News for 04 July 2019
All the news for Thursday 4 July 2019
Olympic qualification: join our Women's and Men's National Team's Olympic dreams
Not since 1988 has Field Hockey Canada had both our men’s and women’s teams at an Olympic Games. This year, for the first time in 30 years, this is a real possibility. You can be part of this dream, you can help get them there. Read a little bit about each program below and get involved today!
FHC Women’s National Team: A History Rich in International Achievement
Field Hockey Canada has an exceptional history in the women’s game. During the 1980’s, Canada was feared on the International stage under the guidance of Hall-of Fame-coaches Marina van der Merve and Kathy Broderick. Regulars at the Olympic games between 1980 and 1992, this phenomenal team was the runner-up at the 1983 Women’s Hockey World Cup and the bronze medalists at the 1986 Women’s Hockey World Cup.
In 2018, the team made huge strides towards returning to this golden era. The team played over 30 matches, the most played by any FHC team in a single year and in line with the top-5 ranked nations in the world. They uprooted their program and moved from their University of Victoria home to centralize in Belgium. This allowed them to live the life of full-time professional hockey players. Supported by their clubs, they trained as a national team each week under the guidance of their head coach and assisted by a team of local trainers and coaches. This move offered our women’s team the opportunity to play high-level club matches, play regular international matches against top European teams, and train as a national team.
Unperturbed by a lack of additional funding sources in 2019, the team spearheaded a “Make a Champ” campaign to get them to the first crucial step of the Olympic qualification process. They raised in excess of $80,000 which took them to the 2019 FIH Hockey Series Finals, in Valencia, Spain.
Going to the Olympic Qualifiers!
Going into the tournament as the fifth ranked ranked team, our Women’s National Team was faced with the challenge of finishing in the top two in order to move on to the next stage of Olympic qualification.
Progressing straight to the semi-finals after going unbeaten in the pool stages, the team faced Italy in the semi-finals. The WNT stepped up and blew Italy away with a 7-0 win. In doing so, they secured their place in the Olympic qualification play-off’s to take place at the end of October 2019.
Not only did the team win silver in this tournament, but some of our outstanding talents were recognized. Anna Mollenhauer received the FIH award for best young player in the tournament, while Brianne Stairs took home the coveted top goal scorer award. Following this performance, the team has now moved from 21st to 18th in the FIH World Rankings.
Onwards We Go: The Olympic Qualification Play Off’s
Our WNT has guaranteed themselves two games for a place in the 2020 Olympic Games. The winner of the Olympic place is the team with the highest aggregate score over the two games. These games will take place on 26th / 27th October or 2/3 November 2019. Although we will not know who our opponent will be until September 8th 2019, based on current rankings it is likely that we will be playing against a top European nation (GB, Spain, Ireland, Belgium) or New Zealand. We will most certainly be playing these games away from home. Our target is to raise $90,000 for our preparation and these games.
Our Women’s National team is an exceptional group of women who have been working hard in pursuit of their Olympic dream. Our community has been outstanding in your support of them. We are asking for one final push to help get them to and through these final two Olympic play-off games. We are extremely appreciative of any level of donation, and are equally grateful of your willingness to simply share our campaign page with your network. Whether you are able to contribute financially or not – be part of our WNT’s journey by helping us get the word out.
DONATE TODAY AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE JOURNEY
Thank you for believing in our women’s team and joining us on our road to Tokyo 2020!
For further inquiries, please contact our Field Hockey Canada team: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FHC Men’s National Team: Regulars on the International Stagechampspose
Field Hockey Canada’s Men’s National Team has been a consistent presence on the international stage over the past 40 years. Regulars at the Olympic Games and World Cup, they have finished as high as 8th at the World Cup and are currently ranked as the 10th best team in the World.
Based in BC, but with roots from across Canada and the globe, most of our current men’s squad combine full time study or work with a regime of morning and evening training sessions. Their home turf is the West Vancouver Field Hockey Club and they play for local clubs across the lower mainland.
Hosting the Olympic Qualifiers!
Our MNT won their FIH Hockey Series Final in May, where they beat host team Malaysia in the final. In doing so, they are guaranteed two games for a place in the 2020 Olympic Games. Not only did they take gold with an outstanding team performance, Dave Carter was recognized as the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament, while Antoni Kindler took home the Man of the Match award for his performance in the final.
By virtue of their high world ranking, this means our MNT will host these Olympic play-off games. The winner of the Olympic place is the team with the highest aggregate score over the two games. These games will take place on 26th / 27th October 2019 at the men’s home in West Vancouver. Although we will not know who our opponent will be until 8th September 2019, based on current rankings it is likely that we will be playing against Ireland, Malaysia or France. Our target is to raise $25,000 to host these games.
Our Men’s National team is an exceptional group of young men who have been working hard in pursuit of their Olympic dream. Our community has supported them over successful previous Olympic and we are very grateful of this. We are asking for one more push to help get them host these Olympic play-off games. Any amount you are able to contribute will help. We are extremely appreciative of any level of donation, and are equally appreciative of your willingness to simply share our campaign page with your network. Whether you are able to contribute financially or not – be part of our MNT’s journey by helping us get the word out.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE MEN’S NATIONAL PROGRAM TODAY!
Thank you for believing in our men’s team and joining us on our journey to Tokyo 2020!
For further inquiries, please contact our team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Field Hockey Canada media release
Bloemendaal confirm new additions for their return to EHL Men
©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
Dutch men’s champions Bloemendaal have added Oliver Polkamp, Caspar van Dijk and Kiet Citroen to their panel for the upcoming 2019/20 season and their return to the Euro Hockey League.
Former international Polkamp (32) joins from Hurley where he spent the last season, helping the club to winning the promotion class. Before that, he was a central player in the defence at Rotterdam with whom he won the Dutch national championships before moving to live in Amsterdam for his job.
He will form part of the replacement plan following Manu Stockbroekx’s return to KHC Dragons.
Bloemendaal board member Pepijn Post said of his arrival: 'When Oliver expressed his interest, we sat down at the table to talk. He has convinced us of the drive and ambition that he still has to play in our team at the highest level. "
Van Dijk (22) joins from AH&BC Amsterdam where he played for two years. The midfielder is well known to coach Michel van den Heuvel from their former club Oranje Zwart. Citroen moves up from the youth section at ‘t Kopje.
On the flip side, David Luijckx moves to HBS while Ingwer Weise has also departed.
Post added: “It will be busy next year with preparations for the Olympic Games, the Pro-League and maybe also qualifying matches for Tokyo in October and, for ourselves, with the Hoofdklasse and the EHL.
“We are happy that we have made solid additions as a replacement for Manu and Ingwer."
Euro Hockey League media release
SOJC hockey tourney to gain greater importance
KUALA LUMPUR: The annual Sultan of Johor Cup (SOJC) invitational hockey tournament will be a top-priority meet in two years time as it can be a part of teams’ preparations for the Junior World Cup.
The Hockey Junior World Cup will be held every two years from 2021. And every team featuring in it will want to play in the Under-21 SOJC tournament as part of their warm-up matches.
Sultan of Johor Cup organising chairman Manjit Majid Abdullah said that the 2021 Junior World Cup will be held in November or December.
“Most of the teams that qualified for the Junior World Cup will definitely want to play in the SOJC as there are hardly other Under-21 tournaments in the world.
“SOJC is one of the world-class tournaments and all top teams want to play in the meet as part of their preparations for the Junior World Cup,” said Manjit, who is also the deputy president of the Johor Hockey Association.
“We usually organise the tournament in October but we’ll host the meet in September in 2021 as we want the top teams to use it as part of their preparations for the World Cup.
“We have organised the SOJC since 2011 and top teams like India, Australia, Britain, Argentina and Germany have featured in the tournament,” said Manjit.
All of those teams teams, except for Britain, have won the Junior World Cup.
The last Junior World Cup was held in Lucknow, India, and the host edged Belgium 2-1 in the final to win the title.
A total of 16 teams will feature in the 2021 Junior World Cup and the host has yet to be decided.
Six teams will feature in the ninth edition of the SOJC at the Taman Daya Stadium in Johor Baru from Oct 12-19.
Apart from Malaysia, the other teams in the fray are reigning world junior champions India, Australia, defending champions Britain, Japan and New Zealand.
National juniors coach Nor Saiful Zaini said that Malaysia will feature in the Junior Asia tournament in Japan next May to qualify for the Junior World Cup in 2021.
Malaysia need to finish in the top four in Japan to book their ticket for the Junior World Cup.
Nor Saiful said training for the SOJC will start in August after the Malaysian Junior Hockey League (MJHL).
“At the moment we have six players – four with the national training squad and two with the national indoor team.
“We hope to go for a playing tour in China in September to prepare for the SOJC.”
The four players in the national training squad are Muhd Akhimullah Anuar Esook, Muhd Arif Syafie Ishak, Muhd Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal and Muhd Noor Firdaus Rosdi.
Shello Silverius and Mohd Izham Azhar are with the national indoor team.
The Star of Malaysia
Penang Sports Club to host 23rd International Hockey tournament
By K. Kandiah
The organising committee of the 23rd PSC International Hockey tournament with the Challenge Trophy. PIC BY K KANDIAH
PENANG Sports Club will host their 23rd International Hockey tournament on Saturday in George Town.
Organising committee chairman Hari Singh Dhillon said due to overwhelming response, they had to turn away many teams.
He said because of facilities and time constraint, the organising committee could only let 20 teams compete: 10 in the 40 years and above category and another 10 for the 50 years and above.
Among the 20 teams, two are from Singapore and one from Australia, the Perth Pirates.
Hari said Selangor’s Kelab Aman, who have been participating in the PSC tournament since its inauguration 23 years ago, have confirmed their participation.
The one-day tournament will end with a gala dinner.
The title sponsors for the tournament are Royal College of Surgeon Ireland and University College Dublin Malaysia Campus.
New Straits Times
Scotland U18 Girls’ squad selected for Ireland series
Scotland U18 Girls’ will play a three-match series against Ireland this weekend at Glenalmond.
The matches will be played on Friday at 4pm; Saturday at 4pm; and Sunday at 12pm.
It is a young Scotland side taking to the pitch to take on a strong Ireland side in a series that will offer excellent development opportunities for the players.
Scotland U18 Girls’ Head Coach Keith Smith said, “Ireland have had some great results already this year against England and Belgium, so we’re expecting the competition to be fierce.
“Seven of our squad are away with the U21s ahead of their Euros so it’s a young squad this weekend – seventeen of them are eligible for U18s next year – but that just makes for a fantastic development opportunity for those younger players to be fearless and step up and lead on and off the pitch.
“The same girls delivered a really mature performance against the Malaysian senior team last month, and I’m confident we can build on that and continue our improvement.”
Squad
Aisha Saini, Western Wildcats
Amy Salmon, nverleith
Anna Hoolaghan, Clydesdale Western
Charlotte Simmers, GHK
Corrie Hay, Grove Menzieshill
Ellie Stott, Grove Menzieshill
Emma Fraser, Grange
Faith Joubert, Watsonians
Georgia Crooks, GHK
Hannah Miller, Fjordhus Reivers
Holly Walder, Surbiton
Iona Colquhoun, Edinburgh University
Jennifer Tait, Granite City Wanderers
Katie Swanson, Inverleith
Kirsten Cannon, Western Wildcats
Lucy Smith, Grove Menzieshill
Lucy Williamson, GHK
Michaela McCarthy, Dundee Wanderers
Rachel Strachan, Grove Menzieshill
Rhiannon Carr, Grove Menzieshill
Sophie Hinds, Inverleith
Schedule:
Friday 5 July | 4pm
Saturday 6 July | 4pm
Sunday 7 July | 12pm
Scottish Hockey Union media release