News for 01 October 2020
All the news for Thursday 1 October 2020
The stars are out to celebrate 20 years of Las Leonas
It was 20 years ago this month – 24 September precisely – at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, that the Argentina women’s national team adopted the symbol of the lioness as their own. Argentina took the silver medal after losing the final to the Hockeyroos, and it was at this point in their rich hockey history that the potent symbol of the lioness and the name Las Leonas became the rallying call for Argentina’s female hockey players.
Since then, the team and their army of fervent supporters have worn the lioness with pride and a fierce sense of ownership. As the teams stand and belt out the national anthem, fans with their faces painted as lions or waving their scarves with the lioness emblem join in with passion and enthusiasm. It is enough to make even neutral observers shed a tear or feel emotional in a manner that only sport and music can evoke.
One athlete who was synonymous with the lioness for much of her playing career was the eight times FIH Player of the Year Luciana Aymar.
Here, ‘Lucha’, explains just what the lioness means to Argentinians, particularly those lucky enough to pull on the famous blue and white shirt.
You can watch her full interview on the Watch.Hockey App.
Looking back, can you encapsulate just what pulling on the Argentina shirt means to you?
Luciana Aymar: Wearing the Argentinian shirt was one of the nicest moments for me. I’ve always aspired to be in the national team and to be able to wear the Argentinian shirt. Honestly, being able to be part of the generation that revolutionised women’s sport in our country is a great satisfaction. Today, there are lots of girls that strive to become part of Las Leonas. Of course, when one is chosen to be in the national team, as part of Las Leonas, you have to know that you have to transmit the same values that were at the heart of the creation of Las Leonas. Those values are: respect, humbleness, teamwork, solidarity, engagement … those values are non-negotiable.
Why do you think the symbolic nature of the shirt became such a rallying point for the team and fans?
Luciana Aymar: The symbol of Las Leonas is very strong in Argentina as it was a real revolution when we played in Sydney. Despite not being able to win the gold medal, reaching a final against Australia – who were the most important and admirable team at that time, because of the quality of the players – it was a real revolution because we decided to have only one t-shirt with the logo on it and wear it in a moment where we were not doing well and we needed the points. It was an important moment and that was when Las Leonas revolutionised everything. In Argentina we started to have a much more important place in women’s sport, to position women better in sport. So, the symbol is very strong today. It has reached a point where we don’t refer to the “women’s national hockey team” but instead we say, “Las Leonas”.
When you hear the anthem and sees the team lining up now, how do you feel?
Luciana Aymar: The moment of the national anthem is one of the nicest moments to me. I guess, it is for every athlete, every hockey player, especially when you play at home. It is a very important and emotional moment, and when you are at home you get all the warmth from people. To me, it was one of the most important and emotional moments and one of the moments I miss the most.
Can you remember a match where you felt that the players pulled together and turned a result around because they all believed so passionately in the team and what it meant to be a Leona?
Luciana Aymar: An important moment for us as national hockey team was Sydney 2000. Not only because it was the first time we had the Leonas logo on the t-shirt but because it was the moment we consolidated our team to revert a situation. We could revert a complicated situation we had in that tournament because we didn’t correctly interpret the rules. We turned it into an opportunity, into something positive. From then on, we started to use the Leonas and Argentina managed to go to the finals after wining several matches and points. So, I think it is a key moment, not only for the Leonas revolution, for the symbol but also for being able to work as a team and the capacity we had to revert the situation.
Is the ambition of being a Leona enough of a motivation to help give a young girl the belief to break down the barriers that exist to females playing sport?
Luciana Aymar: I think that every girl that plays hockey will always have the ambition to be part of the national team. Today, women’s hockey is one of the most important sports in Argentina. Luckily, we were part of this positioning of female sports people in our country and today there are lots of girls who want to be an athlete and we have lots of important, admirable, and successful athletes in Argentina.
What do you think about the new Watch.Hockey app?
Luciana Aymar: I think that having an app is very important for international hockey. I think that hockey has always innovated and revolutionised. It has modified rules, changed pitch sizes, materials with which we play and it is always trying new things. For international hockey, it is exceptional to have an app and to continue to motivate us to be revolutionary in the sport, I am very happy that hockey has this app.
Hockey stars join celebrations
Luciana Aymar was joined by other members of the Argentina hockey community in celebrating 20 years of Las Leonas.
Former Head Coach to Las Leonas Agustin Corradini says: “The Las Leonas represent more than a national team, they are a symbol of female empowerment in a society that can be very macho. As women in sport, the Las Leonas are an inspiration to women and girls throughout Argentina and the world.
“Twenty years ago Las Leonas showed the pathway to empowerment to a whole new generation of women and have, ever since, played an important role in making our society more equal. For me it was a real honour to be the coach to a group of wonderful human beings and extraordinary athletes.”
Star striker and regular captain of Las Leonas is Delfina Merino. She is more than aware of the weight and honour of being a member of Las Leonas. “The symbol of the lioness for me represents a whole lifestyle, it is much more than purely about hockey.
“It is respect, it is humility, it is passion, it is dedication for what we do. It is about never giving up and, above all, it is about being a team.”
Agustina Gorzelany is a relative newcomer to the squad but she too reflects the idea that being a member of Las Leonas transcends what happens on the pitch. “This symbol [the lioness] stands for respect, solidarity, empathy, effort, companionships and humility. These are just some of the things that being part of this team gives you.
“But more than that, this symbol speaks for the union we have between each other. We pour all our energy and competitiveness into chasing a common goal. At the heart of our ethos, we believe in never giving up on our dreams and always to focus on being a better person than we were the day before.”
Bielsa pays homage to Las Leonas
In an emotional letter, revered Argentine football coach Marcelo Bielsa - who is currently head coach at Leeds United in the English Premier League - has expressed his love and admiration for Las Leonas on their 20th anniversary. To read his thoughtful account, click here.
FIH site
No risk means no tours for Indian hockey teams
The camp for the men’s team has been extended till November 28 while the women’s hockey team will be in Bengaluru till December 12.
By Rahul Venkat
The men’s and women’s Indian hockey teams will continue training at the ongoing national camps at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus in Bengaluru for two more months.
“The hockey camps for both the teams have been extended. The men's team camp has been extended till November 28 while the women's camp will be till December 12,” an SAI official told the Press Trust of India.
The national camp for the men’s team, which began on August 19, was to end on September 30 as it had planned to travel to the Netherlands for a few practice matches in October.
The intent was to gain some much-needed match practice against European teams ahead of the resumption of the 2020 FIH Pro League season. The Dutch resume their FIH Pro League campaign with two matches against Great Britain in late October.
Women’s team coach Sjoerd Marijne had also hoped to travel to the Netherlands to practice against international opposition, especially since the Indian hockey women’s team has not qualified for the FIH Pro League.
However, that practice tour has now been called off due to the health concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The men's team wanted to tour the Netherlands for practice matches but the idea was put off on the recommendation of health experts and chief coaches because of the risk associated with travelling,” the SAI official explained.
The Indian men’s hockey team did not want to take a risk, especially after six members, including skipper Manpreet Singh, had tested COVID-positive last month. All of them have recovered now.
Manpreet Singh was among six hockey players who contracted the coronavirus. Photo: Hockey India
It could affect the men’s team as it last played a professional match against Australia in the FIH Pro League in February.
The Indian hockey men’s team currently fourth in the 202o FIH Pro League standings with 10 points and is not scheduled to begin its campaign until April next year.
The women’s team last played in January, when they travelled to New Zealand for an exhibition tour.
Olympic Channel
PHF President meets PIA CEO to discuss hockey revival
LAHORE-Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Brig (r) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar on Wednesday met with PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Malik at Islamabad.
During the meeting, the revival and promotion of the national game and hockey affairs were discussed with resumption of the partnership between the PHF and the PIA and the restoration of the PHF-PIA relationship in the past, said PHF spokesman here on Wednesday.
The PHF chief briefly threw light on the measures being taken for the revival of the game to regain lost glory. Appreciating the valuable services rendered by PIA for Pakistan hockey, Brig Khalid said: “PIA has always played a significant role in the overall development of hockey and I hope it will extend similar help and cooperation by joining hands with the PHF to put hockey back at the road of progress. “PIA played a vital role in helping the national game to establish the country’s worldwide supremacy in the past and we look forward to it help to contribute in a national duty,” said the PHF chief.
PIA Chief Executive Officer Air Marshal Arshad Mehmood Malik acknowledged the efforts of the PHF for the uplift of the game and assured his organisation’s cooperation in this regard. “We will try to solve all the problems of the PHF as it is our national game,” he added.
The Nation
Sargent labels Hockey Ireland approach to Covid-19 return to play as ‘tone deaf’
International player says level of sanctions ‘putting so much stress on so many people’
Johnny Watterson
Cliodhna Sargent (left) in action for Cork Harlequins against Sarah Hawkshaw of Railway Union during an EY Women’s Hockey League match at Park Avenue in Sandymount in 2018. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Irish international and Cork Harlequins player Dr Cliodhna Sargent has doubled down on her criticism of the sport’s governing body, Hockey Ireland (HI), saying they are ‘tone deaf’ to real health concerns regarding Covid-19.
HI recently issued a set of sanctions that they said would be enforced if teams did not fulfil fixtures. Four Irish Hockey League (IHL) teams declined to travel last weekend including Harlequins and Pembroke, who had a positive Covid-19 result.
Published rules say a team refusing to fulfil a fixture played under Return to Play protocols citing Covid-19 concerns will be considered to have forfeited the fixture. The match will be recorded as a 5-0 loss for the defaulting team and the match awarded to the opposing team. The defaulting team will also forfeit home advantage in their next scheduled home fixture between the clubs.
“Dublin being on a Level 3, it can’t be a one size fits all solution because all teams are different in what they are going through and what the players are going through,” said Sargent, who has been capped over 200 times for her country.
“I thought it was very tone deaf in terms of how you deal with players and the whole situation at the moment. It’s putting so much stress on so many people. For them to put out that and . . . .basically force teams into having to travel even if the players or their parents are not comfortable.
“It is forcing a team’s hand to either lose points and deal with that, or travel and try to deal with the stress of that and maybe feel they are taking a risk or not adhering completely to the duty of care for their players.”
Where both teams refuse to fulfil a fixture Hockey Ireland say that a 5-0 loss will be recorded against both teams and that both teams will also forfeit home advantage for a future match, adding that a club cannot gain an advantage from forfeiting a match. Disqualification is also listed as a sanctioning option.
The difference of opinion has very much become the first Covid-19 related public dispute between elite players and a governing body with the players framing it as a health issue in which they should have a strong voice. Irish players who will travel to the Tokyo Olympics next year are involved in many of the IHL matches.
“We ended up, senior players and coaches, having quite a few meetings and with the entire squad we’ve had two meetings that included parents prior to making a decision [not to travel] last week,” said Sargent, who is also a mother.
“The majority of people in the group said they were not comfortable. To stand around in a group and as a whole feel that it is not safe for you to travel into an area but your hand is being forced by your national governing body . . . that’s really not great. It took us two weeks of meetings to finally make a decision. That’s two weeks of stress.
“Hockey is supposed to be enjoyable. It is something that gets the community together, gets it working together and instead you feel like being put under risk and it becomes not enjoyable whatsoever. I thought it was very unfair the way that Irish hockey is dealing with it. It seems that they went away and tried to decide what the strictest measures were they could possibly put in place to stop people from coming forward with their concerns and force them to travel.”
In an email HI said that clubs should make submissions about failure to fulfil fixtures and a working group would decide what sanctions would or would not apply.
“Hockey Ireland has endeavoured to bring competitive hockey back to its community in as safe a manner as possible, with all guidelines from Sport Ireland and the Government being followed. Rules were sent to Clubs regarding the issue of non-travel for matches and automatic forfeiture. However, where a game is not being played due to travel concerns around Covid-19, the Club in question must make a submission to the EY Working Group and a decision will be made on the outcome by this group.
“Hockey Ireland respects the decision of Clubs not to travel where they are uncomfortable in doing so. However, in the process of accommodating a 2020/21 league being completed in as close to the usual timeframe as possible, careful management of this issue is required.”
The Irish Times
Bell welcomes chiefs' clarity over contingency plans
John Flack
On the ball: Ulster under 18 hockey players Olivia Beattie, Niamh Hogan, Emma Uprichard and Ella Armstrong pictured with Ellen Woods, Marketing Executive at the team’s new sponsor Linwoods
Hockey's national governing body has acted swiftly to come up with a contingency plan in the event the current EY Irish Hockey League season is cut short by Covid-19.
Points per games completed will be used to determine finishing positions if the campaign is uncompleted and, one assumes, European places although the latter is not specified.
This is a complete about-turn from last season when the men's and women's top-flight leagues were controversially declared null and void even though the vast bulk of fixtures had been completed.
This frustrated the likes of Lisnagarvey who were runaway leaders, having been five points clear at the top with two games in hand and five left to play.
Hockey Ireland instead used the last completed season (2018-19) to determine European seedings which led to a series of appeals before the status quo was eventually upheld.
Three Rock Rovers were handed top spot with Garvey taking the second seeding based on the outcome of the end-of-season play-offs in May 2019 when the Dublin side won the final 2-0.
Lisnagarvey and Ireland defender Jonny Bell said: "Hopefully we can get a full league completed this season and the winners and losers don't need to be determined by administrators.
"But in the event that the season is disrupted again, it's good to have some clarity provided."
Meanwhile, health food brand Linwoods has become the main sponsor for the Ulster U18 girls' squad who are preparing for their inter-provincial title defence over the Halloween break.
Shirley McCay, Ulster Hockey talent coach, said: "We are delighted Linwoods has come on board with a renewed and upweighted sponsorship. The players and athletes benefit from the generosity and support, which allows youth and senior players to develop their hockey career.
"Our vision is 'to inspire an active hockey family' and our partnership with Linwoods helps cement that message."
Belfast Telegraph
Wimbledon's women building from the front
Cutting edge the key for Wimbledon's women
By Sarah Juggins. 
Wimbledon's Fiona Burnet in action for Scotland
It was a pivotal moment in Wimbledon’s recent history as Scotland’s Fiona Burnet scored their first goal in the Women’s Hockey League Premier Division to help them on their way to a 4-0 win over Swansea.
The team’s fortunes were reversed the following week as they lost 3-1 to the experienced Clifton Robinsons squad – a team that Burnet had played for during her time as a student at Bath University.
“We were really happy with our first game,” says the 23-year-old forward. “It has been a long time coming for us. We had been striving to get into the Premier Division for several seasons, so going into that first game we were really raring to go. It was good to get the early goal as that settled some nerves and we were able to build from there.”
For Wimbledon, adapting to the intensity and pace of the Premier Division has been a sharp learning curve. As Burnet says, for many seasons, the South-West London side dominated most of their league games. The step up in competitiveness is just what the team needed.
“Now we are coming up against some amazing teams and amazing players,” she says. “I think the loss last week may have given us the kick-start we needed and it also opened our eyes to the level we are aiming for.”
Against Clifton Robinsons, Wimbledon went 3-0 down before clawing one consolation goal back.
“We knew it was going to be a battle,” says Burnet. “It was disappointing but I felt we played well at times and dominated play for those periods. The difference was the experience that Clifton have and their ability to convert their scoring opportunities.”
“We had a lot of chances but didn’t convert them. Once we scored a goal, we always felt we could have scored more. We can take that as a positive.”
Failing to convert is something that is likely to change rapidly in the coming weeks as Wimbledon’s newest recruit to the coaching staff makes her influence felt.
Alex Danson-Bennett has joined Head Coach Colin Cooper and his staff and Burnet is excited for what the former Great Britain and England forward will bring to the team.
“Her wealth of knowledge of the game, plus her experience, is phenomenal. She is someone many of us have grown up looking up to, so to have her there on the coaching staff is quite inspiring. As a forward there is so much she can share. She is also so very positive. That shows what she can give to the team.”
“One of the things she has said to us is that there will be times when it will be necessary to grind out a result. It might not be pretty but sometimes playing ‘ugly’ is what is necessary to win.”
Burnet herself is one of a number of Scottish international players who turn out for Wimbledon. It is a grouping that is proving beneficial for both the club and the national squad.
“It began with Nikki Alexander-Lloyd and Mairi Drummond and they said how much they had enjoyed playing for the club. We now have Alison Howe, Nicki Cochrane and Mairi has come back. When we have international training or competition then we travel together. It is nice to have a group within the group.”
“Playing in the Premier Division is good. It gives us a high level of competitive hockey every game. And it also gives us the opportunity to play against a number of different playing styles.”
“With the European Championships on the horizon, next year will be really important for the national squad so the ability to train and play at the highest level possible will be invaluable for the Wimbledon Scottish contingent.”
With Holcombe providing the next stern challenge for the league newcomers, Danson-Bennett’s repertoire of goal-scoring moves will be in high demand by Burnet and her team-mates.
To get all the latest EHL news and scores straight to your inbox, sign up to The League Newsletter by clicking HERE.
England Hockey Board Media release
Update on implications in England following Hockey Wales announcement
Further to the latest announcement from Hockey Wales, England Hockey is clarifying the implications for hockey in England.
Firstly there have been no changes to the Covid-19 guidance regarding hockey in England since the update last week. For full details see http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/covid19.
Rules related to Covid-19 including arrangements for local lockdowns are different in Wales and therefore Hockey Wales’ advice and guidance varies from England Hockey’s. England Hockey and Hockey Wales are working closely together to share information and decision-making as much as possible.
Welsh teams at EHL level have dispensation from the Welsh government to continue to train and play fixtures home and away against English teams, despite the current local lockdown measures in Wales. Therefore English and Welsh (and any other nationality) players at this level, living in Wales but playing for clubs in England, can currently continue to train and play. All of this also applies to umpires and match officials at EHL level.
As in parts of England, supporters are not allowed at matches hosted by Welsh clubs.
Outside of the EHL hockey provision in Wales is still restricted and clubs are not able to host club fixtures. Therefore Welsh teams in English leagues can only play away matches in England. Where lockdowns are in place, as in much of Wales, travel to fixtures is also not allowed for individual players, officials and teams.
England Hockey Board Media release
Waikirikiri named Club of the Year for 2019
Waikirikiri Hockey Club’s continuous efforts to grow earn them 2019 Club of the Year 
With Covid-19 halting the Annual Hockey New Zealand Awards Dinner back in April, we would like to highlight the winners of those awards for their outstanding contribution to the game of hockey. The first recognition is the 2019 Club of the Year, Waikirikiri Hockey.
Waikirikiri Hockey Club is the youngest club in the Canterbury Hockey Association with their creation and involvement in local competitions commencing in 2017, before becoming a fully affiliated club in 2018. In 2019, the club fielded a total of 22 teams with 14x junior 6 a-side teams, 4x junior 11 a-side teams, 2x youth teams and 2x open grade teams.
Continuous work on club management
Waikirikiri Hockey Club worked on their Club Management throughout 2019 and have ensured they plan for success by creating a strategic plan, reallocating a number of the committee roles and responsibilities to better distribute volunteer workloads, implementing a three-tier sponsorship system and creating a new policies and procedures manual.
The club has also ensured that their volunteers were both supported and recognised throughout 2019. They created a club-based service award for volunteers who have provided three years of service and have recognised all volunteers at their prize giving and social functions.
Development is a priority
The club has made development a key priority for their coaches and umpires, supporting development opportunities in numerous ways such as encouraging their coaches to attend at least one coach development opportunity run by Canterbury Hockey. In addition to this, they conducted a season review and have since put together a working group to create a club-based coaching framework.
They have also put further emphasis on Police Vetting and Child and Youth protection by aligning to Canterbury Hockey policies and getting a majority of their coaches and managers vetted.
In the umpiring space, they are currently creating an umpire development plan that aligns to their coaching framework and has supported a range of their junior/youth umpires to attend Canterbury Hockey run development opportunities. They have also supported their umpiring members by providing mentors during both the winter season and summer hockey competitions.
More opportunities for their community
Waikirikiri have a strong focus on delivering a wide range of participation opportunities and initiatives, such as Small Sticks in schools and Have-a-Go activities into local primary and secondary schools. The club has also worked hard to ensure they further develop the hockey experience for their members by offering additional training opportunities, providing both social and competitive experiences and offering a variety of off-field functions for their members with events like their 5 a-side social hockey competition for a range of age groups during the offseason.
Actively promoting health and wellness
Members wellbeing is also at the heart of the clubs’ off-field activities, actively promoting health and wellness issues, keeping and reviewing injury records and implementing their health and safety policy. They also completed a review and update of the club’s code of conduct which covers players, coaches/managers, umpires, committee members and supporters expectations when representing the club.
The club is actively promoted via newsletters and social media platforms and they have also developed a strong relationship with a range of local schools and have an official partnership with Lincoln University.
All of this work has been going on in the background to ensure they are sustainable. It’s really no surprise that they’ve had tremendous, consistent growth since they began in 2017.
Congratulations, Waikirikiri Hockey Club!
Hockey New Zealand Media release
Hockey Australia welcomes everybody, exactly as they are
Pictured above from left; Tim Cherry (HA General Manager - Commercial, Communications & Events), Mary Konstantopoulos (HA Board Member) and Roxy Tickle (trans person and hockey player) at the launch.
Hockey Australia (HA) is proud to be among nine peak sporting bodies that have committed to implementing governance that supports a greater level of inclusion for trans and gender diverse people within their respective sports.
HA has released their Guidelines for Community Hockey, with Elite Guidelines to be developed at a later stage in line with International Hockey Federation (FIH) regulations.
The landmark initiative, spearheaded by ACON’s Pride in Sport program (Australia’s only program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations with the inclusion of people of diverse sexualities and genders at all levels) was undertaken following the identification of a need for national guidance on how National Sporting Organisations can be inclusive of trans and gender diverse people.
“Hockey has always been proud of its inclusive nature, and we have a celebrated history of diversity and inclusion,” said HA CEO Matt Favier.
“Inclusion is one of Hockey Australia’s values and we are proud to be demonstrating our commitment to it. Hockey Australia welcomes everybody, exactly as they are.”
“The release of these guidelines is a relatively small gesture from the sport, but one that we know is so significant for the people it will impact.”
Significantly, HA’s guidelines encompassing trans and gender diverse people have been developed together with the contribution and support of all state and territory Member Associations.
“It is wonderful to see a truly whole of sport commitment to the inclusion of the trans and gender diverse community,” said Favier.
“Sport can bring people together like few things in society. The collective message sport is sending today is a powerful one.
“Hockey Australia is proud to be standing side by side with this group of national sporting organisations to let trans and gender diverse people know they are welcome in our codes.”
“We thank Pride in Sport for their support and guidance through the development of these guidelines.”
Current Hockeyroos Kalindi Commerford, Greta Hayes and Steph Kershaw have committed to be ambassadors in supporting this motion.
“I think it’s important to continue to reassess cultural norms and push for reforms where certain groups may remain at a disadvantage,” said Commerford.
“I can’t accept that the vast benefits of sport should be limited because of how people choose to identify.”
Pride in Sport National Program Manager, Beau Newell, said that the joint commitment made by the NSOs marks a major moment in Australian sport.
“This launch demonstrates a fundamental shift within Australian sport towards the greater inclusion of trans and gender diverse athletes. By formalising their stand to be inclusive of trans and gender diverse people, these Australian sports have shown a true and tangible commitment to providing environments where everyone involved is treated with respect and dignity,” Newell said.
Roxy Tickle is one such trans person whose life has been positively transformed through this governance and stance.
After playing hockey between the ages of 16 and 25, Roxy quit the sport for a variety of reasons but foremost due to increasing discomfort playing in a male team.
She returned to sport for the first time last year, in a female softball team with old and new friends – one of the happiest weekends of her life. The experience encouraged her to return to hockey this year in a local female league in Lismore where she was welcomed and accepted.
“The work undertaken by Hockey Australia to demonstrate how inclusive it is means the world to me,” Tickle said.
“As someone that gave up hockey for 25 years because I thought I didn’t belong, I am very much looking forward to playing hockey until my body finally gives out.
“I welcome other trans and gender diverse people to join me running around and enjoying themselves in the fresh air with a group of lovely new friends.”
The other leading national sporting organisations to take part in the launch were AFL, Athletics Australia, Netball Australia, Rugby Australia, Tennis Australia, Touch Football Australia, UniSport Australia and Water Polo Australia. After launching their own trans and gender diverse inclusion governance in 2019, Cricket Australia have also committed to supporting other NSOs throughout this process.
For more information on the guidelines, please visit prideinsport.com.au/trans
Hockey Australia media release
Hockeyroos co-captain’s 67-year-old aunt makes history with Central Hockey Club
Hannah Sparks
Catherine Dooley has played 800 games for Central Hockey Club since 1971. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
At 67 years of age, Catherine Dooley may have set a new record for Australian hockey.
The aunt of Hockeyroos co-captain Emily Chalker celebrated her 800th game for Central Hockey Club in Canberra on Sunday, 27 September. And that figure only includes field hockey games – Catherine has played close to double that number when including indoor hockey.
She started playing at the age of seven for the under-8s team in the NSW town of Crookwell, an hour-and-a-half north of Canberra, where a strong hockey culture lives on.
“In those days, hockey was all there was to do in Crookwell,” says Catherine. “My schoolmates from primary school played and it was just the thing to do.
“We used to run up and down outside mum and dad’s house with hockey sticks, practising and playing.”
In 1971, at the age of 17, Catherine moved to Canberra to work for the public service and live with her twin sister, who was playing for Central Hockey Club at the time.
“Hockey was a love of mine and it was only natural that I would play hockey when I moved to Canberra,” says Catherine.
Her fiance – also a representative hockey player from Crookwell – played for Central, too.
“We married in 1972 so he came to Central to play hockey and was playing first grade while I played second grade,” says Catherine. “Now we’re both life members.”
The dedicated hockey player only missed a few seasons while having her three children, who followed in their mother’s footsteps and played hockey at various stages of their lives.
Catherine is determined to keep playing … and inspiring.
“I guess it was my passion for the game that kept me going and I got involved in several areas of the club, with coaching and administration,” says Catherine. “I’m lucky to have played in different teams and with different people who give you motivation along the way.”
She has travelled all over Australia, representing the ACT in masters and veterans with teams ranging from the over-40s to over-65s.
“You have so much fun when you go away with Central,” she says. “A lot of the states are serious and we were very serious on the field, but we had a lot of fun off the field. I’ve also formed many friendships during the years and still run into people I played against in Victoria or Western Australia.”
Catherine has been an inspiration to many players and encouraged younger people to play hockey while coaching Central’s under-11s and under-13s.
She says she will continue to take the field until she can’t play anymore and is determined to make it to another Australian Championship after this year’s tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Hockey has always been Catherine’s main pursuit, playing indoor hockey through summer and outdoor hockey through winter. She has no plans of slowing down.
“I can still run so that’s good,” she says. “It’s been a wonderful journey, even if I couldn’t score a goal in my 800th game!”
The RiotAct
Upgrade for Hockey facility at the Flash Leisure Centre
Hockey Wales is delighted to announce that we have received confirmation from Powys County Council that the pitch at the Flash Leisure Centre will be re-laid before the end of 2020 (COVID dependent).
We recognise how crucial this facility is to the county of Powys, by providing valuable access to hockey opportunities for everyone in the area, particularly the clubs and schools who operate locally.
The Hockey Wales Club Development Officer for Mid Wales, Elliot Pottinger explained,
“We have been in constant communication with Powys County Council and Welshpool Hockey Club to help initiate this much needed facility.
(Flash leisure facility 2019)
“This is great news for the area and for hockey in Wales generally. We look forward to continuing these partnerships and working closely with the local community to help realise the potential of this exciting investment in hockey’s future.”
Cabinet Member for Young People and Culture, Councillor Rachel Powell said,
"This project demonstrates Powys' continued commitment in providing inclusive sport and leisure facilities for communities in Powys.
“We would like to thank customers and users of the leisure centre in Welshpool for their patience and continued support and understanding while these works have been progressing. Appointing a contractor for the project is a major step forward and we look forward to having the facility reopen."
Alongside regular club activity, Hockey Wales sees this site being a valuable strategic location which in the past has held 360 Performance Centres, Hooked on Hoci Festivals and National Secondary School Finals.
Its location makes it ideal for a range of outreach projects such as SMASH Hockey, Walking Hockey and Flyerz.
Pottinger, will work closely with the local community to help realise the potential of this exciting investment in hockey’s future.
If you would like support or advice about a facility project in your area, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or, for specific enquiries about the Welshpool Hockey Hub, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Hockey Wales media release
Weekend College Games: Atlantic Coast Conference
Image Courtesy of Louisville Athletics
As the only conference playing field hockey this fall, the Atlantic Coast Conference's (ACC) third weekend of action will have two games Friday, one match on Saturday and two more on Sunday. Most matches this weekend are available for live stream on the ACC Network.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
No. 6 Syracuse at No. 2 Virginia** | 3:00 p.m. ET | ACCN
No. 6 Syracuse will travel to Charlottesville, Va. to take on No. 2 Virginia for their opening ACC weekend in a two-match series. The Orange's original season opening games against Duke on September 18 and 20 were postponed due to Syracuse players being potentially exposed to COVID-19.
The last time these two teams met was in mid-September 2019 where Virginia walked away with a 2-0 win. After a scoreless first half in which the Cavaliers were outshot 5-3, Cato Geusgens provided the first goal, scoring off a penalty corner with one-minute remaining in the third period. Anzel Viljoen scored her goal one-minute into the fourth quarter after a save on the initial shot off a penalty corner, she lifted a ball into the corner of the net to make it a 2-0 advantage. This Virginia victory marked head coach Michele Madison's 400th win.
Syracuse's Charlotte de Vries and Laura Graziosi were both named to the 2020 Preseason All-ACC Team. de Vries had a standout freshman season leading the Orange with 15 goals and 31 points. She scored six game-winning goals, including the overtime goal in last year's match-up with Duke, and started all 18 games. Graziosi appeared and started in all 18 games at midfield as a sophomore and recorded nine points on the season with three goals and three assists.
Syracuse finished 2019 with a record of 12-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play. They also fell in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament to eventual runner-up, Princeton, in their 14th appearance in the event. They add six rookies to the 2020 roster. The Orange will be led by sophomore de Vries, U-21 U.S. Women's National Team athlete, All-Mideast Region First Team and All-America Second-Team, and senior Carolin Hoffman, All-Mideast Region First Team and All-America Third Team.
Virginia is coming off a split result weekend against No. 7 Wake Forest. Last Saturday, the Cavaliers got on the scoreboard early with Adele Iacobucci deflecting in a shot from Amber Ezechiels after a penalty corner three minutes into the game. Virginia appeared to add to the lead, with two other first-half shots also making it into the net, but both were whistled off by the officials. In the third quarter, Wake Forest evened the score when Eleanor Winants tapped a slow-roller through the circle that made its way into the goal to tie the game. Four minutes into the fourth quarter, the Demon Deacons fired off a flurry of shots at Virginia goalkeeper Taylor Henriksen with the fourth attempt making it in to give Wake Forest the 2-1 win. On Sunday in the ACC counting action, the Cavaliers outshot the Demon Deacons 6-2 in the first half, but neither team could find the net. Virginia had a good scoring chance early in the fourth quarter when a penalty corner yielded a pair of shots, but neither hit the mark. Virginia took two more shots, including attempts by Makayla Gallen and Iacobucci, but still couldn’t break through.
With just over three minutes left in regulation, Iacobucci got the ball at the top of the circle and sent a hard pass in to Laura Janssen who smashed a shot past the goalkeeper into the left corner of the net. Wake Forest had a chance to tie the game, earning a penalty corner with just over a minute left, but the attempt by Anne van Hoof was high. The Demon Deacons were awarded another penalty corner with four seconds left on the clock. Virginia blocked the shot, but had another penalty corner called. With no time left on the clock, the Deacons final shot sailed wide and out of play to end the game, 1-0 in favor of the Cavaliers.
The current guidelines for sports venues provided by the Commonwealth of Virginia under the "Forward Virginia" plan (announced June 18), allow for the lesser of 50 percent occupancy of the facility or 1,000 patrons.
No. 1 North Carolina at No. 5 Louisville** | 4:30 p.m. ET | ACCN
After a week off of competition, No. 1 North Carolina will head to Kentucky to take on No. 5 Louisville in an ACC counting match-up. These teams last met in the 2019 ACC Semifinals, where the Tar Heels came away with a 3-1 win. Of their all-time meetings, North Carolina holds a win advantage of 8 to 4.
North Carolina opened the season with a 3-1 win over Wake Forest on September 20. Goals came from two individuals who missed the previous season and one who was named the 2019 ACC Female Athlete of the Year. The first was from Cassie Sumfest, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, in the 24th minute on the team's third penalty corner of the game. Assisted by Abby Pitcairn on the insert and Madison Orobono on the stick stop, Sumfest sent her drag flick into the lower left corner of the cage to make it 1-0. Wake Forest answered just over three minutes later, with Nat Friedman scoring to make it 1-1.
The Tar Heels drew another penalty corner in the closing minutes of the second quarter and Erin Matson converted to give North Carolina the lead at the break.
UNC's third goal came midway through the third period. Meredith Sholder, who missed last year after a foot injury in preseason, took a pass from Matson in the middle of the circle and pushed it past diving Wake Forest goalkeeper Ally Butler to make the score 3-1.
Louisville opened up their 2020 campaign last weekend by tallying two wins over No. 4 Duke. The first came on Saturday when Louisville applied pressure quickly, but could not overcome Duke's defense throughout the first quarter. The Blue Devils were awarded the first corner of the game, but goalkeeper Hollyn Barr recorded back-to-back saves in the cage to prevent Duke from taking an early lead. The Cardinals struck first with 23 seconds remaining in the first half. With a pass from Mattie Tabor that snuck past a pair of Blue Devil defenders, Mercedes Pastor connected with the back of the net to put the Cardinals up 1-0.
The Cards continued their momentum after the break. With five minutes left on the clock in the third quarter, Minna Tremonti's assist found its way through traffic to Charlie van Oirschot who doubled Louisville's lead with the first goal of her career. The Cardinals then extended their lead to 3-0 two minutes later after Pastor's second goal of the game. When Pastor's attempt bounced off the left post, Madison Walsh quickly collected the rebound and distributed the ball back to Pastor whose shot hit the backboard.
The following day the teams were locked in a defensive battle with few scoring chances throughout the first two quarters before the Cardinals broke through with a goal from Erica Cooper with 38 seconds left to play in the first half. Pastor blasted a shot from the right side of the circle and Cooper was there to redirect the ball into the cage to give Louisville a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals' lead was short-lived as Blue Devils quickly answered on their next possession when Noor van de Laar connected on a feed from Hannah Miller to even the score with 19 seconds remaining in the half. The teams entered halftime tied at 1-1 with Duke holding a 5 to 4 edge in shots while both teams had one penalty corner.
The third quarter began with a penalty corner awarded to Duke in the first two minutes, resulting in a pair of saves to keep the Blue Devils at bay. Louisville intensified its attack, earning a penalty corner in the fourth minute of the third quarter. After her initial shot was turned back by Duke goalkeeper Piper Hampsch, Katie Schneider gathered the rebound and sent another shot into the cage to put the Cardinals back on top 2-1. Four minutes later, Louisville capitalized on another penalty corner to add an insurance goal Alli Bitting inserted the ball and Meghan Schneider provided the stop and distributed the ball to Emilia Kaczmarczyk who sent a reverse stick shot into the right side to make the score 3-1.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
No. 6 Syracuse at No. 2 Virginia | 12:00 p.m. ET | ACCN
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
No. 1 North Carolina at No. 4 Duke** | 12:00 p.m. ET | ACCN
After traveling to Kentucky on Friday, No. 1 North Carolina will head to Durham, N.C. to take on No. 4 Duke in an in-state rival ACC counting contest. It was early October last year when these teams met in a battle of the nation's top two teams. The Tar Heels shut out the Blue Devils, 2-0, with goals coming from Marissa Creatore and Matson. North Carolina led in shots, 14 to 5, and had the advantage in penalty corners, 8 to 3. Duke's goalkeeper Sammi Steel had five saves while Tar Heel goalkeeper Amanda Hendry registered four and Maddie Orobono credited with a defensive save.
After their originally scheduled ACC opener against Syracuse was postponed, Duke took on Louisville last weekend for a two-game series in Kentucky. Duke's defense held off the Louisville pressure, who tallied three shots, in the opening quarter as Grace Kim recorded just her second career defensive save in the 7th minute to keep the game scoreless. The Blue Devils earned back-to-back penalty corners in 18th minute with shots from Eva Nunnink and Kelsey Reznick, but Duke couldn't find the back of the cage. Louisville scored in the final minute of the first half to take a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Josie Varney recorded the first shot in the third quarter, but the Cardinal's goalkeeper was there to make the save. Three minutes later, Noor van de Laar sent a ball just wide of the goal for Duke's final shot of the contest. Louisville added two insurance goals in the third quarter to expand its lead to 3-0.
In game two and after a nearly scoreless first half, Louisville's Erica Cooper tapped in the first goal of the game off a rebounded shot from Mercedes Pastor in the 29th minute. Nineteen seconds later, Duke responded as van de Laar tied the game with the first Blue Devil goal of the 2020 season. Hannah Miller drove inside the circle, sent the ball off a defender's leg and van de Laar connected with the back of the cage.
Duke began the third quarter with a penalty corner in the 32nd minute as Darcy Bourne ripped a shot, but the Cardinals' goalkeeper made the save. Bourne quickly got another look but sent the ball high. Louisville took back the lead with goals in the 33rd and 37th minutes, 3-1.
The Blue Devils fought until the end as Lily Posternak garnered her first strike of the season, but it was deflected just wide of the cage in the 56th minute. Bourne took the final look for Duke in the 58th minute to finish with a team-high four shots.
No. 3 Boston College at No. 5 Louisville** | 1:30 p.m. ET | ACCN
To round out the five game weekend, with four counting as ACC match-ups, No. 3 Boston College will take on No. 5 Louisville in Kentucky. The last time these teams played was in the 2019 NCAA Quarterfinals that was decided in a thrilling shootout. Boston College opened the scoring with just six seconds left in the first half off the stick of Elizabeth Warner. She redirected a shot on a penalty corner by Sky Caron to put the Eagles in front. Louisville answered in the 35th minute, when Bethany Russ hit a reverse from just inside the circle into the back of the net. The game went back-and-forth through regulation and into overtime.
The Eagles had a chance in overtime with 10 seconds left, when Carlin found Jamie Natale wide open on the right side of the goal. Natale beat the goalkeeper, but rang it off the post. This pushed the game into a shootout.
Louisville jumped to a quick lead, 2-0, in the shootout before Carlin and Caron answered for Boston College. Brigid Wood then had the ball on her stick to send the game into a sudden victory shootout, where she dribbled around the goalkeeper to keep the Eagles' hopes alive. She then stepped right back up and scored again to give the Eagles the lead in the shootout. Louisville answered, but Carlin gave Boston College another lead in the seventh round. Boston College goalkeeper Sarah Dwyer then stepped up and made the game-winning save to end the game and the shootout.
Last season, the Eagles had one of its best season's in program history, going 15-8 with a program-record four ACC wins and making its first-ever ACC title game appearance and first-ever final four. Head Coach Kelly Doton was also named ACC Coach of the Year and earned the USA Field Hockey National Coach Award. The coaching staff also garnered the 2019 Spiideo/NFHCA Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Louisville opened up their 2020 campaign last weekend by tallying two wins over No. 4 Duke and will play No. 1 North Carolina on Friday. The Cardinals hold a slight advantage in the all-time meeting record, 4 to 3, with last year's contests being split.
USFHA media release
RIP Richard Mellon
Hockey Ireland were saddened to hear today of the death earlier this week of former Irish international hockey player Richard Mellon. Richard was capped 29 times for Ireland between 1968 and 1975. During his playing career he also played for Dublin University and Three Rock Rovers. He will be long remembered in Grange Road. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.
Irish Hockey Association media release