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All the news for Saturday 31 October 2020

2020 FIH Pro League - 31 October

2020 FIH Pro League (Men)

31 Oct 2020 16:30 (GMT +1)    BEL v GBR (RR)     -     Royal Uccle Sport, Brussels    
1 Nov 2020 16:30 (GMT +1)     BEL v GBR (RR)     -     Royal Uccle Sport, Brussels

2020 FIH Pro League (Women)

31 Oct 2020 14:00 (GMT +1)     BEL v GBR (RR)     -     Royal Uccle Sport, Brussels
1 Nov 2020 14:00 (GMT +1)       BEL v GBR (RR)     -     Royal Uccle Sport, Brussels

Live streaming and full game replay on the Watch Hockey App (May be Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool Standings

Men's Pool

Women's Pool

USA v NED (26.01.2020) worth double points because of the match cancelled on 24.01.2020
AUS v GBR (01.02.2020) worth double points because of the match cancelled on 02.02.2020

FIH Match Centre

GB face Belgium in Brussels as FIH Hockey Pro League continues

Following their recent clashes against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, the women’s and men’s team of Great Britain now head to Brussels for FIH Hockey Pro League double headers against the national teams of Belgium, which take place this weekend.

The British teams will be hoping to bounce back after the results in Amsterdam went against them, but the upcoming fixtures at Royal Uccle in Brussels – which will see the women and men in action both on Saturday (31 October) and Sunday (1 November), with the games being played behind closed doors - present plenty of challenges of their own.

Great Britain women sit higher in the rankings than their Belgian counterparts, but that did not stop the Red Panthers from recording a 4-1 triumph on home soil against the Olympic champions in the 2019 edition of the competition.

Belgium’s men, the reigning World and European champions, currently sit top of the FIH Hockey Pro League standings, ensuring that GB will have to be at their very best if they are to claim positive results against the top ranked team in world hockey. The Red Lions will be aiming for maximum points against the visitors before their upcoming Low Countries derby match against the Netherlands – who are second in the standings – in Brussels on Wednesday (4 November).

The fixtures are part of ten FIH Hockey Pro League matches set to be played over the coming weeks, with the remaining 76 scheduled to take place between January and May 2021.

More information about this weekend’s matches can be found below.

Belgium v Great Britain (Women & Men)
Where: Royal Uccle, Brussels (BEL)
Dates:  31 October & 1 November 2020

WOMEN’S MATCHES  
Times (local): Saturday 31 October – 1400 | Sunday 01 November – 1400
Match pages: Match 1 | Match 2

The essentials…

Current FIH World Ranking: Belgium: 12 | Great Britain: 5
Current FIH Hockey Pro League position: Belgium: 7 | Great Britain: 6
Final standings - FIH Hockey Pro League 2019: Belgium: 5 | Great Britain: 8

Head-to-heads in all competitions (since 2013 – 2 matches)
Wins: Belgium: 1 | Great Britain: 1 | Draws: 0
Goals scored: Belgium: 4 | Great Britain: 3

Team pages (squads & statistics): Belgium | Great Britain

MEN’S MATCHES
Times (local): Saturday 31 October – 1630 | 01 November – 1630
Match pages: Match 1 | Match 2

The essentials…

Current FIH World Ranking: Belgium: 1 | Great Britain: 7
Current FIH Hockey Pro League position: Belgium: 1 | Great Britain: 9
Final standings - FIH Hockey Pro League 2019: Belgium: 2 | Great Britain: 4

Head-to-heads in all competitions (since 2013 – 11 matches)
Wins: Belgium: 5 | Great Britain: 1 | Draws: 5
Goals scored: Belgium: 30 | Great Britain: 20

Team pages (squads & statistics): Belgium | Great Britain

Ten FIH Hockey Pro League matches will be played over the coming weeks, with the remaining 76 scheduled between January and May 2021.

Although the fans will not be allowed into the stadium itself, all four matches will be available to watch via television or digital streaming thanks to our broadcast partnerships, as well as on the new Watch.Hockey app in every country where a rights holding broadcaster is not showing the matches live.

You can also keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the event website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

#FIHProLeague
#HockeyInvites
#PlayHockeyStayHealthy

Official FIH Pro League Site

Field Hockey Canada announces partnership with West Vancouver Field Hockey Club

New agreement signals official “Home of the Canadian National Teams



Field Hockey Canada is pleased to announce its partnership with West Vancouver Field Hockey Club (WVFHC) effective now until the end of 2022.

WVFHC has been a longtime supporter of the Men’s and Women’s National Field Hockey Teams and seeks to develop the sport at all levels, with recreational and high-performance programming at all ages and abilities. The partnership serves as a desire to grow recognition of both national teams to inspire the up-and-coming players.  

Kari Hendricks, Communications Coordinator for WVFHC, highlights the existing partnership and looks forward to more collaboration. She said that the organization is delighted to partner with and support the continued development of Field Hockey Canada athletes.

Hendricks said, “We look forward to this partnership and seeing the community connection it will provide as well as more visibility to the sport.”

Rutledge Field, located at Ambleside Park and named in honour of legendary former national team player Ross Rutledge, will henceforth be known as the ‘Home of the Canadian National Teams’. For many players intimate with the area, this will serve as a homecoming.

Based in Vancouver, Stephanie Norlander recalls some of her best youth hockey memories at Rutledge Field with the club and looks forward to training among familiar faces.

“The new partnership [between Field Hockey Canada and WVFHC] is exciting and I am happy the National Team will be joining such a large and supportive hockey community that I was fortunate to grow up in,” Norlander said. “Thank you to everyone within the Rutledge Field community for the ongoing support of our program.”

High Performance Director Adam Janssen recognizes the importance of this agreement and the foundation it sets as national teams gear up for upcoming international competition.

“The partnership is exciting on many levels as it allows both of our National teams the ability to utilize top-class facilities directly in the Vancouver community,” said Janssen. “We are pleased to be able to work closely with WVFHC and look forward to a continued relationship.”  

Please note that this partnership is non-exclusive. WVFHC and Field Hockey Canada share the vision of growing the sport through an open approach. As such, FHC will embrace the opportunity for similar partnerships in all communities across the country. For more information on the partnership, or if your club or community is interested in partnering with Field Hockey Canada, please contact CEO Susan Ahrens at <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>.



Field Hockey Canada media release

English Men's Premier Division: The season so far...



While the Men’s Hockey League Premier Division has a break from action this weekend, we reflect on the first part of the season and assess how the 11 teams have started their league campaigns in the top flight.

One coaching duo who have had a tricky start to the season are Jamie Cachia and Gareth Weaver-Tyler, joint Head Coaches to Durham University men’s first team. With four games played, no wins, 24 goals against and six scored, this has not been the stellar start the University team would have liked.

“It has undoubtedly been a tough start with the fixtures we've had,” says Cachia. “But being able to test ourselves against some of the best players in the country has been really exciting and we are becoming more competitive with each game.
 
“Every week we try to focus as much as possible on us and what we are doing on and off the ball, which hopefully means we are getting better all the time. Obviously, a lot of preparation goes into how we can implement our philosophy on our opponents each weekend and we are starting to do this more and more.

“With the world the way it is, a lot of time is spent trying to support the students through such a difficult time, they have done really well so far and we are proud of how they have conducted themselves.”

Cachia adds that a limited pre-season training and a disjointed selection process – because so many players have had to self-isolate – are just two of the many effects that the pandemic is having on his team.

Elsewhere in the league Exeter University have been enduring an equally challenging time also registering no wins and four losses, while just above them Brooklands MU have three losses - but a well-deserved draw against East Grinstead setting them apart from the teams below.

For the other eight teams, the league table is reflecting just how closely matched the teams are. Surbiton seemed to be having things all their own way, particularly following their emphatic 7-2 win over East Grinstead, but then the reigning champions were brought to earth by a hard-working Oxted side.

The pack of three chasing Surbiton are all poised to take advantage of any slip.

Wimbledon, under the guidance of Karl Stagno, are pushing hard with three wins to their credit. However, their wins have come at the expense of teams below them in the league. They fell short with a loss against another title contender, Hampstead & Westminster.

Kwan Browne’s side have put in some good performances to take points from East Grinstead and Wimbledon - but they, in turn, slipped up against Holcombe.

The third team sharing joint second place in the league is Old Georgians. The free-scoring team were victors in the entertaining but mistake-strewn 10-6 match against Oxted. They also popped eight past Durham and five against Exeter. An early season loss against Holcombe may have been the catalyst for greater focus that was needed.

Reflecting on the helter-skelter goal-fest against Oxted, Head Coach Mike Hughes says: “With four Great Britain players missing with long term injuries, one self-isolating and a further four players ‘managing’ injuries, I couldn’t have been prouder of the group and, more importantly, the second XI players that stepped up and performed against Oxted.

“Defensively, there were some big learnings for the makeshift back four. However, a scoreline like this is always going to provide us with a positive environment and opportunity to analyse and improve key areas.

“Nevertheless, I’m pleased we put on a spectacle for the thousands of viewers that tuned in. We’ve had messages of support from all over the world regarding the quality of live streaming the club has managed to produce.”

With a week’s break from playing, Hughes says “de-loading” will do some of his squad a world of good and allow the injured and the self-isolating players to return refreshed and ready for the next five matches.

Hughes is feeling positive at this point in the season. He says results have gone favourably for Old Georgians, adding: “We are firmly back in control of our destiny. We will rue the chances missed against Holcombe but week-on-week the group are coming closer together. It's great to see the leaders within the squad grow in confidence and take more ownership.”

For Holcombe, Beeston, East Grinstead and Oxted, the next few matches are vital if they are to finish in the top half of the table. Currently it seems none of the teams are looking like runaway leaders, so this is a very open field and just about any team in the league could be capable of springing a surprise. The issue of Beeston and Brooklands being in Level 3 Very high risk areas and unable to play will also cause administrative challenges.

Action in the regional leagues has been equally compelling. In Division One North, Loughborough Students top the table with a 100% win record in their four games played. However they are one of a number of teams who have not played all five scheduled matches to date. The Division will be further impacted by more teams being in or close to Level 3 areas and unable to play. Loughborough’s game at Deeside and Cambridge vs Olton & West Warwicks this Sunday are the only two games that can go ahead this weekend.  

Teddington are well placed at the top of Division One South four points clear but will face a tough game in the trip across the capital to Southgate on Sunday,

Wapping and Richmond are trading blows in Conference East, with the East London-based team just one point ahead of their rivals from the west of the capital. This weekend’s fixture between the two sides may prove a crucial match in this season’s campaign.

Didsbury Northern are the only unbeaten team in Conference North but Barford Tigers, who trail them by one point would go top if they win at Leeds, the only game  in the Division that can go ahead this Sunday.

The University of Bristol is another student side that is performing well in the early stages of the season. They currently lead the Conference West league but Fareham and Harborne are hard on their heels. Bristol make the short trip up the M5 to Cheltenham on Sunday. Fareham host Ashmoor but third placed Harborne’s game with Cardiff University is off as the students are unable to travel from Wales.

FIXTURES

Men’s Hockey League (Sat, 31 October 2020):
Division One North
City of Peterborough v Sheffield Hallam Postponed

Division One South
Sevenoaks v Old Cranleighans 17:00

Conference East
Bromley & Beckenham v Harleston Magpies 14:30
Old Loughtonians v London Edwardians 16:30
Richmond v Wapping 18:00
St Albans v Spencer 15:00  

Conference West
Harborne v Cardiff Univ Postponed

Men’s Hockey League (Sun, 1 November 2020):

Division One North
Bowdon v Univ of Nottingham Postponed
Cambridge City v Olton & West Warwicks 13:30
Cardiff & Met v Univ of Birmingham Postponed
Deeside Ramblers v Loughborough Students 13:30

Division One South
Canterbury v Brighton & Hove 12:45
Oxford Hawks v Havant 14:00
Southgate v Teddington 14:30
Team Bath Buccaneers v Reading 13:00

Conference East
West Herts v London Wayfarers 13:30

Conference North
Doncaster v Univ of Durham 2s Postponed
Leeds v Barford Tigers 14:30
Lichfield v Belper Postponed
Timperley v Univ of Birmingham 2s Postponed
Preston v Didsbury Northern Postponed

Conference West
Cheltenham v Univ of Bristol 12:30
Fareham v Ashmoor 13:30
Plymouth Marjon v Isca 13:00
Chichester v Khalsa Leamington 14:00

England Hockey Board Media release

English Women's Premier Division: The state of play...



With six matches played, East Grinstead enter the week’s break from league action leading the Women’s Hockey League Premier Division table - but they have a fragile hold on top spot.

Second-placed Wimbledon are the surprise package so far, as the league newcomers adapt well to life in the top flight with four wins under their belts already.

Loughborough Students are also well-positioned. They have played two fewer games than the duo ahead of them in the table and have gathered momentum and confidence following a good start to their campaign with three wins and a draw.

Mary Booth is East Grinstead’s Head Coach. Her aim in the first part of the season has been to build on the momentum of the previous campaign. Her team has not lost a league game since 28 September 2019 and the coach is understandably reluctant to see that streak ending anytime soon.

“Obviously, winning our first game down at Clifton Robinsons helped mark our intentions for the season,” says Booth. “Clifton are a very difficult team to beat at the best of times let alone away.

“We had said we needed to continue where we had left off last season. We wanted to maintain that momentum and bringing Jason Lee on board has brought a new pair of eyes to look at our squad.”

While Booth wants to see improvement in many areas, notably goal scoring, passing through the lines and creating opportunities in the attacking quarter, there are some things she definitely does not want to change, most notably the person leading the East Grinstead attack – Olympic gold medal winner Sophie Bray.

“We have the best goal scorer in the country as our captain and leader on the pitch,” says Booth, although she is also looking to continue to give opportunities to youngsters as they make their way through the club’s development ranks.

“We run on a very small squad, so it is essential that the fringe players and younger girls understand how we want to play and what to do in both attacking and defensive scenarios.”

Like all clubs the length and breadth of the country, East Grinstead has been impacted by Covid-19. As Booth explains, it has been a case of all hands on deck to make hockey at all levels happen.

“Our clubhouse is run by an outside agency with staff who were furloughed, so the logistics of pitch watering, lighting and booking had to be solved. We have some very positive drivers within the club who put strategies in place to enable us to use the pitch. Wes Jackson – the Men’s Club Captain worked tirelessly with others in the club to get us to where we are currently.”

There is a long way to go in the league as yet, but Booth is determined that this will be East Grinstead’s year.

“We have been the bridesmaid too many times,” she says, adding that training in the coming weeks will intensify as the squad seeks to win the league for the first time in the club’s history.

“We are fortunate that we have been able to play all our games thus far but we know we have four challenging games ahead of us – Wimbledon, Loughborough, Holcombe and Swansea and we must get results in these.”

Booth says that the aim is for every member of the squad to improve their skills and game understanding by five per cent. It is a mathematical equation that works well in East Grinstead’s favour.

“If we all improve by five per cent, as a collective we should be successful in our aim to be at the top at Christmas. If we can do this then the next hurdle will be maintaining and improving our squad during January before the re-start in February. Those five games are why we play hockey.”

Further down the table and there is a battle developing for a place in the top half. Hampstead & Westminster have a two point advantage over Surbiton and Buckingham, with Clifton Robinsons and Holcombe just behind them on six points apiece.

All five teams are capable of a surge up the table. Certainly all the teams are capable of overturning anyone on their day; the main problem currently is finding consistency in their performances.

Beeston have one win to their credit, while both the University of Birmingham and Swansea University are finding life in the top flight tough going during these early stages of the season.

Life is tight at the top in the hotly-contested Division One North with just one goal separating league leaders Stourport from Leicester City, while Bowdon are snapping at their heels with a game in hand. At the other end of the table the University of Nottingham, Ben Rhydding and Belper are all still to win a point. However the impact of Level 3 Very High risk restrictions are now starting to bite and only the Olton - Ben Rhydding game can go ahead this Saturday.

Reading and Sevenoaks are leading the way in Division One South, so this weekend’s fixture between the two sides will be a crucial match at this point of the season. Third placed Canterbury’s trip to Isca is off due to local restrictions at Exeter University.

In the Conference North Wakefield have a four point advantage over their rivals and are looking strong with their unbeaten record so far. This week’s match against second placed Leeds will be their toughest test so far but precedes the teams being impacted by Level 3 restrictions next week which elsewhere mean all but the Alderley Edge - Cannock game have been postponed this weekend.

Sutton Coldfield have a one point advantage over Clifton Robinsons 2s in the Conference West but have also played one game more.

In the Conference East Barnes hold a one point lead at the top of the table going into their match with second-placed Bromley and Beckenham. Southgate are poised in third place to take advantage of any slip.

This weekend Sutton Coldfield face Basingstoke, who are yet to win a game, while Clifton Robinsons face a tough challenge from Exe, a team that has a defence that is hard to break down. Oxford University were able to make a belated start to their campaign last weekend and face local rivals Oxford Hawks in a Town v Gown battle on Saturday.

FIXTURES

Women’s Hockey League (Sat, 31 October 2020):
Division One North
Belper v Gloucester City Postponed
Bowdon v Leicester City Postponed
Brooklands-Poynton v Univ of Durham Postponed
Olton & West Warwicks v Ben Rhydding 12:00
Univ of Nottingham v Stourport Postponed

Division One South
Harleston Magpies v Wimbledon 2s 13:30
Isca v Canterbury Postponed
Reading v Sevenoaks 16:30
Surbiton 2s v Slough 13:30
Trojans v Cambridge City 12:00

Conference North
Alderley Edge v Cannock 14:00
Didsbury Northern v Doncaster Postponed
Loughborough Students 2s v Fylde Postponed
Timperley v Pendle Forest Postponed
Wakefield v Leeds  Postponed

Conference East
Barnes v Bromley & Beckenham 12:00
Bedford v Chelmsford 13:30
Canterbury 2s v East London 12:00
Horsham v St Albans 13:30
Southgate v Hampstead & Westminster 2s 16:30

Conference West
Basingstoke v Sutton Coldfield 14:00
Bristol Firebrands v Team Bath Buccaneers 12:00
Exe v Clifton Robinsons 2s 12:00
Oxford University v Oxford Hawks 12:00
Univ of Birmingham 2s v Cheltenham 12:30

England Hockey Board Media release

Game week 3 sees more conference hockey in North and Midland



The conference competition may be confined to Midland and North at the moment, but it has served the purpose of allowing some teams to start a semblance of competitive hockey which, has been much appreciated by the competitors.

Vikki Bunce, coach of Dundee Wanderers women, has certainly seen the benefits.

“It`s been helpful to get the girls playing and ultimately that`s what I think the focus should be at the moment while keeping everyone as safe as possible.”

But there has also been a bit of inter-club co-operation to the benefit of all.

Vikki explained, “Due to the central belt restrictions we`ve also been able to get a few others to training – both Lucy Camlin and Katie Robertson have been training with us as they live in areas unaffected by extra restrictions. Further Katie played with us last weekend while Lucy turned out for Grove Menzieshill.

“For me it`s about getting folk on the pitch.”

In return, Wanderers` keeper Iona Colquhoun has been training with Watsonians.

“For me this is what the hockey family is all about,” said Vikki. “Any opportunity to also support our international athletes in preparations for the Euros come the summer is a bonus.”

The Midland men`s conference is well up-to-date so far with all games played, and Grove Menzieshill top the four team table with full points against Dundee Wanderers and FMGM Monarchs. The 100% success rate of fixtures will change this weekend though as the Premiership side’s contest with Perthshire is unable to get off the mark.

FMGM Monarchs and Dundee Wanderers are vying for second spot and meet head-to-head on Saturday at Dalnacraig. It should be an exciting contest with goals flowing.

In contrast, so far, only one game has been played in the Men’s North Conference and leaders Granite City Wanderers could extend their lead if they can clock up an away win at Aberdeen Grammar FPs. This could be a close encounter as last season Grammar finished the truncated campaign bottom of division two while Granite City were third in the lower division.

Second division Gordonians make their debut away to Ellon men who went down 5-1 to Granite City last weekend, and will want to make amends this weekend.

Ellon women’s captain Louise Gordon will hope that her side`s progress continues with a second victory, this time at home to Aberdeen University who embark on their first fixture. The students will need to peg down Nikki Kidd if they hope to take something from the game, the former Scotland striker scored twice in Ellon`s hard-earned 3-2 win over Granite City Wanderers last Saturday.

Granite City are in action again this weekend, this time away to Premiership Gordonians who scored a half dozen in their opening encounter a fortnight ago. Another big contest on the cards.

Scottish Hockey Union media release

MHC interview 24 officers online

By Jugjet Singh


The NHDP was supposed to be launched on Oct 1 but due to the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), its fieldwork was put on hold.

THE Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) have completed the first stage of interviewing 24 state coordinating officers for the National Hockey Development Programme (NHDP).

The NHDP was supposed to be launched on Oct 1 but due to the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), its fieldwork was put on hold.

However, online interviews with the 24 candidates from 14 states were completed on Wednesday, and there will be another selection phase.

MHC deputy president Datuk S. Shamala, who is the development committee chairman, said: "Even though the launch of NHDP was delayed due to Covid-19, I am happy with the interview sessions with the 24 candidates that went smoothly.

"All those who applied for the state coordinating officers position have good knowledge and background in the sport.

"The job requires one to be responsible for disseminating information from the parent body to grassroots, and so it's a heavy responsibility.

"We will have another valuation session, with help from National Sports Council and Education Ministry, to select the best candidates next Wednesday," said Shamala.

About 4,000 boys and girls, aged 12-16, will get a chance to train and compete systematically in the 16 NHDP centres at schools.

MHC affiliates Armed Forces and Police are also expected to help the NHDP.

The NHDP came after the failed 1Mas Development Programme, which was supposed to develop grassroots but in the end, it concentrated more on elite athletes from sports schools instead.

MHC Technical Director Paul Revington is tasked to make the NHDP a success, but even though the South African has arrived, field work is unable to start due to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the MHC will announce the shortlisted names of 25 trainees for the national men's team today.

Thirty-seven players were selected after the Razak Cup, and coach Arul Selvaraj will drop 12 after giving them one month's time to prove themselves.

New Straits Times

Athlete Spotlight: Madison Kahn



Each athlete that wears the red, white and blue has a unique story to how their careers came to fruition. From the junior level to the senior squad, USA Field Hockey is putting national team athletes under the spotlight to share their journeys.

Sometimes goalkeeping is in your blood, like an instinct driving to perform on the surface. For Madison Kahn, the position has never really been in question and helped shape an impressive young career as she now competes for Lehigh University as well as the U.S. U-21 Women’s National Team.

Long before representing the red, white and blue on the junior level, Kahn was introduced to field hockey as the little sister watching her older siblings play in middle school. She followed suit in the sixth grade starting out as a defender, a position she didn’t feel was the best fit.

“I wasn’t the fastest kid on the field and I remember constantly trying to hit the ball like I was playing golf and I would whiff all the time,” admitted Kahn.

Over time she developed a friendship with the team’s goalkeeper which ultimately started her down the path as a guardian of the cage.

“I thought I could be good at being a goalkeeper and kind of just stuck with it and pursued other opportunities to play.”

Kahn stuck with the position when she transitioned on to high school, where she also played between the posts in lacrosse during the fall. It was her sophomore season at Ocean City High School in Ocean City, N.J. when field hockey became her primary focus and she has not looked back since.

“Lacrosse was fun and a nice break from field hockey, but just wasn’t for me,” said Kahn. “Field hockey didn’t translate well to lacrosse, because I would always try to get my body behind the ball instead of the lacrosse stick, and ended up with tons of bruises."



Kahn recalled that year as particularly memorable; it was a year where she was named Second Team All-South Jersey as the Red Raiders battled all the way to the state championship. She is also especially fond of that year because of the amount of fun the team had together along their journey.

“It doesn’t sound like much but it kind of validated me and showed me that I had a future in goalkeeping, that I just needed to keep pushing and working,” continued Kahn.

This same year Kahn continued to compete both indoor and outdoor on the club level with WC Eagles and gives a large amount of credit to the club for continuing to challenge her in both styles of the game.

“During the indoor season I was on the top court, which allowed me to become friends with some of the best players in the country, who I still try to keep up with today since we are all in college now,” said Kahn. “Outdoor always seemed liked a shorter season that was capped off with the National Club Championship. Indoor and outdoor practices were always difficult and forced me to grow quickly as a player: saving the ball, my field hockey IQ and my playing style.”

Still a sophomore in high school, Kahn’s dedication and development in goal also began drawing interest from various NCAA programs. In due time she elected to commit to Lehigh University, a decision she weighed heavily between proximity to home, academics, playing opportunity and culture.

“I remember I was really torn about my options, because being so young and trying to figure out your future is a daunting task,” admitted Kahn. “I ultimately chose Lehigh because it wasn’t too far from home, so my parents could watch my games in person. I thought I had a good opportunity to play, I really liked the campus and the team, and I think the most obvious reason is that Lehigh is a great school. So once it's time to graduate I will have a degree that really means something and that I worked hard for.”



Now a current sophomore at Lehigh, Kahn is actively pursuing a business degree while navigating the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

She opened her career with the Hawks with an exclamation mark in a nine-save shutout performance on the road. Kahn also started all 18 games for Lehigh as a freshman and finished second in the Patriot League in saves (127). In stark contrast, she is back home currently learning remotely, much like the majority of current collegiate students, and without a fall season. Although she is unable to train directly with her teammates, Kahn was fortunate enough to be able to train at home while connecting through Zoom with the team.

“My summer training was definitely different than I imagined it,” continued Kahn. “I am extremely fortunate that I have a great trainer at home that I have been working with and have continued to make gains in the gym. I also am very fortunate to have my goalkeeping trainer, Emily Snowden, who I worked with in a small group setting with some of my best friends, who also happen to be goalkeepers in the Patriot League.”

Kahn has also been active in the Women’s Olympic Development Pathway since a young teenager and was a three-time participant in Futures, where she was selected to participate in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympic Games each time. She has subsequently risen through the ranks over the years after first being named to the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team in 2018. In 2019, she was named to the U-19 USWNT which traveled to Germany to compete against the host nation’s U-18 team. Now a member of the U-21 USWNT, Kahn added it is surreal to find herself having progressed so far, now just a few milestones away from the senior squad, but wouldn’t change her experience in the Olympic Development Pathway for anything, let alone what the sport has opened up for her over the years.



“Field hockey has given me so many opportunities and experiences,” said Kahn. “I wouldn’t have some of my friends that I have today and wouldn’t be going to Lehigh without it. Field hockey has taught me to preserve and hang in there when things get tough, because there is always a way you can succeed.”

While she continues her studies at home, Kahn and her Lehigh teammates are active in the Lehigh Valley Summer Bridge program, where the team currently works with underprivileged middle school students over Zoom.

“I am a group leader and my group is reading the Hunger Games,” continued Kahn. “As the group leader, I formulate lesson plans and make sure my group is prepared to come together and discuss every Wednesday. Being a middle schooler is tough and I am really thankful that I am a part of this program and have an opportunity to talk to and get to know some awesome kids.”

"Field hockey has taught me to preserve and hang in there when things get tough, because there is always a way you can succeed.”
Madison Kahn

USFHA media release

ABN AMRO clubs: ‘Attention and importance to women’s hockey must be increased’



The ABN AMRO – main sponsor of 53 hockey clubs – announced its new initiative on Thursday afternoon : more equality between men and women in hockey. The chairpersons of the top clubs Oranje-Rood and Bloemendaal, sponsored by ABN AMRO, also think it is important, but: ‘the attention and importance of women’s hockey must therefore be increased’.

The bank’s name has been on the shirts of Oranje-Rood for years. The Brabant club therefore has the ambition to commit to the goals of ABN AMRO.  For example, the bank requires that female players earn the same as their male colleagues from 2025. ABN AMRO states that women in top hockey now earn 5 to 10 times less than men and less than 20 percent of the sponsorship money goes to women. The bank does not enter into a new sponsorship agreement with clubs that do not conform to ‘De Inhaalslag’.

According to Eindhoven chairman Pieter Janssen, the discussion goes further than just top hockey. ‘It’s also about sustainability, diversity and inclusion. The bank’s idea is much broader than just the financial aspect, ‘the chairman explains. He thinks it is a shame that the media is only about the finances in top hockey. According to him, equality is a much broader theme, which the club has been working on for some time. ‘We are at the heart of society.’ For example, the association works together with Vitalis (Eindhoven residential care group for the elderly), the wheelchair hockey players of Genneper Parken Bulls, a refugee organization and expats.

De Brabander continues: ‘From a financial point of view, we prefer to align everything and make no distinction. But that leveling also applies to broad teams, for example. We also want them to play on field 1 on Saturday. That is simply not always feasible. ‘


Archival image of Joep de Mol (left) and Teun Beins (right). Photo: Willem Vernes

Sponsor who does more than just a bag of money

‘This is certainly a good statement from the bank,’ says Bloemendaal chairman Els van Mierlo. She herself is the club’s first female president. ‘Attention to equality is important. I think it’s good to have a sponsor who does more than just come up with a bag of money. The discussion is broader than just about finances and top teams. ‘

Van Mierlo therefore believes that Bloemendaal is well on the way. ‘More and more of our youth trainers are girls. Our committees and boards have a good man / woman ratio. In addition, we have the same spearheads for Ladies 1 and Men 1. Such as a good support team, a sponsor club and social support. ‘

"Ladies hockey is still the support act for the men. If we want to make a serious change, it starts there. That is not only in the big league, but also with the Orange."
Pieter Janssen, chairman Oranje-Rood

And although those spearheads are the same, the budgets for Ladies and Gentlemen 1 differ, Van Mierlo cannot deny that either. ‘Of course the budget is different for each team, but that is also due to market forces. It is higher for men. It will not be very easy to change this. ‘

New youth players who reach the A-selections at Bloemendaal from the training, receive – regardless of whether they are male or female – a compensation on the same basis. ‘We then see what they are worth and what they can do. Do they play for Jong Oranje, or in another training team? We look at that. We don’t differentiate between men and women. ‘


Archival image of the ladies of Bloemendaal. Photo: Koen Suyk

Ladies opening act for the gentlemen

Janssen, like his female colleague, also insists on market forces. ‘Women’s hockey is still the support act for the men. If we want to make a serious change, it starts there. Why do the women always play at 12.45 and the men after that? That is not only in the big league, but also with the Orange. I was still in a traffic jam on Thursday when the Oranje Dames played for the Pro League. The Orange Men played – as always – at a much more reasonable time. ‘

Van Mierlo strives to achieve the bank’s objectives, but knows that it will be difficult. ‘Sponsors want a place with the most exposure. This is also the case with football and tennis, for example. It’s about how you get your product out there. The focus on women’s hockey must first be increased. ‘

Janssen agrees. ‘First align the current picture and then the money.’

Hockey News World

Francis ‘Mickey’ D’Mello: The schoolboy who upstaged the iconic Govinda in 1971

By ERROL D’CRUZ


Francis D’Mello

A Mumbai player in the India hockey team was tough to come by in the 1960s and 70s. And a schoolboy from the city in the team for the 1971 World Cup may well have caused many to rub eyes in disbelief. But it was 18-year-old Francis D’Mello who found a place in the Barcelona-bound squad for the first ever World Cup, defying the odds and machinations that governed selection. D’Mello, speaking from his Dadar abode, went down memory lane to the Barcelona World Cup held exactly 49 years ago.

“Indian hockey is dominated by Punjab, more so in those days. Mumbai players, no matter how talented, rarely got a chance. But, thanks to the efforts of the Bombay Hockey Association secretary, Mumbai-based Jos Gonsalves, there were two in the team for the World Cup,” D’Mello recollects.


Bombay hockey doyen Jos Gonsalves saw potential in the school boy Francis D’Mello

“After politics largely had its say, the team was selected and all but one spot – the centre forward position — had to be filled. Two players were left to vie for selection. They were Govinda and myself.

“Here’s where Jos played his trump card. He asserted that I was versatile and had proved myself at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) camp in Patiala in various positions – right from defence, to the midfield, to the forward line. Govinda, however, was an out-and-out centre-forward and couldn’t fit in anywhere else.

“Jos won the debate hands down and I made the team!”

Imagine a schoolboy upstaging an Indian icon who would be a fixture in the national squad for years to come. But that only spoke of the faith reposed in him by Gonsalves.

D’Mello had for company another Mumbai lad. He was goalkeeper and schoolmate Cedric Pereira, a “Bandra Boy” like D’Mello. He valued Pereira’s guidance on and off the pitch and the St Stanislaus High School duo embarked on a high-pressure assignment to Barcelona.

D’Mello has fond memories of the camp at Patiala and the campaign in Barcelona. Time on the pitch was restricted, however, to one half of the bronze medal playoff against Kenya which India won 2-1 in extra-time.

“I sustained a hamstring pull and couldn’t play on,” D’Mello recalls. “But I enjoyed the tournament thoroughly,” he said.


Then in France, all-weather hockey buff Tony Fernandes helped India’s Jr World Cup team, says Francis

“I remember Tony Fernandes (who settled in France) interacting and helping the team in whatever way he could as he knew the city and its hockey circles well since he ran a team there.

Etched deeply in D’Mello’s memory is the welcome he received by his school when he returned from the World Cup.

“My school principal told me to address the congregation of students at the morning assembly. He said that I should tell them that today would be a holiday to celebrate my role in the Indian team at the World Cup! I did so and such a message shocked the assembly. But they soon broke into celebration,” D’Mello, ‘Mickey’ to his friends, recollects with a chuckle.

“I have good memories of the camp in Patiala too. I remember Ajit Pal Singh, our captain, to be a thorough gentleman. “I recall an incident in Patiala when Cedric and I went to the movies and the clerk at the ticket counter refused to issue me a ticket despite me handing him the money. “Ajit Pal, who was there with a group of other players to watch the movie as well, intervened and made sure I was given the ticket I paid for!”

When it came to business on the hockey pitch, however, D’Mello frowns over the ineptness of the Indian think tank. “Strategy, tactics and selection for a match based on the opposition strengths and weaknesses were poor,” he recounts.


School boy Francis who won World Cup bronze, 1971

“We had a far better team than Pakistan (eventual champions) but still lost to them in the semi-finals. Better thought and planning would have brought a different result.”

Gonsalves’ adjudication of the teenager’s ability has stood the test of time. D’Mello’s illustrious Mahindra teammates echoes  the official’s views.

Says Olympian, World Cupper and former India captain MM Somaya: “Francis had exceptional game sense and situational awareness. He could effortlessly influence the result of a game due to his versatility. He could score brilliant goals, be a creative playmaker or show tenacity while defending. He was the total package.

“A restrained and unassuming presence on the field helped him fly below the radar and so make significant contributions without much ado,” adds the former right-half.

Schoolmate, Olympian, World Cupper and former India coach Joaquim Carvalho still gets caught in the spell cast by D’Mello’s sublime skills.

“If you didn’t watch him play, you missed a silent assassin in motion. A very dangerous forward. We were all in awe of him,” says Carvalho who recalls the school band going to the airport to receive him on his return from the World Cup.

D’Mello, sadly, fell off the radar after the Barcelona sojourn. He learned that skill and ability aren’t key parameters in donning India colours. It was the imponderables that governed selection.

After the tour of Aghanistan in 1974, he called time on his international career. “I had had enough,” D’Mello says. He, however, continued delighting aficionados while representing Mahindras in the Bombay Gold Cup, Aga Khan and various other All India tournaments country-wide. “Mahindras’ 1982 Aga Khan Cup triumph is my most memorable moment,” D’Mello declares.


Player-Coach Joaquim Carvalho is all praise for Francis

As a tender 16-year-old, D’Mello took the pitch for Western Railway, another colourful Mumbai outfit who in their ranks had the redoubtable Balbir Singh, the electrifying right-winger. After two seasons, he joined Mahindras and represented the team till 1989 when he retired from the game altogether.

D’Mello keeps himself aloof from coaching and selection but follows the game as closely as he can while catching up on the action on television.

In his long career, he influenced the who’s who of Mumbai’s upcoming talent, be it Mahindras or the Mumbai teams to the National Championships. The crop included Joaquim Carvalho, Somaya, Dhanraj Pillay, Marcellus Gomes, Mark Patterson, Hilary Gomes and several others. “They used to refer to me as ‘Sir’,” he fondly remembers.

D’Mello’s heart-warming raconteur belies the tough life he has had. He doesn’t remember seeing his parents who passed away when he was little. As an orphan, he found himself in St Stanislaus’ boarding school but that opened a vista that would enable him make an impact on hockey.

“St Stanislaus’, as you know, is a nursery for the game in Mumbai and I soon found myself dribbling endlessly along the concrete pathways near the ground,” D’Mello, who lived on Bazaar Road after passing out of school, reminisces. “My coach Cyril Gabriel, and later Oliver Andrade, moulded me as a player. Boarding school life groomed me as a person.”


Triple Olympian MM Somaya

More challenges lay in wait. His younger son Clayton was claimed by a rare form of cancer when only 15. “That was hard to bear,” D’Mello, married to Priscilla, says. Carlisle, his other son, played hockey for Mumbai and Bombay Port Trust as centre-half but D’Mello, now a grandfather, refused to use any form of influence to land him a place in the India team.

“I wanted my son to learn the realities of Indian hockey and the challenges facing team selection.” Understandably so. After all D’Mello learned things about Indian hockey the hard way and was in many ways hard done by in the wake of perennial vagaries of administration and selection plaguing Indian hockey.

Those who saw him play swear that the greater harm done by those sinister forces was to Indian hockey. D’Mello’s presence in an India shirt would have enriched the sport’s fortunes. Not to mention draw fans in droves to watch his enchanting skills and prowess.

Stick2Hockey.com

Taking the Lead in Kentucky

By Jody Schaefer, Kentucky State Chapter President



Two years ago in December, I received the call that every coach waits her entire career to hear: “I MADE IT!”, she screamed into the phone. It was electrifying to know that two Kentucky athletes would travel to Germany to play with the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team. Assumption High School junior Lee Ann Gordon and Christian Academy of Louisville sophomore Claudia Thomas both made the 2019 U-17 USWNT after a rigorous process of selections, beginning with Futures training, moving through the National Futures Championship and on to Junior National Camp, and final selections for the squad. Watching these girls grow from U-12 teammates on their IFHCK club to competing on the Junior USWNT displays the potential that Kentucky has for growing players who can achieve at the highest level.



Although Kentucky field hockey players are reaching the pinnacle of their sport, there were questions last fall regarding high school sanctioning by Kentucky’s governing body for athletics, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA). Sanctioned sports are reviewed periodically and the lack of member schools participating in fi eld hockey was a concern. Happily, the sport’s community was vocal and the KHSAA was supportive, so high school field hockey remains a member sport. The connections made during the sanctioning meetings resulted in USA Field Hockey’s desire to support and fuel growth in Kentucky by adding the Bluegrass State to the list of pilot State Chapter programs.

State Chapters are partners in USA Field Hockey’s regionalization efforts to promote and develop the game for future generations to enjoy. Their focus is to grow the game, inspire and serve membership in their state, while developing their respective state’s fi eld hockey stakeholders to succeed both on and off the field.

Although small, the field hockey community in Kentucky is tightly woven.

There are currently four NCAA programs in the state: Bellarmine University and the University of Louisville in Division I and Centre College and Transylvania University in Division III. Approximately 20 high schools and dozens of middle school teams are in Louisville and three Louisville clubs represent the state in Bluegrass, IFHCK and Stealth, which provide athletes with opportunities to play year around.

Kentucky has a strong community of umpires who offer their services to organize matches for all the groups mentioned above. There are also a host of other adults including parents and coaches, league organizers and club owners, who sustain and support the sport.



Oftentimes a crisis clarifies priorities, and the development of the Kentucky State Chapter is a direct result of that clarification. The community realized that, in order to sustain the sport that we all love, some changes had to be made. With the help of Sally Goggin, USA Field Hockey’s National Development Director, and Chip Rogers, Miami University Assistant Coach and USA Field Hockey Board of Directors Vice-Chair, and after a survey of interest and several virtual meetings, we developed an Executive Board for the State Chapter. The Board is in the process of drafting a mission statement, vision statement and philosophy, and creating a strategic plan to clarify priorities. While we have not solidified our plans, we do know that we are prioritizing the stabilization and support of field hockey programs in Jefferson County, growing the sport beginning with the Lexington area and ensuring that we are offering more opportunities to novice players from varied backgrounds.

There are some outstanding opportunities offered through our partnership with USA Field Hockey. Firstly, we will have a Kentucky State Chapter website.

This will allow players and their families easy access to information about field hockey events and school programs in their area. Our three current club programs will also have an opportunity to link to the website, offering easy access more intense instruction. Eventually, our State Chapter organizers will be able to include USA Field Hockey clinics on the calendar, bringing to fruition our desire to grow the sport beginning with our youngest and least experienced players.

Our three current club programs will also have an opportunity to link to the website, offering easy access more intense instruction. Eventually, our State Chapter organizers will be able to include USA Field Hockey clinics on the calendar, bringing to fruition our desire to grow the sport beginning with our youngest and least experienced players.

Even in these difficult times when so much is unsure, we can have confidence that growth is on the horizon. Kentucky-based U.S. Rise Women’s National Team athletes like Lee Ann Gordon, Claudia Thomas and the countless others who played before them, have made our state stand out in the Midwest. The work that we are doing today will offer the generations to come the opportunity to continue to excel and, more importantly, grow into strong individuals with lifelong enthusiasm for their sport. It is a worthy task.

Kentucky State Chapter Leadership
President: Jody Schaefer

Vice President: Olivia Netzler-Gray

Secretary: Stephanie Seeley

Treasurer: Chris Ward

Members at Large: Lucy Miller

Committee Leaders
Webmasters: Nicole Woods and Chris Niblock

Umpires: Erin Maguire and Chris Niblock

High School: Brittany Johnson and Brittany Vencill

Club: Yasser Hayat

Diversity: Bailey Higgins

Lexington Development: Suzie Stammer, Katie Hasting, Janelle Anthony, Anna Cook

If you are interested in learning more about the Kentucky State Chapter of USA Field Hockey and getting involved, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Look for announcements about the launch of the Kentucky State Chapter website!

USFHA media release

UNC field hockey beats Wake Forest, 5-0, in final regular season match

By Christian Avy


Senior midfielder, Eva Smolenaars, at the game against Wake Forest on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. Kiara Alvarado

The North Carolina field hockey team (7-1, 7-1 ACC) and Wake Forest (2-7, 2-7) entered the final weekend of the regular season with near-opposite records, and with the Tar Heels locked into the two-seed for the ACC Tournament next week, the Demon Deacons were trying to avoid slipping further down the standings. Still, the Tar Heels came away with a 5-0 home victory on Friday to extend their winning streak to five games.

What happened?

North Carolina got rolling early with a goal in the third minute, as redshirt junior Cassie Sumfest passed a penalty corner to two-time ACC offensive player of the year, junior Erin Matson, who finished the play to give UNC a 1-0 lead. After that, penalties continued to plague the Demon Deacons, as another corner opportunity allowed Sumfest to score for herself. After the quick scores for UNC, Wake Forest controlled the ball for most of the first quarter, but couldn’t generate many chances, only notching one shot to the Tar Heels’ six.

Wake Forest's first real chance came three minutes into the second quarter, as senior goalkeeper Amanda Hendry fought through several close shots to get a whistle directly before the ball found its way into the net. Wake Forest head coach Jennifer Averill called for a review of the play, but after taking a look, the play stood and the score remained 2-0 in favor of the Tar Heels.

Later in the quarter, UNC was on the attack, and padded their lead with an unassisted goal from Meredith Sholder. Sholder was left one-on-one at the top of the semi circle, put a move on her defender, and slid the ball past the right pad of Demon Deacon goalkeeper Tori Glaister. Shortly after, the Tar Heels thwarted consecutive corner chances to keep the lead — and momentum — in their favor going into halftime.

In the third, neither team managed to come up with more than a couple of scoring chances, and the defense shone through, with only three total shots for both clubs.

North Carolina extended its lead to 5-0 by the final whistle by way of two more goals from Matson, securing the victory in the Tar Heels' final regular season match.

Who stood out?

Matson had yet another stellar performance, scoring three goals on five shots, bringing her total to nine so far this year. Hendry stood tall in net all evening for North Carolina, earning six saves in 55 minutes, and recording her third shutout of the season.

When was it decided?

The game felt over for much of the second half, but the final nail in the Demon Deacon's coffin came when Matson finished off a pass from first-year Katie Dixon, putting UNC up 4-0 with a little over 12 minutes remaining. Wake Forest had a few more chances late, but weren’t able to find the back of the net.

Why does it matter?

Though the contest didn’t have much of an effect on the ACC standings, it was an important chance for the Tar Heels to show they could continue their strong play after almost two weeks off and maintain momentum heading into next week’s ACC Tournament.

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 5 in the ACC Quarterfinals. Originally scheduled to be held at Duke, the Tournament has been moved to Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill.

The Daily Tar Heel

Virginia field hockey to close out 2020 regular season Saturday against Duke

The Cavaliers enter the weekend hoping to snap a four-game losing streak before the start of the ACC Championship next week

By Joseph Ascoli


Virginia has maintained a strong defensive back line led by junior goalkeeper Lauren Hausheer and sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Henriksen.  Courtesy Virginia Athletics

Following Virginia field hockey’s recent losses to North Carolina and Louisville, the team travels to Durham, N.C. to face Duke, who are coming off of its first win of this shortened season —  a 2-0 victory over Wake Forest on Sunday.  

The Cavaliers (3-5, 2-2 ACC) will look to build on improvements from earlier this season, despite a four-game losing streak and an unfortunate, last-second 2-1 defeat to Louisville Oct. 24. Before facing off against ACC powerhouses North Carolina and Louisville, however, the Cavaliers put up three impressive wins, including a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Syracuse.

As for the Blue Devils (1-6, 0-4 ACC), the victory against Wake Forest was a much-needed win after six straight losses, including three consecutive games decided by just one goal each. While Duke has shown potential and signs of being a high-caliber team — as evidenced by its high-scoring affair with reigning national champion North Carolina Oct. 18 — the Blue Devils just haven’t found a game-winning formula until the match against the Demon Deacons.

The Cavaliers’ and Blue Devils’ strong 2019 seasons — finishing second and eighth in the national rankings respectively — are testaments to the talent on both teams. This season, however, has been a different story for both Virginia and Duke, who currently sit at a mediocre fourth and eighth respectively in the ACC standings.

While Virginia has maintained a strong defensive back line, led by junior goalkeeper Lauren Hausheer and sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Henriksen, the Cavaliers’ offense has struggled to finish goal-scoring opportunities. This inconsistency has characterized Virginia’s discouraging four-game losing skid.

In their first game against Louisville, the Cavaliers logged the same amount of shots as the Cardinals,13, but ultimately fell 5-2. Due to Virginia’s inability to convert on shots, the final scores of its most recent games do not paint an accurate picture of its gameplay. In order to close out the season on a high note Saturday, Virginia’s game plan will have to focus on coming out of the gate with more energy and assertiveness on the offensive side to capitalize on its chances and not fall behind early.

On the heels of four tough losses, Virginia will look to redefine its place in the ACC standings and earn a victory this weekend as the Cavaliers head into the ACC Championship — which will start Nov. 5 in Durham, N.C. and finish Nov. 8 —  looking for its first title since 2016.

Previous Matchups

The last time the Cavaliers faced the Blue Devils, in last year’s ACC Tournament Quarterfinals, Virginia was able to pull off a hard-fought, chaotic 2-1 victory following strong play from now-sophomore back Cato Guesgens. This matchup was the second time the two teams faced each other last season, with the Cavaliers winning the first game in dramatic fashion as well, 3-2, in overtime. The looming ACC Championship start date, coupled with the recent history between Virginia and Duke, should bring excitement and intensity to Saturday’s game.

Players to Watch

Virginia sophomore striker Laura Janssen has been on a scoring tear as of late, notching goals for the Cavaliers in three of their last four games, while junior back Amber Ezechiels will look to repeat an impressive two-goal performance from an earlier game against Syracuse. Both Janssen and Ezechiels will try to revitalize an offense that has looked ineffective recently and hope that it can score enough against a Duke team that jumped at every opportunity against Wake Forest.

On the Blue Devils’ side of the ball, joint-leading goal scorers senior back Lexi Davidson and sophomore striker Hannah Miller — who is also leading the team in assists — will look to cut open the strong Virginia defense.

The Cavaliers and Blue Devils will face-off at 1 p.m. on Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium on Saturday.

The Cavalier Daily