`s championships looks to be on a knife edge with both Edinburgh University and Milne Craig Western on seven points, the students have the advantage of a slightly superior goal difference.

The sides meet in the opening game, if the earlier 3-3 draw is anything to go by it should be another close encounter. Both teams are almost certain to qualify for the semi-finals, but the pool winner is likely to avoid Wanderers in the semi-finals.

In their later encounters Edinburgh and Western take on CALA and Bon-Accord respectively, the results may not be in doubt but pole position in the pool may finally come down to goal difference.

Wanderers look favourites to top the other pool and the key encounter will be the re-run of last weekend`s clash with Tayside neighbours Grove Menzieshill. Wanderers triumphed in the league encounter last weekend, but not without some difficulty. They were behind to a Sue Hamilton goal at the interval, rallied and took the points through strikes by Amy Snell and Vikki Bunce from the spot.

Wildcats and Bon-Accord both have three points and are favourites to avoid the relegation play-off, but they must complete the double over Inverleith and CALA respectively to ensure their safety.

Scottish Hockey Union media release



Ged Curran promoted to umpire managers world panel list


Ged Curran

Scottish Hockey is delighted to announce that Ged Curran has been promoted to the International Hockey World Panel list for umpire managers.

Curran, a former world panel umpire who took charge of the 2012 Olympic Final, was upgraded following strong performances over the last two years, including recently at the junior world cup in India in December.

With the promotion, Scotland is one of only five countries in the world, and one of only two European countries, to have a World Panel Umpire Manager and World Panel Umpires. Curran also plays an important role Scotland’s umpire development - he mentors a number of the top Scottish umpires helping them to improve and to hopefully emulate his achievements.

John Heron Chair of the International Appointments Panel said. “This is the culmination of five years of development work since Ged umpired the Olympic final in London. In both Scotland and at world hockey events, Ged has demonstrated an exceptional level of understanding of top level hockey umpiring. The award is testament to the commitment and sacrifice made by Ged and his family during this journey, and will ultimately benefit the quality of umpiring in Scotland.”

Scottish Hockey Union media release



All-India Balwant Kapoor Hockey tournament from January 22


Organisers of the Balwant Singh Kapoor Hockey Tournament interact with the media in Jalandhar on Friday. Tribune Photo: Malkiat Singh

Jalandha: All-India Sardar Balwant Singh Kapoor Memorial Hockey Tournament will be held from January 22 to January 29 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Astro-Turf Hockey Stadium in Burlton Park here. Around 16 teams of U-17 players will participate in the tournament. BS Dhillon, Vice Chancellor, Punjab University will inaugurate the tournament.

Tournament committee president Harbhajan Singh Kapoor today said that the tournament would be played on league-cum-knock out basis. To encourage players, the winners will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 1.25 lakh while the first runners up will be given Rs 80,000 and the second runners up will get Rs 60,000. The team at the fourth position will be given a sum of Rs 40,000. The top scorer, best forward, full and half back players will get Rs 7,500 each for their best performance in the tournament, he added.

A Fair Play trophy in the memory of Harmohinder Kaur will also be awarded on the concluding day of the tournament. The organising committee will also announce awards for the best goal keeper, best full back, best half back, best forward, highest scorer and most promising player of the tournament.

The much coveted tournament is organised every year in the memory of Balwant Singh Kapoor and Mata Prakash kaur by their family. This is the only tournament in the state which is being held for hockey players of under -17 age group. Many hockey players, including Akashdeep Singh and Rupinder Pal Singh have also played in the tournament.

The Tribune



Making Hockey great again

Diaz to lead Union in engaging world leaders to make the sport bigger

By Tony Owori


Chris Diaz,Kenya Airways Marketing Manager during the interview at his office at the Kenya Airways headquarters, Embakasi, Nairobi. Photo/Elvis Ogina (Nairobi) January 18th,2017

In 1971, Kenya finished fourth at the hockey World Cup in Barcelona, then a string of success stories followed. Kenya dominated not only Africa, but the local boys could beat literally almost any opponent. All that is history now, and there is little to write home about Kenya National team both men and women at the international stage.

Just last week, Kenya successfully hosted a low key Africa Cup of Club Championships thanks to Zimbabwe’s decision to withdraw from the games at the eleventh hour.

Being the hosts, Kenyan ladies Orange Telkom did not disappoint. For a ninth time, the local girls proved their supremacy over their African counterparts. Under the leadership of Jos Openda, Orange Telkom have won the continental title five times in a row.


Chris Diaz (centre) Patron, Kenya Hockey Union accompanied by Haron Kome (right) Director of Administration, Rose Wasike (left) Registrar of Sports and Resham Bains, Olympic NOCK member during the Kenya Police vs Egypt's Western men's Africa Championships Hockey finals held at the City Park stadium, Nairobi, Kenya. Photo/Elvis Ogina (Nairobi) January 18th,2016.

But there is very little to show from their success. How a Kenyan team can dominate Africa for close to a decade but still remain uncelebrated locally remains a puzzle.

While Kenyan clubs were fighting it out at City Park, Nairobi, it was all business as usual in the capital. Very few people knew about the event and there was little activity outside the country’s only public Astroturf pitch.

Apart from routine coverage by sports journalists, the rest of the country went on with their business as if there was nothing-big happening in Parklands. And even when the local girls edged out Ghana Revenue Authority at the finals, celebrations were only at the City Hockey Park Stadium.

However, all the pomp and glamour witnessed at the stadium in Parklands is now set to spread over the country. According to the new Kenya Hockey Union’s patron, Chris Diaz, plans are in place to restore Kenya’s lost glory in Hockey.

“The journey towards transformation of Kenyan hockey has started and we have laid down clear objectives and strategies that are achievable,” said Diaz.

“My first step was to listen in to all stakeholders right from the ex-players to the coaches, officials and the clubs. Now that I have the right picture plus a plan, we want to involve everyone in a process that will see us realize meaningful change starting this year,” added Diaz.

The patron’s sentiments come at a time when a number of players are quickly losing hope from the sport.

Last Thursday, Openda after being crowned coach of the year at Kenyatta International Convention Centre during Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), hinted at leaving his position as women’s head coach but will still provide advise.

“Other teams benefit a lot by playing us but we do not gain anything,” said Openda.

“It would be better if we were to play against top teams at the world championship stage to improve our standards but as things stand, we only play continental games then come back to the local league and back to continental. There is no growth,” said Openda.

Openda argues that locally, the game has developed so much that there is very little competition within the continent. To quench the industry’s thirst for new challenges plus the desire for growth, KHU will now engage World leaders like Germany, Australia, Holland and India in an effort to promote the development of the game and give more exposure to the players.

“Europe has changed the way the game of hockey is being played today and there are new skills and tactics that make them a notch higher than the rest of the world. The rules of the game too have changed over time and I agree with Openda that we must now adjust.”

“Since hockey is a major sport at the school level, the partnership with Holland would start with the young players and the umpires.

“We have already started a program that will see training of the coaches so that the impact can start with the upcoming players

“When I was in Holland and Germany, we found three year old kids being introduced to the game of hockey and they have structured programs running through various age groups. As such, we are in talks with some of their universities, colleges and schools to have partnerships and scholarships that would see our young boys and girls develop.

“I thank the president Uhuru Kenyatta and his government for the support to sports especially rugby and hockey among other games and we appeal to the ministry of sports to facilitate the worn down astro-turf at Parklands,” added Diaz.

To attain full potential, KHU requires support beyond the Universities and colleges that are today the only entities supporting Hockey. Apart from few community clubs that are struggling to stay afloat, there is need for local and international corporate firms operating in Kenya to help in sponsorships.

A number of players who spoke to The Standard lamented that there is little support from Kenyan business industry and the clubs have to struggle with basics like paying allowances and medical cover for players.

The Standard Online

Fieldhockey.com uses cookies to assist with navigating between pages. Please leave the site if you disagree with this policy.
Copyright remains with the credited source or author