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All the news for THursday 11 March 2021

Irish Women’s Squad Announcement for SoftCo Series


Shirley McCay. COPYRIGHT WORLDSPORTPICS RODRIGO JARAMILLO

The SoftCo Series, which will take place in Queen’s University Belfast this weekend with the Irish Women taking on Great Britain, will see a number of changes to the Green Army panel.

The panel will continue to see a mix of internationally experienced players, with several World Cup medallists included, while also incorporating more young and upcoming talent. The panel is as follows:

PLAYER                                                Region                  Position               CAPS
BARR, Beth                                           Ulster                    Defender                30
CAREY, Michelle                                 Leinster                 Midfielder             Uncapped
CAREY, Niamh                                     Leinster                Striker                    Uncapped
CARROLL, Naomi                                Munster               Striker                     111
COLVIN, Elizabeth                              Ulster                    Midfielder             196
DALY, Nicola                                        Leinster                Midfielder             189
DUKE, Deirdre                                     Leinster                Midfielder             141
EVANS, Nicola                                     Leinster                Striker                     198
FRAZER, Megan                                  Ulster                    Defender               136
HAWKSHAW, Sarah                           Leinster                Midfielder             33
MALSEED, Zara                                   Ulster                    Striker                   Uncapped
MATTHEWS, Hannah                        Leinster                Defender               147
MCAULEY, Sarah                              Leinster                Defender                    Uncapped
McCAY, Shirley                                    Ulster                    Defender              306
McFERRAN, Ayeisha                          Ulster                    Goal Keeper         100
McLOUGHLIN, Hannah                     Leinster                Defender               14
MULLAN, Kathryn (C)                       Ulster                    Midfielder             193
MURPHY, Elizabeth                           Leinster                Goal Keeper          13
O’FLANAGAN, Anna                           Leinster                Striker                    207
O’FLANAGAN, Grace                          Leinster                Goal Keeper          36
TICE, Elena                                           Leinster                Defender                109
TORRANS, Sarah                                 Leinster                Striker                     26
UPTON, Roisin                                     Munster               Defender                 76
WATKINS, Chloe                                 Leinster                Midfielder              226

A notable absence to the squad is Zoe Wilson who picked up an ACL injury in the final game played against Spain earlier this year. She has undergone surgery and her recovery is progressing well. Caoimhe Perdue of Munster will also travel with the panel taking part in training sessions and gaining valuable exposure to senior international level hockey.

Head Coach Sean Dancer commenting on the updated panel said “These matches give us the opportunity to test an extended group of players against a world class team. Niamh Carey performed well as a late replacement on the Spanish tour in January and Sarah McAuley has shown competitiveness and composure in defence in recent inter squad matches. I look forward to getting back to high quality international matches with the squad at the weekend.”

All matches in the SoftCo Series will be available to view via streaming or broadcast. BBC Sport NI will be streaming all three matches on their website as well as the BBC iPlayer, while RTÉ will broadcast Sunday evening’s match live on RTÉ 2 with coverage starting from 16:30. Nigel Ringland will present BBC Sport NI’s coverage of the three matches and will be joined on commentary by former Ireland international Alex Speers; while Evanne Ní Chuillin will present RTÉ’s coverage, joined by Cliodhna Sargent and Gillian Pinder in studio, with match commentary from George Hamilton and Sarah Scott.

Match dates, times and where to watch:
Match 1: Saturday March 13th @ 2pm. BBC Sport NI website, BBC iPlayer. RTE Player TBC.
Match 2: Sunday March 14th @ 5pm. BBC Sport NI website, BBC iPlayer, RTE 2
Match 3: Tuesday March 16th @ 3pm. BBC Sport NI website, BBC iPlayer. RTE Player TBC.

Irish Hockey Association media release

Wilson on the sidelines for Softco series after ACL injury


Zoe Wilson at the Olympic qualifier against Canada. Pic: Deryck Vincent

Zoe Wilson is set to miss this summer’s Olympic Games following an ACL injury sustained in Ireland’s last challenge match in Spain in January.  

She has since undergone surgery and her recovery is “progressing well” but, with the Olympics less than five months down the road – and the Euros a month earlier – the timescale looks to be against her to be back in time.

She is the big absentee from the Irish panel named by Sean Dancer for this weekend’s uncapped series against Great Britain at Queen’s.  

It means a defensive berth is now up for grabs and, to that end, Muckross’s Sarah McAuley has earned a call-up and joins the panel for these games.

She is one of four uncapped players alongside Zara Malseed and Carey twins Michelle and Niamh who all featured in that January series in Spain. UCC’s Caoimhe Perdue will also travel with the panel, taking part in training sessions and gaining exposure to senior international level hockey.

Speaking about the updated panel, Dancer said:“These matches give us the opportunity to test an extended group of players against a world class team. Niamh Carey performed well as a late replacement on the Spanish tour in January and Sarah McAuley has shown competitiveness and composure in defence in recent inter squad matches. I look forward to getting back to high quality international matches with the squad at the weekend.”

All matches in the SoftCo Series will be available to view via streaming or broadcast. BBC Sport NI will be streaming all three matches on their website as well as the BBC iPlayer, while RTÉ will broadcast Sunday evening’s match live on RTÉ 2 with coverage starting from 16:30.  

Nigel Ringland will present BBC Sport NI’s coverage of the three matches and will be joined on commentary by former Ireland international Alex Speers; while Evanne Ní Chuillin will present RTÉ’s coverage, joined by Cliodhna Sargent and Gillian Pinder in studio, with match commentary from George Hamilton and Sarah Scott.

Ireland squad for GB series (March 13-16): Beth Barr (Belfast Harlequins), Michelle Carey (UCD), Niamh Carey (UCD), Naomi Carroll (Catholic Institute), Lizzie Colvin (Belfast Harlequins), Nicci Daly (Loreto), Deirdre Duke (Old Alex), Nikki Evans (Old Alex), Megan Frazer (Belfast Harlequins), Sarah Hawkshaw (Railway Union), Zara Malseed (Ards), Hannah Matthews (Loreto), Sarach McAuley (Muckross), Shirley McCay (Pegasus), Ayeisha McFerran (SV Kampong), Hannah McLoughlin (UCD), Katie Mullan (Ballymoney), Lizzie Murphy (Loreto), Anna O’Flanagan (Muckross), Grace O’Flanagan (Railway Union), Lena Tice (Old Alex), Sarah Torrans (Loreto), Roisin Upton (Catholic Institute), Chloe Watkins (Monkstown)

Match dates, times and where to watch:
Saturday March 13th, 2pm: BBC Sport NI website, BBC iPlayer. RTE Player TBC.
Sunday March 14th, 5pm. BBC Sport NI website, BBC iPlayer, RTE 2
Tuesday March 16th, 3pm. BBC Sport NI website, BBC iPlayer. RTE Player TBC.

The Hook

Irish hockey star Zoe Wilson set to miss Olympics with ACL injury


Zoe Wilson has been capped 103 times by Ireland since making her debut in 2016

World Cup silver medallist Zoe Wilson is set to miss the Tokyo Olympics after suffering a serious knee injury during January's training trip to Spain.

The 24-year-old damaged her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the final game against their hosts in Murcia.

Hockey Ireland confirmed on Wednesday that Wilson has undergone surgery and her recovery is "progressing well".

However, with the rescheduled Olympics less than five months away, Wilson is unlikely to have recovered in time.

She is also set to miss the EuroHockey Championships in Amsterdam at the beginning of June, for which Ireland's 18-player squad will be named in May.

The former Ballyclare High School pupil has been an ever-present in the Ireland squad since making her debut at the start of 2016 and has been capped 103 times.

She was an integral part of the Ireland team that shocked the hockey world by making it to the World Cup final in 2018. She also played in the Tokyo qualifiers a year later helping Ireland beat Canada to reach their first Olympics.

Wilson joins fellow Ulster player Serena Barr on the sidelines. The Belfast Harlequins defender suffered a torn cruciate ligament in her knee in the closing stages of a club friendly with Lurgan last September and hopes to begin running again at the end of this month.

Ireland continue their preparations for Tokyo with a three-game series against Great Britain at Queen's University in Belfast this weekend.

The matches on 13, 14 and 16 March will be live on the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.

BBC Sport

'Don't give away penalty corners' - Graham Reid wants India to work on defence after European trip

The Indian team remained unbeaten in their European sojourn

By Samrat Chakraborty



The Indian Men's hockey chief coach Graham Reid is content with India's display at the recently concluded European trip where they remained unbeaten. This was the first international trip for the team since the Coronavirus outbreak enforced a travel ban throughout the world. The Men in Blue were training at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru during the lockdown in a bio-secure environment.

But in their return to competitive action, they did not look rusty and outclassed Germany 6-1 on their home turf in the opening fixture of the exposure trip.

"I'm pretty happy with the performance; I'm very happy with the way the tour was -- from point of view of getting some international competition. That was really important," stated Reid.

In their next match, they drew 1-1 with Germany, then followed up with a similar result against Great Britain and went on to beat England 3-2 in the final match to end the trip on a high. Their next international assignment is in Argentina where they will be facing the Albicelestes in the FIH Pro League.

As Reid recognises, 2021 is about to accelerate into the Tokyo Games:

"We go back to Bengaluru from here and will be training there for a few weeks before we set out on another tour of our FIH Pro League matches in Argentina. I believe the next few months leading up to Tokyo is going to be busy for us with competition and some training in between where we will work on the things we need to. The Olympic year has well and truly started now for us and we need to accelerate our learnings."

Although the Indian team looked solid in defence, they gave away too many penalty corners which could have landed them in trouble if the opposition were a bit more precise in their attempts. Reid has made a note of that and wants to address the issue during the upcoming training sessions.

"Our performances against Germany was mixed. It was pretty good beating them 6-1, we took them by surprise and made good use of the opportunities, but we let too many penalty corners in.

"We will go over the data from this tour once we return to SAI, Bengaluru but the first thing that require attention is: making sure we tighten our defence. We allow them (opponents) to come back in the middle (of the game) a bit too much. The last match was a little bit better. We are starting to make some ground on that."

Reid is happy with the initial attacking build-up but feels that the team needs more teeth in the circle entries and penalty corners.

"We are getting into the 25-yard area a lot, we found that during our FIH Pro League matches too but we need to get better returns from our 25 entries. Convert them into circle entries, goal shots, and penalty corners. We have tried some different things here in Europe. Some things worked, some didn't. Overall, I am quite happy.

"The second game saw better defensive efforts from us. The 3rd against Great Britain was OK. It was a bit colder in Antwerp, different pitch and perhaps we didn't play as well as we should have. But the last game (where India beat GB 3-2) was first-class! We led most of the game, came back twice from a stalemate, scored in the last few minutes which is a really important thing to get over," stated Reid.

Olympic Channel

Indian hockey teams to get allowance under TOPS till Olympics: SAI

The core group players of both the Indian men's and women's hockey teams will be entitled to a monthly allowance of Rs 50,000 under the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).


This will be the first time that the women's team will be considered under TOPS for OPA. (File picture) - Hockey India

The core group players of both the Indian men's and women's hockey teams will be entitled to a monthly allowance of Rs 50,000 under the government's Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) till the Tokyo Games in July-August this year.

"... the Mission Olympic Cell has sanctioned Rs. 50,000 per athlete as out-of-pocket allowance for the members of the Indian men's and women's hockey team under the Target Olympic Podium scheme," the Sports Authority of India said in a statement.

A total of 58 hockey players, 33 men and 25 women, will benefit from this decision.

Indian men's hockey team captain Manpreet Singh welcomed the decision.

"This is a big incentive for all the players in the Men's Core Group who are preparing for the Tokyo Olympic Games. We are very elated on hearing about this news, and would like to thank the government," he said.

"We have many players who come from very difficult economic backgrounds and an allowance of this accord will definitely help them pursue the sport through to the Olympic Games without any hindrance," he added.

This will be the first time that the women's team will be considered under TOPS for OPA.

"This is the first time the entire Women's Hockey Core Group has been included in the TOPS Scheme and we are very thankful to the government," captain Rani Rampal said.

"This decision taken today really goes to show that women's hockey is equally important, and we are being given equal benefits which is a big encouragement for us."

Sportstar

New faces aplenty in 2021 National Women’s Development Squad



An array of exciting talent is knocking on the door of the Hockeyroos after the 2021 National Women’s Development Squad (NDS) was announced.

There are 12 new faces in the 24-athlete squad who are all aspiring to break into the Hockeyroos squad.

Of the new additions, seven are from last year’s Australian Junior Women’s Hockey Team (Jillaroos). Alice Arnott, Morgan Blamey, Annie Gibbs (pictured above), Amy Hammond, Carly James, Renee Rockliff and Aisling Utri all competed in an international junior series against Japan in February last year.

The other new inclusions into the 2021 Women’s NDS are New South Wales duo Abigail Doolan and Grace Jeffrey, the ACT’s Talei Forrest and Western Australians Sarah Foster and Phillipa Morgan.

Hockeyroos Head Coach Paul Gaudoin said selecting a squad was challenging due to the minimal match play athletes had during 2020 because of COVID, however he is buoyant about the calibre of talent coming through.

“Selecting the National Development Squad allows us to assess and explore our depth over the next 12 months,” said Gaudoin.

“The challenge we have regarding seeing these athletes in match situations is still quite difficult, but post Tokyo we want to make sure we are exposing them to the next level of competition, even if that means internal competitions.”

“What we hope to be able to do towards the end of the year when the 2022 Hockeyroos squad is announced is have a good gauge of the next cohort coming through including the NDS, the national junior squad and those who put their hand up outside of those programs in Hockey One.”

The additions to this year’s Hockeyroos squad are evidence of how significant the NDS is as a launching pad for unearthing Australia’s elite hockey talent.

Aleisha Power, Penny Squibb and Meg Pearce were all promoted from the NDS to the Hockeyroos squad for 2021, while Courtney Schonell was selected from the Jillaroos program.

“Selection of this NDS group is very much about making sure that our next group of athletes not only get an opportunity to perform and be in a strong training environment, but also have the opportunity to realise their dreams of being selected for the national senior squad,” said Gaudoin.

“We need to give them the best opportunity to develop, not only over the next 12 months but with an eye towards the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, 2023 World Cup in India, Paris 2024 Olympics and beyond.”

Athletes in the NDS train at their home National Training Centre (NTC) under guidance of the national program coaches.

Border restrictions permitting, NDS athletes may also be invited to train with the Hockeyroos squad in Perth as part of a Visitor Athlete Agreement.

2021 National Women's Development Squad

Hockey Australia media release

Maddie Hinch: ‘I kept getting told I was too small for hockey’


FB top stopper Maddie Hinch PIC: WORLDSPORTPICS

Great Britain goalkeeper Maddie Hinch says that her potential was spotted before she’d even picked up a hockey stick.

Hinch tells the Wellness That Works podcast by WW (Weight Watchers reimagined) that her rise to the top was also the result of a PE teacher’s hunch.

In the podcast, Hinch also reveals how the GB women’s team kept morale up during lockdown, how she has enjoyed being a homebody during the pandemic and why the pandemic has encouraged the Olympian to take a step back and make friends and family a top priority.

The 32-year-old said: “I was a good football player and when I started at this new school [aged 12], the PE teacher said ‘It is hockey next term Maddie and I think you should be goalkeeper.’

“I didn’t even know what hockey was and knew from football that goalies do a lot of standing around, but as the new kid I had no say. I was then handed this huge bag of kit that stank.”

It took years for Hinch to be seen as a star player. “I struggled to get picked for teams,” she adds.

“I was an athlete and used to running around, so I had my own style of goalkeeping, coming off the line a lot and diving around. That hadn’t been seen before and naturally worried selectors and coaches.

“I kept getting told I was too ‘small’ or ‘dynamic’.”

She got spotted while standing in for another goalkeeper and adds in the podcast: “I don’t think I would be the keeper I am or achieved what I have done if I hadn’t had quite such a tough start.”

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The Hockey Paper

No foreign power for big guns this time

By Jugjet Singh


Jang Jong Hyun (2nd left)

FOR the first time in many years, the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) won't feature any foreign player, resulting in no clear favourites for the three titles on offer.

The league, delayed by Covid-19, finally starts today, while the Charity Shield between Tenaga Nasional and Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) will be played tomorrow.

Both TNB and UniKL have set their eyes on the three titles while Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) are the dark horses in the League and TNB Cup.

Under strict precautionary measures due to Covid-19, eight teams will battle it out in a bio-secure sports bubble. All the players checked into a hotel in Bangsar yesterday with a clean bill of health.

The other MHL contenders are Sabah, UiTM, Maybank, Nur Insafi and TNB Thunderbolts.

Tenaga Nasional, who have always relied on local players, feel they have a shot at all three titles.

"We have always been playing without import players, so there will not be much of a 'shock' for us this season. However, the other teams have relied on foreign players and will find the situation a little different.

"This is the best season for Tenaga Nasional to make a clean sweep of the three titles," said coach Nor Azlan Bakar.

Treble holders UniKL will have to be wary of Tenaga and THT, while the other teams see a level field to cause upsets.

KL Hockey Club, who evolved from Arthur Andersen, and Ernst & Young, are the most successful MHL team with nine League and five Overall titles but they have disappeared from the scene.

That leaves Tenaga Nasional, who evolved from Kilat Club, as second with five League and seven Overall titles.

Foreigners have been dominating the penalty corners with India's Len Aiyappa and South Korea's Jang Jong Hyun leading the charge followed by local boys Faizal Saari and Razie Rahim.

Jong Hyun, playing for THT, was the MHL's top scorer last season with 23 goals in 17 matches. And coach K. Rajan's team are going to miss the Korean scoring machine.

FIXTURES: TODAY — Nur Insafi v UiTM (6pm, Pitch 1), Sabah v Terengganu Hockey Team (6pm, Pitch II), TNB Thunderbolts v Maybank (8pm, Pitch 1).

TOMORROW — Charity Shield: Tenaga Nasional v UniKL (8pm, Pitch I).

* All matches at National Stadium, Bukit Jalil. Spectators are not allowed in.

New Straits Times

Cost for renovating historic Olympic venue Stade de Colombes for hockey at Paris 2024 rises to €80 million

By Mike Rowbottom


The Stade Olympique de Colombes, host of hockey during the Paris 2024 Olympics, will require €80 million in order to be ready to host hockey at the Paris 2024 Games ©Paris 2024

The estimated cost of renovating the 1924 Paris Olympic venue of the Stade de Colombes - which is due to host hockey when the Games return to the French capital in 2024 - has risen by nearly 20 per cent to €80 million (£69 million/$95 million).

The initial price was €67 million (£57 million/$80 million) for transforming the venue that also hosted athletics at the 1924 Olympics, the 1938 FIFA World Cup final, the men’s 1938 European Athletics Championships and French rugby union matches, Le Parisien reports.

The project, which is 90 per cent funded by the Hauts-de-Seine Departmental Council, will involve construction of two synthetic hockey fields as well as other rugby and football fields and an athletics track.

The Stade Olympique de Colombes is also known as the Stade Yves-du-Manoir after being re-named in honour of a French rugby player in 1928.


Stade de Colombes hosted athletics during the 1924 Olympic Games when Britain's Harold Abrahams won the 100m, a victory later immortalised in the film Chariots of Fire ©Getty Images

As well as athletics during Paris 1924, the venue also staged some of the horse riding, gymnastics, tennis, football, rugby and the running and fencing events in the modern pentathlon at the stadium.

After its capacity was raised to 60,000, the stadium hosted two of France’s matches during the 1938 FIFA World Cup, as well as the final where Italy beat Hungary 4-2.

It remained France’s largest stadium until Parc des Princes was renovated in 1972.

Inside the Games

Field Hockey Icon Grace Robertson's Memory Will Last a Lifetime



Grace Robertson, age 90 of Philadelphia, passed away on March 4, 2021. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Stanley and Ethel Robertson (nee Divenger).

Grace was a pioneer, legend and dear friend of USA Field Hockey. Known to many as one of the “Golden Girls,” Grace’s love for the U.S. Women’s National Team and USA Field Hockey was unmatched.  She traveled the world with Betty Shellenberger and the other Golden Girls supporting and cheering on the USWNT, and committed her life to the game and served in various roles within the organization.

“Grace was absolutely committed to field hockey and made a major impact in shaping our sport, serving in so many leadership roles in USA Field Hockey,” said Simon Hoskins, USA Field Hockey’s Executive Director. “She was an incredible supporter of our U.S. Women’s National Team and a huge advocate for all that is great in our game.”



From 1957 to 2005, Grace was the Chair of Girls Physical Education and Athletics at Northfield-Mount Hermon School in Mount Hermon, Mass. She obtained her master’s degree in physical education from Smith College.

Through her leadership and passion for women’s athletics, she helped open opportunities for all women to excel in sports. Grace was a four-time President of USA Field Hockey and was a Hall of Fame Honorary Member inductee of the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971.

Coach, player, teacher, friend; Grace held many roles in her life for which she will be remembered.

“Grace was synonymous with USA Field Hockey,” stated Judith Davidson, former President of USA Field Hockey. “More than taking an administrative role, Grace universally welcomed all women to USA Field Hockey, from beginner to national team player. She always had a welcoming smile for any girl carrying a stick.”

A New Englander at heart, she not only spent most of her life in Massachusetts, but was a lifelong Boston Red Sox Fan.

As 1984 Olympic Bronze medalist Diane Moyer shared, "May her legacy live on. She led the way for so many women in the sport of field hockey and women's athletics in general."

A Memorial Service and Interment will be held on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Montrose Cemetery, 8504 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby, Pa.

The Service will be live streamed and can be viewed by clicking here.

“Grace was a collection of wonders - she was tremendously kind and yet a fighter, she was unassuming and a giant, the person who never needed or wanted credit but who always took great pride in the quality of her work,” expressed Steve Jennings, 1996 Olympian. “One always felt Grace’s support and her pride in all aspects of USA Field Hockey even though so many of us never fully understood how much of the road we could travel was paved by people like her. She was a diamond and will be missed.”

A celebration of life service for both Grace and Betty Shellenberger, who passed away in December 2019, will be held in conjunction with USA Field Hockey’s 100th Anniversary and Hall of Fame event in 2022.

USFHA media release