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News for 17 October 2018

All the news for Wednesday 17 October 2018


2018 Test Matches: NZL v CAN (M) - 1st test
Auckland (NZL)

17 October

NZL v CAN     3 - 0

FIH Match Centre



France 3-4 England



Two goals in the final six minutes saw England to victory in a seven-goal thriller against France in Lille.
 
Strikes from Ward and Liam Ansell had put England into a 2-0 lead but before the hosts staged a strong comeback in the second half.

France captain Victor Charlet scored a hat-trick, all from penalty corners, to put his side ahead but James Gall was able to equalise before Ward grabbed the winner.

Phil Roper and Sam Ward both made their 100th international appearances while Rhys Smith, Zach Wallace, Jack Waller and Will Calnan all made their senior England debuts.

Speaking after the match, head coach Danny Kerry said: "This was a highly beneficial experience for our young players and a great opportunity to expose the group to the new system of play against a highly competitive French team.

"I was pleased with our resilience late in the game to come from behind to win against a team who showed their potent threat at penalty corners."

England: George Pinner, Harry Gibson, Luke Taylor, Ollie Willars, David Ames, Harry Martin, Chris Griffiths, Sam Ward, Mark Gleghorne, Phil Roper, Brendan Creed, Liam Ansell, Jack Waller, James Gall, James Albery, Rhys Smith, Will Calnan, Zach Wallace

England Hockey Board Media release



France 3-4 England: Sam Ward scores twice as visitors stage comeback win


Sam Ward scored twice on his 100th international appearance. Photo: Getty Images

Sam Ward scored twice on his 100th international appearance as England staged a late recovery to beat France 4-3 in Lille.

Ward and Liam Ansell gave England a 2-0 lead before the hosts hit back with a hat-trick from captain Victor Charlet.

James Gall levelled six minutes from time before Ward grabbed his second to secure England's victory.

"This was a highly beneficial experience for our young players," said England head coach Danny Kerry.

"I was pleased with our resilience late in the game to come from behind to win against a team who showed their potent threat at penalty corners."

BBC Sport



Glittering Hero Asian Champions Trophy unveiled in Muscat today


AHF Chief Executive Dato Tayyab Ikram, Oman Hockey Federation President Capt Talib Al Wahaibi and His Excellency Sheikh Rashad Ahmed Al Hinai, Under Secretary, Ministry of Sports Affairs unveiled the trophy in a glittering ceremony

Muscat: Ahead of the start of the much-awaited Hero Asian Champions Trophy Muscat 2018 on 18 October 2018, the Asian Hockey Federation Chief Executive Dato Tayyab Ikram, along with host nation Oman Hockey Federation President Capt Talib Al Wahaibi and his Excellency Sheikh Rashad Ahmed Al Hinai, Under Secretary, Ministry of Sports Affairs unveiled the glittering Trophy amidst an elite gathering that included the six Captains from the participating nations India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and 18-member Oman team here on Tuesday. 

Speaking on the occasion, AHF Chief Executive Dato Tayyab Ikram said, “This is the first time, an international hockey event of this magnitude is being held in Oman and the AHF is delighted with the overwhelming support received from the Oman Hockey Federation in organising this event. I would like to thank the Oman Hockey Federation President Capt Talib Al Wahaibi and Minister of Sports Affairs, His Execellency Sheikh Sa'ad bin Mohammed bin Said al Mardhouf al Sa'adi and also His Execellency Sheikh Rashad Ahmed Al Hinai, Under Secretary, Ministry of Sports Affairs for their relentless support. We are once again grateful to have Hero MotoCorp, one of India’s most successful businesses and an organization that has shown extraordinary support for the sport over a number of years, as title sponsors for the 5th edition of Asian Champions Trophy. I am pleased to share that the tickets for most of the matches are sold out and this shows the enthusiasm of the sports-loving people of Oman. I am sure the world class players who have arrived for this important tournament will leave the hockey lovers of Oman enthralled.”

Dato Tayyab Ikram further added that bringing the event to Muscat was important to promote the sport in this region. “Hockey in Oman is on the rise with the national team showing a lot of promise. As part of Asian Hockey Federation’s endeavour to promote, grow and professionalize the sport in Asia, it was important to bring a major tournament to this region. I hope this event will inspire more and more youngsters from Oman to take up hockey,” the AHF Chief Executive stated.

Meanwhile, Oman Hockey Federation President Capt Talib Al Wahaibi expressed his delight over hosting world class players for the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Muscat 2018. “We are elated to have world class players in the Sultanate of Oman and over the span of ten days, hockey lovers will get to witness top-class hockey. I am grateful for the AHF to have given us an opportunity to host a marquee Asian event and I am hopeful all the participating nations will enjoy their stay in Muscat, I wish all the teams the very best,” Capt Talib Al Wahaibi said.

His Excellency Sheikh Rashad Ahmed Al Hinai, Under Secretary Ministry of Sports Affairs, who unveiled the trophy said, “We are very happy to host the Hero Asian Champions Trophy here in Muscat. It is a matter of pride that so many players of international repute are here in the Sultanate of Oman to showcase their talent and eagerness to perform to their potential. I wish all the teams the very best and hope that all the officials, teams and those traveling from other parts of Asia for this event have a pleasant stay.”

Introduced in 2011, with the first edition played in Ordos, China, the Asian Champions Trophy is a marquee event in the Asian Hockey Federation’s calendar. The inaugural edition was clinched by India while Pakistan won the title twice in 2012 and 2013 before India could lift the title again in 2016 held in Kuantan, Malaysia. This year's tournament will witness stiff competition among the top performing teams from across Asia with big stakes at play, especially in the lead-up to the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup, Bhubaneswar 2018 slated to begin on November 28, 2018. 


Captains of the participating nations India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and 18-players from host nation Oman witness the unveiling ceremony on Tuesday

India is the top ranked team among the competing teams at 5th position in the latest FIH Hero World Rankings, while Japan, the Asian Games title holders are ranked No.16 in the world. World No.12 Malaysia, World No.13 Pakistan, World No. 14 Korea and a highly inspired Oman team round up an exciting mix of teams promising a fiercely competed tournament ahead.

The opening match on 18 October 2018 will be played between Japan and Malaysia at 18.55 hours local time while the second match will be played between hosts Oman and Defending Champions India at 21.10 hours local time.

Asian Hockey Federation media release



Roelant Oltmans on return to Indian hockey – 'Depends on circumstances'

By Rutvick Mehta
 


Roelant Oltmans might have parted ways with Indian hockey on a sour note, having been sacked as head coach of the men's team by Hockey India (HI) in September 2017, but the Dutchman is neither sulking nor has he shut the door completely on returning to Indian hockey.

The 64-year-old faced an unceremonious end to his stint of more than four years with the country – first as high-performance director and then as head coach of the men's side – with HI asking him to leave after a few below-par performances by the team under him.

Oltmans then went to Pakistan to be their men's team's head coach before switching to Malaysia earlier this month for the same role.

During the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (CWG) a few months ago, Oltmans termed Indian hockey as a "closed chapter".

However, it doesn't seem to be fully closed just yet.

Asked if he will consider returning to Indian hockey should he is approached, Oltmans told DNA on Tuesday: "That depends on the circumstances of that moment, for me personally as well as the situation with hockey in India at that time.

"There's no point talking about it now because at this moment, that is not the case. But maybe in the future, who knows? We will see," he added.

In Muscat for the Asian Champions Trophy – his first assignment in charge of the Malaysian team – Oltmans revealed that he had a couple of other coaching offers, adding that he considered those options only after stepping down as Pakistan coach last month.

"I want to make one thing very clear: I had already left the Pakistan job before I was approached by Malaysia. Before I decided to take up the job, I was jobless. I had a couple of options, Malaysia was not the only one to approach me," Oltmans, considered one of the best hockey coaches in the world, said.

"I decided to take up the challenge of Malaysia for a couple of reasons: I had an opportunity to come to Malaysia a few times before but those times, it didn't suit me or them. Second, I really feel that Malaysia have it in them to perform at a higher level than their actual world rankings," he added.

The Dutchman also spoke about why he left the Pakistan job after just six months in charge, even though the team showed signs of improvement under him at the CWG and Asian Games.

"The biggest reason for me was that the facilities and the circumstances to work there were not up to the standards that I expected them to be," he said.

"That meant that for me, it became very difficult to fulfill the expectations of everyone in Pakistan. I was happy with the progress the team was making. But to continue the progress in the same direction, a couple of things needed to change from my point of view. And that was not possible," he added.

Daily News & Analysis



Black Sticks record goalscorer Anita McLaren calls time on hockey career


Alexandra Danson of England struggles to keep up with Anita McLaren of New Zealand during the Commonwealth Games. GETTY IMAGES

New Zealand's record women's hockey goalscorer has called time on her nine-year international career.

Anita McLaren confirmed her retirement from the Black Sticks on Wednesday after a glittering career in which she scored 105 goals from 271 appearances, Newshub reported.

McLaren, 31, finishes 25 clear of second-placed Olivia Merry on the all-time goalscoring list, and just three short of Emily Gaddum's record 274 caps for her country.


It was often spectacular with Anita McLaren who slotted 105 goals for her country. GETTY IMAGES

"I'm very much a goal setter and I wanted to make sure that I finished when I was ready. Now I'm ready to see what else is out there for me and I'm excited about my future," McLaren told Newshub.

"I'm proud of what I've achieved and I'm happy to walk away."


Australia forward Madi Ratcliffe and New Zealand midfielder Anita McLaren shake hands after their Commonwealth Games match. GETTY IMAGES

McLaren will now turn her attention to overseeing sport at King's College in Auckland.

Originally from Nelson, McLaren made her international debut in 2009 and ended on a high this year with the Black Sticks' Commonwealth Games gold medal in April when they beat hosts Australia in the decider.

In August, coach Mark Hager's methods came under scrutiny after he accidentally sent an email critical of some Black Sticks to all the players, rather than just the support staff member he intended.


Anita McLaren of New Zealand arrives for a match against Japan at the World Cup in London in July. GETTY IMAGES

After some went public with complaints about the team environment, seven former Black Sticks responded in support of Hager in an open letter.

McLaren also backed Hager on Wednesday and said any grumbles about the coach had nothing to do with her.

"He's got to push us to our absolute best because we want to perform on the world stage, and I think he gets the best out of this group," she told Newshub.

Stuff



Anita McLaren ends record New Zealand Hockey career

By The Hockey Paper


Anita McLaren scored 105 goals for the Black Sticks PIC: Photosport NZ

Anita McLaren, New Zealand women’s record goalscorer, called time on her superb near decade international career on Wednesday.

McLaren, 31, ended her Black Sticks career with 105 goals from 271 appearances, three short of Emily Gaddum’s record 274 Black Sticks caps.

“I’m very much a goal setter and I wanted to make sure that I finished when I was ready,” McLaren, who will now take charge of sport at King’s College in Auckland, told Newshub.

“Now I’m ready to see what else is out there for me and I’m excited about my future.”

McLaren made her international debut in 2009 and ended with gold at the Commonwealth Games in April.

However 2018 also had a low point when New Zealand exited the women’s World Cup in London when coach Mark Hager’s coaching methods came under fire.

But McLaren backed Hager as an independent review was implemented last month.

“He’s got to push us to our absolute best because we want to perform on the world stage, and I think he gets the best out of this group,” she added.

    I'd like to take this time to announce my retirement from international hockey. I would like to thank everybody for all the support and encouragement throughout my career you have all given me so many memories I will cherish forever. Thank you x pic.twitter.com/awVIX3ml0s

    — Anita McLaren (Punt) (@anita_punt) October 17, 2018

But that ulimately won’t overshadow McLaren’s decision to end her career.

She added: “I would like to thank everybody for all the support and encouragement throughout my career you have all given me so many memories I will cherish forever.

“To finally get on that [Commonwealth] podium, hear that anthem and be given a gold medal, if you saw any of the interviews I was a blubbering mess. I’m not very emotional and it all sort of came out.”

The Hockey Paper



Tanvir Dar XI win Rob Lathouwers Challenge Hockey Cup title



LAHORE: Tanvir Dar XI won the inaugural Rob Lathouwers Challenge Hockey Cup at the National Hockey Stadium Lahore here Tuesday. The match between Tanvir Dar XI and Munir Dar XI had ended in 2-2 draw. The tie was decided on toss where luck favoured Tanvir Dar XI. Rob Lathouwers Challenge Cup is the brain child of Olympic gold medallist Taqueer Dar, the founder president of Dar Hockey Academy to honour the famed Dutch umpire Rob Lathouwers. This is in recognition of Lathouwers’ great services for Pakistan hockey in general and Dar Academy in particular. His MOP Club in Holland has hosted Dar Hockey Academy during all their five tours of Holland.

Lathouwers distributed prizes at the end of the match and was overwhelmed by the Dar Academy’s gesture. “I am at a loss of words to express my gratitude. I feel greatly honoured to have an annual event named after me. Pakistan hockey has always been close to my heart and Dar Hockey Academy is my own academy. It gives me a great sense of achievement that academy’s boys have been gaining national selection in numbers.” It is pertinent to mention that Lathouwers developed serious cardiac problem last Friday and spent the night at the Coronary Care Unit of National Hospital. The diagnosis suggested irregular heart functioning. He was very appreciative of the treatment and care. “I was amazed at the way doctors and the other staff looked after me in a very professional manner. Within a day I was good enough to be discharged. Now, I feel 75 personal normal.”

The Daily Times



Australian Hockey League Round Three Preview

Ben Somerford



Quarter-final match-ups at the 2018 Australian Hockey League (AHL) Finals on the Gold Coast will be determined this weekend when Round Three takes place across Australia.

Round Three represents the final home-and-away round matches before the Finals to be played at Gold Coast Hockey Centre from Thursday 25 October to Sunday 28 October.

In the men’s, the Tassie Tigers and the WA Thundersticks sit top of Pool A and Pool B respectively with two wins from two matches.

In the women’s, the NSW Arrows are clear on top of Pool A with two wins, while in Pool B both Victoria and SA, who meet in Round Three, have two victories each.

Quarter-final match-ups will be determined by pool placings, with first in Pool A to play fourth in Pool B, second in Pool B to play third in Pool A, third in Pool B to play second in Pool A and fourth in Pool A to play first in Pool B on Thursday 25 October.

Winners will proceed to the semi-finals on Saturday 27 October, before the medal matches on Sunday 28 October, which will be live streamed on www.epicentre.tv.

Several men’s sides will be boosted this round by the return of Burras players following their bronze medal finish at the 2018 Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia but Kookaburras players will be unavailable due to their pre-World Cup training camp in Perth. Kookaburras players will be available for the AHL Finals.

In Round Three on Saturday, Canberra hosts NSW (women’s 2pm AEDT, men’s 4pm AEDT) in the nation’s capital, with the Waratahs looking to avoid bottom spot in the men’s, while the Arrows can seal top spot in the women’s although a big Strikers win could reverse that.

Brisbane also hosts its first game of the season, when Queensland entertains Tassie on Saturday (women’s 6pm AEST, men’s 8pm AEST) in front of a sell-out crowd. The Scorchers will look to cement top spot in Pool A in the women’s, while the Blades-Tigers clash may decide top spot in Pool A in the men’s.

Perth hosts its first game of the 2018 AHL, when WA plays NT on Saturday (women’s 4pm AWST, men’s 6pm AWST). The Diamonds-Pearls clash will determine third spot in Pool B in the women’s, while the Thundersticks will confirm top spot with any result against the Stingers.

On Sunday, Victoria hosts SA (women’s 2pm AEDT, men’s 4pm AEDT) in Melbourne with top spot up for grabs in Pool B in the women’s. The Vikings-Hotshots match will likely determine second spot in Pool B in the men’s.

This year’s AHL includes rule modifications and innovations, including conversion goals, PumpPlays and no draws, providing more excitement for fans. The 2018 AHL will be the final edition of the competition before a revamped league is launched next year.

Follow the action on www.hockeyaustralia.altiusrt.com and www.facebook.com/HockeyAustralia, Twitter @HockeyAustralia and Instagram @HockeyAustraliaOfficial and via the official hashtag #AHL2018.

Round matches will not be streamed but Hockey Australia will publish weekly highlights on Mondays on our Youtube page.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE AHL FINALS TICKETS

TEAM NEWS

Canberra Strikers v NSW Arrows, Saturday 20 October 2pm (AEDT), National Hockey Centre, Canberra

Sisters Jessica and Emily Smith will face off as rivals in Canberra, while Anna Flanagan takes on her old side. The Strikers are yet to confirm their final 14-player team.

Makaela Potts drop out replaced by Hockeyroos defender Georgina Morgan. Grace Stewart is fresh from four goals in last round’s 8-1 win in Tasmania.

Can: Edwina Bone (c), Catriona Bailey-Price, Jessica Smith, Isabella Apps, Millie Monfries, Meredith Bone, Shelley Watson, Sophie Gaughan, Samantha Economos, Naomi Evans, Elena Tice, Beckie Middleton, Rebecca Lee, Kalindi Commerford, Tina Taseska, Sarah White, Rene Hunter (gk), Talei Forrest (gk) ((to be reduced to 14)

NSW: Jocelyn Bartram (gk), Sarah Johnston, Emily Smith (c), Lisa Farrell, Grace Stewart, Anna Flanagan, Greta Hayes, Mikaela Patterson, Tamsin Bunt, Kaitlin Nobbs, Jessica Watterson, Georgina Morgan, Kate Jenner, Abigail Wilson

Canberra Lakers v NSW Waratahs, Saturday 20 October 4pm (AEDT), National Hockey Centre, Canberra

The Lakers will regain Niranjan Gupte after an impressive Sultan of Johor Cup, along with Jake and Ben Staines. Canberra will again be without keeper Andrew Charter, with Brendan Hill between the sticks. Their final 14-member team is yet to be confirmed.

The Waratahs have made a handful of changes, with goalkeeper Ash Thomas back at the expense of Nick Holman. NSW coach Brent Livermore also hands out three debuts to Hayden Dillon, Ehren Hazell and Dylan Martin following their returns from the Sultan of Johor Cup.

Can: Aaron Knight, Brendan Hill (gk), Owen Chivers, Glenn Turner (c), Matthew Neeson, Kazuma Murata, Jamie Hawke, Niranjan Gupte, Anand Gupte, Garry Backhus, Jake Staines, Manabu Yamashita, Ben Staines, Aaron Kershaw, Lewis McLennan, Lewis Shepherd, Thomas Deane, James Day, Thomson Stuckey, James Lawrence (gk), Jeremy Hopkins (to be reduced to 14)

NSW: Simon Orchard, Jack Hayes, Ash Thomas (gk), Hayden Dillon, Kurt Lovett, Matthew Butturini, Danie Richards, Nicholas McEwen, Tristan White, Ky Willott, Ben Craig, Ryan Proctor, Dylan Martin, Ehren Hazell

WA Diamonds v NT Toshiba Pearls, Saturday 20 October 4pm (AWST), Perth Hockey Stadium

Young guns Renee Rockliff, Sienna Archer and Sara Foster are added to the Diamonds line-up with Danielle Bestall, Line Malan and Shanea Tonkin dropping out following back-to-back defeats. The Pearls are yet to confirm their final 14 but performed better last round in a 3-0 loss to SA.

WA: Phillipa Morgan, Candyce Peacock, Jemma Buckley (c), Caitlin Pascov, Sara Foster, Penny Squibb, Kathryn Slattery, Rachel Frusher, Sienna Archer, Roos Broek, Sage Rogers-Uff, Annie Gibbs, Renee Rockliff, Aleisha Power (gk)

NT: Elizabeth Duguid (gk), Jennifer Hoes (gk), Brooke Peris (c), Felicity Gallagher, Natarlia Smith, Grace Nalder, Jessica Martin-Brown, Tayla Ainslie, Courtney Knowler, Georgia Graf, Josie Short, Babette van der Velden, Kim Leiper, Erin Lidbetter, Danarra Bishop, Jacqueline Graf, Carly James, Seriou Frankema (to be reduced to 14)

WA Thundersticks v NT SRA Stingers, Saturday 20 October 6pm (AWST), Perth Hockey Stadium

The Thundersticks will welcome back Matthew Fisher, Coby Green, Brayden King and Alec Rasmussen after being away at the Sultan of Johor Cup, while the experienced Chris Bausor is added. Jason Gabriel, Tim Andrew, Brandon Gibbs and Joshua Bowen drop out for WA. NT will again be without Jeremy Hayward.

WA: Alec Rasmussen, Tim Geers, Frazer Gerrard, Marshall Roberts, Chris Bausor, Coby Green, Graeme Begbie (c), Will Byas, Dane Gavranich, Daniel Robertson, Bryn De Bes, Brayden King, Ben Rennie (gk), Matthew Fisher

NT: Jason Lowe, Tarrant Haami-Jones, Adam Luck (gk), Adrian Lockley (c), Jamie Hullick, Corey Piggin, Jye Clark (gk), Jacob Andrade, Robert Duguid, Nicholas Hill, Nathan Hochman, Ronan Myyrylainen, Dylan Hill, Jason Hullick, Joel Carroll, Matthew Argent, Dwayne Abbott, Ewan Wallin, Isaac McDonald (to be reduced to 14)

Queensland Scorchers v Tassie Van Demons, Saturday 20 October 6pm (AEST), Queensland State Hockey Centre

Jodie Kenny is available again to boost the Scorchers defence for this sold-out match. Georgia Hillas is added while former Hockeyroos defender Kirstin Dwyer is recalled for Queensland, with Madeline James, Layla Eleison and Tegan Richards dropping out. Hannah Astbury returns in goals to replace Emily Burrows.

The Van Demons have named an unchanged side despite suffering an 8-1 loss last round to the NSW Arrows and a 3-0 defeat in Round One to Canberra. Their first away trip in the 2018 AHL season will test them.

Qld: Savannah Fitzpatrick, Madison Fitzpatrick, Ashlea Fey, Ambrosia Malone, Kirstin Dwyer, Jordyn Holzberger, Madeline James, Tegan Richards, Stephanie Kershaw, Rebecca Greiner, Morgan Gallagher, Hannah Astbury (gk), Britt Wilkinson, Georgia Hillas, Renee Taylor

Tas: Sofie McLeod, Madeleine Hinton, Jess Tremayne, Blair Patten, Laura Spandler, Ashleigh Arthur, Samantha Lawrence, Louisa Jacobson, Jean Flanagan, Sarah McCambridge (c), Eliza Westland, Phillida Bridley, Julia Gunn, Ruby-Rose Haywood (gk)

Queensland Blades v Tassie Tigers, Saturday 20 October 8pm (AEST), Queensland State Hockey Centre

Despite impressing, goalkeeper Mitchell Nicholson drops out for the Blades, replaced by Cade Banditt who has returned from the Sultan of Johor Cup. Blake Wotherspoon is another Burra who is available again, with his return timely with Jacob Anderson linking up with the Australia camp in Perth.

The Tassie Tigers have also lost young forward Jack Welch to the Kookaburras pre-World Cup training camp. Hayden Beltz returns from Burras duty, while Benjamin Austin comes into the side too, with Kurt Mackey dropping out.

Qld: Hugh Pembroke (c), Michael Francis, Ashley Hennegan, Joel Rintala, Blake Wotherspoon, Robert Bell, Shane Kenny, Scott Boyde, Cade Banditt (gk), Oliver Crane, Douglas Buckley, Matthew Shaw, Justin Douglas, Jared Taylor

Tas: Nick Leslie, Hayden Beltz, Benjamin Austin, Linden McCarthy, Samuel McCulloch, Kieron Arthur, Grant Woodcock (gk), Tim Deavin (c), James Bourke, Ben Read, James Dick, Oliver Smith, Gill Gobindraj, Sam McCambridge

Victoria Vipers v SA Suns, Sunday 21 October 2pm (AEDT), State Netball Hockey Centre

For the third consecutive match, the Vipers are unchanged with coach Tim Strapp enjoying a settled side that is yet to concede a goal and has recorded 13-0 and 1-0 wins over NT and WA.

SA have also claimed back-to-back wins to start the AHL season, so coach Mark Dedman has also named an unchanged line-up. Jane Claxton will be the skipper this weekend, rotating from Karri McMahon. Keeper Ash Wells will take on her home state.

Vic: Aisling Utri, Nicola Hammond, Sophie Taylor, Kristina Bates, Lily Brazel, Kary Chau, Lydia Velzian, Emily Hurtz (c), Meg Pearce, Hayley Padget, Madi Ratcliffe, Samantha Snow, Hannah Gravenall, Rachael Lynch (gk)

SA: Mariana Lagos, Jane Claxton (c), Celeste Foord, Holly Evans, Emily Grist, Amy Hunt, Euleena MacLachlan, Emma De Broughe, Karri McMahon, Alison Penington, Hattie Shand, Lucy Talbot, Leah Welstead, Ashlee Wells (gk)

Victoria Vikings v SA Hotshots, Sunday 21 October 3:45pm (AEDT), State Netball Hockey Centre

The return of the Burras means a raft of changes for the Vikings following their 4-2 home loss to WA. Nathan Ephraums, Jonathan Bretherton and Damon Steffens all return, along with Kiran Arunasalam. Steffens enjoyed good goal scoring form at the Sultan of Johor Cup. Andrew Scanlon, Joel Hamilton, Zach Meaden and Oscar Wookey lose their spots.

SA will likely be boosted by the availability of Burra Lachlan Busiko but are yet to confirm their final 14 for the trip to Melbourne.

Vic: James Webster, Max Hendry, Andrew Philpott, Stephen Gale, Josh Pollard, Nathan Ephraums, Russell Ford (c), George Bazeley (gk), Jayshaan Randhawa, Jonathan Bretherton, Damon Steffens, Kiran Arunasalam, Tim Cross, James Knee

SA: William Abbott, Cameron White, Sijbrand Bolhuis, Brodie Gleeson, Kurtis Willson, Andy Leat, Fred Gray, Scott Germein (c), Ross Hetem, Luke Larwood, Daniel Mitchell, Glyn Tamlin, Lee Dong-Hyung, Alastair Oliver, Simon Brown, James Keeves, Lachlan Busiko, Michael Wells (gk), James Richardson (gk) (to be reduced to 14)

Hockey Australia media release



Jenn Beagan turns her passion for coaching into a full-time career



In 2015, Jenn Beagan traded her tape measure and tracing paper for a clipboard and a whistle when she quit her job as an architect and became a full-time field hockey coach.

Originally from Calgary, Beagan moved with her family to the Vancouver area when she was 10 years old and immediately fell in love with the sport. She played in the provincial and regional programs and even trained with the junior national program. She then went on to study architecture at Kent State where she played four years of varsity field hockey on a full-ride scholarship.

During her years in the U.S., she was exposed to top-level coaching and even tried her hand at coaching at summer camps in Pennsylvannia. For Beagan, getting a sampling of coaching and some coach education training lit a flame that would grow into an inferno later in life. After graduation, Beagn moved back to Vancouver and started practicing architecture as a profession. It was at that time that Beagan found herself at a crossroads of what to do with the passion she had for field hockey now that she had stopped playing full-time.

“There’s a point in time where I stopped being a full-time athlete. I went through a period where I didn’t know who I was because I identified as an athlete for my entire life,” she said. “Having a little taste of what coaching is and how you can still have all this energy and passion for the sport and still apply it, helped me with the transition. It Helped me reframe my direction.”

In 2015, Beagan quit her architecture job and became a full-time coach. Being a career coach is a rarity in field hockey, but she makes it work between coaching FHBC Academy & provincial/regional programs as well as guesting in at clubs around the Lower Mainland.

According to Beagan, she started taking coach education programs and National Coach Certification Program (NCCP) courses in 2005 but her education in coaching stalled out in the mid 2000s. Despite continuing to coach provincially and regionally and enjoying the process, she was yearning for more coach education and improvement opportunities.

“Coaching full time is a profession of passion. You have to really love it to get a really good outcome.”

The Field Hockey Canada Coaching Pathway

Last year, Field Hockey Canada piloted and since then, ratified, the Competition Development course. Coaches from across the country have started to enroll and take courses. Ray Lewis, Amy Hollingsworth and Raquel Seguin from Ontario and Janet Heppell from Nova Scotia have all reached “trained” status. Beagan has taken the pathway one step further and at the 2018 National Championships in Toronto was evaluated in order to achieve certified status. After her successful evaluation, she became Field Hockey Canada’s first ever “Certified” Competition Development coach within the new pathway. Currently she is working to finish her Advanced Coaching Diploma and is giving back by becoming a Learning Facilitator for coach education courses in BC.

Beagan has a lot of positive things to say about going through the coaching pathway in Canada. She talks especially fondly about her experience in the coaching diploma program through the Canadian Sport Institute.

“The courses, modules and conferences aren’t field hockey specific,” she said. “There are a lot of sports represented and the coaches all come from different backgrounds. The support from the coaching community, actually sitting down with other coaches and learning from other people’s experiences in their sport is really valuable.”

Although she knows that it is not feasible for all coaches to go through the pathway as comprehensively as she did, Beagan still urges young coaches to seek out development opportunities and receive proper instruction when possible. “I work with a lot of athletes that are now coming back and starting to coach, but there is much more to coaching than simply knowing a sport. It’s so important to get more coaches into the pathway with certification.”

According to Susan Ahrens, Field Hockey Canada’s Director of Hockey Development, coach education has a value at every level from volunteering parents all the way to international coaches. The new Field Hockey Canada coaching pathway prioritizes accessibility and is designed to enable coaches at all levels to access it.

“Community courses are accessible through provincial organizations,” she said. “These are perfect for athletes coming back to their club to help coach or even parent volunteers for local spring leagues. If others like Jenn have aspirations to make a profession out of coaching, this new extended pathway will offer a great foundation for them to do so.”

For Beagan, the steps she took to professionally develop as a coach has allowed her to get more reward out of her coaching career. Beagan hopes to see more people follow in her footsteps and become comp-dev certified coaches in the near future. When asked about what her coaching future includes, she said that coaching high performance youth and junior athletes is what she enjoys the most and she wants to keep doing that.

“The kids that age are like sponges. They suck in all the information you give them,” she said. “I see a lot of growth and a lot of development and watching them throughout that time is very rewarding.”

Field Hockey Canada media release



Chasing The Tackle - Matching Their Speed + Forcing Attacker Away From Goal



Sportplan coaches have been working hard this summer to create new AUDIO and VIDEO content. Check it out!





Harborne pay tribute to ‘true gentleman’

By The Hockey Paper


Rod Fox pushes back in final match for the club in 2014 PIC: Harborne HC

Harborne HC announced the sad passing of Rod Fox on Tuesday, a “true gentleman and legend” of the Birmingham-based club.

A “heart beat” of Harborne’s men’s 1s for many years as manager, he was renowned for his passionate half-time talks and described his role as “an honour”.

He played his last match for the club when he pushed back for the final time in March 2014.

“What really sad news,” Nigel Taylor wrote on Twitter. “I knew Rod from coaching against him over the years. He was always a formidable opponent yet great company after the game. A true gentleman, a credit to Harborne and to hockey in general.”

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A new hockey charity initiative by Wapping HC has been running this month, raising money for Breast Cancer Care.

“L’Ump Month” asks umpires across the country to wear pink on the pitch and donate some or all of their expenses to Breast Cancer Care.

The scheme is part of Breast Cancer Care’s “The Big Pink” campaign, which encourages people to don pink to show support for sufferers of breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month of October.

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Poole HC celebrate its 125th anniversary next month and is keen to hear from anyone who has been involved with the club over the years – either as a player, official or helper.

Thalia Galloway, club secretary, said: “We will be holding a year-long programme of events to mark this important milestone in the club’s history. The first of these will be a special birthday party on 10 November – and we’d love to see any previous club members at the party. We’re also eager to explore and celebrate our incredible history, so we’d also like to hear from anyone about their involvement with the club, experiences, favourite memories and photographs.”

Poole HC started in November 1893 and currently runs three men’s and two ladies’ teams in various leagues across the Hampshire and Dorset region.

If you’d like to join the party, check out Poole Hockey Club’s Facebook page or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Bromsgrove HC has launched a campaign to find new ladies’ goalkeepers.

The club is looking for players aged 13 and up who would be willing to step into the position, as Ladies 3s captain Dawn Tomlinson explained:

“We have four fantastic keepers in the Ladies section at the moment, but with five teams this puts a lot of pressure on these women to play every weekend throughout the season which can be a challenge on maintaining a balanced personal life, especially as matches are on a Saturday.


BHC Ladies keeper Bernadette Mackie, 52, in action PIC: Julie Fielden.

“It gets even harder given we are usually petitioning one of them to double up and play 2 games in a day, and if just one of them is unavailable then it puts a greater strain on the others to help out. We’d love to get a few more women on board who would be willing to attend Goal Keeper training with our amazing coaches, and give it a go!”

Follow the #GoForGoal campaign on the club’s Facebook page, @BromsgroveHC or head to the club’s website for more information and how to get involved, bromsgrovehockey.org.uk.

The Hockey Paper

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