News for 01 April 2021
All the news for Thursday 1 April 2021
Opportunity knocks for Germany in Argentina
Following the matches against the Netherlands, what improvements in performance are you looking for in the next two matches?
Xavier Reckinger: The games against Holland were interesting. They provided me with a good measure of where we are at presently. Against the Netherlands it is always a good game because they are the best team in the world at the moment. They are European Champions, World Champions and past Olympic champions so it is always good to measure yourself against them. There were some good take-aways for us, especially offensively as I didn't think we were too good there. It is all relative. Our speed of execution, we need to lift the tempo a bit and in the offensive department there is some positioning play that we must adjust."
What are the main threats Argentina may pose to your team?
Xavier Reckinger: I am not so sure about the threats that Argentina will pose at this moment. It is hard in these times to know where everyone sits and how the teams are. Have they had players retire? I am not too sure. I think every team is focusing on themselves at the moment and their processes, that is what we are doing and that is what they are doing as well. Since Chappa (Carlos Retegui) has been there, they have played a very consistent style of hockey so I expect it to be the same but, on the other hand, I don't know, so it will be interesting to see what they throw at us and how we provide the answers to those challenges.
How confident are you that you are on track to peak at the right times this year?
Xavier Reckinger: The timing of the [Olympic] Games is very special. i don't think in the history of the Olympics, there has been an European Championship before. It's very interesting how teams will manage selection for the Olympics and the Euros. There will be teams that pick towards the Euros and teams that pick towards the Olympics. That is not an easy thing to do, because the two tournaments are very close together.
We made a plan and I am pretty confident that we are on the right track and we will be able to do it. But, to be honest, the challenge is not only for the Euros, it has been a challenge in the broader sense. We are going to Argentina without the Alster players because they have EHL commitments the same weekend. We have had to postpone FIH Hockey Pro League games two or three times, the [domestic] league is very important to us because it provides stability and consistency and that has to be finished. We have the league play-offs in May, and two days later we face Great Britain in Pro League, so that is another challenge. But I am very proud of how my players and staff are dealing with this. The work that has been put in from the players and staff is gigantic and we are on track to peak at the right time.
What are the key outcomes – apart from two victories – that you would like to get from these next two matches?
Xavier Reckinger: Like always, we debriefed the game against Holland and I want to see some improvements. I am confident we will do this as the [domestic] league is back so we have rhythm and consistency. The other thing will be that we go with players for whom this will be an opportunity to play against great opponents and to step up and meet the challenge. For the players, this is a great chance to play international games against a team of this quality."
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Official FIH Pro League Site
Top ten players of the ongoing FIH Pro League
The Pro League is about to begin again. Indian men’s team has already left the shores to take on Argentina next week. The women’s Pro League will see action afresh this week end. As the Pro League gives a whiff of fresh air in the ongoing difficult times, let us see top ten players who make, and continue to make, the event attractive. Its not surprise the Red Lions walk away with much of them.
JOHN-JOHN DOHMEN (BELGIUM)
John-John Dohmen crossed a remarkable milestone in the FIH Pro League, that of earning 400 international caps for Belgium. It’s a feat stupendous by any reckoning but more so because Dohmen bounced back from serious illness to re-take his place as a key player in the Red Lions ranks. The 33-year-old joined five others in the four-ton club in the match against Spain in Valencia in February, a little over two years after he spent time in a Bangkok hospital with pneumonia that stifled his breathing capacity to just 10 percent. The attack compelled him to withdraw from the 2018 Bhubaneswar World Cup which Belgium ultimately won. Dohmen, in the current season, plays judiciously and resourcefully in the midfield, piecing together many a move that launches the Red Lions offensives. Belgium, table leaders by far, have a real team person in their midst in Dohmen who brings to the fore his skills and sheer weight of experience.
ALEXANDER HENDRICKX (BELGIUM)
Not surprisingly, Alexander Hendrickx leads the goal scorers list in the FIH Pro League with 11, scored with powerful drag flicks. At the 2018 World Cup, the 27-year-old defender finished joint top-scorer with Blake Govers of Australia with seven goals apiece. At the EuroHockey championship in Antwerp the following year, he again joint top-scored with five goals. His lethal prowess at the set-piece is a factor in Belgium’s rush to the top of the Pro League standings. However his penalty corner exploits must not eclipse his sturdy defending that lays a sound foundation for the Red Lions full court presses that piles pressure on pressure on rival citadels.
FLORENT VAN AUBEL (BELGIUM)
The Belgium forward is a cool customer on the pitch and it was this temperament that enabled the Red Lions pull off victory in the 2018 Bhubaneswar World Cup final shootout victory over The Netherlands. Van Aubel, pressure building, hauled his team back into the contest after they trailed 0-2 in the shootout by cooly converting his shootout. He then scored in sudden-death after Belgium were denied what they thought was victory by a referral before Hertzberger missed for the Dutch, giving Belgium victory. Van Aubel perhaps had planned for such a situation. He reveals the best advice he’s received is “How to handle shootout situations mentally” by Jean Willem — Head coach KHC Dragons, his club. In the current FIH Pro League The 29-year-old’s experience of 238 caps has been crucial in his team’s rise to the very top of the league with plenty to spare.
PIRMIN BLAAK (THE NETHERLANDS)
Pirmin Blaak brings a sense of defensive security to the Netherlands. When you think of the Dutch, it’s their colourful attack, pretty patterns they weave around rival defences and lethal drag-flicking. But all those exploits are made possible with an adequate last line of defence that Blaak, 33, provides. The veteran of 100 international appearances was adjudged Player of the Match after a 1-0 win over Great Britain in an FIH Pro League match at the Wagener stadium in Amstelveen in October. The scoreline suggests that a tight match ended in favour of the Dutch but it could all have been very different if not for Blaak’s numerous outstanding saves.
ALEXANDER STADLER (GERMANY)
After Germany were drubbed 6-1 by Belgium in the FIH Pro League in September, morale was low as they took the pitch the next day for the second match in Dusseldorf. But young Alexander Stadler in goal was unperturbed, it appeared. His string of saves in normal time followed by outstanding blocks in the shootout to win his team a bonus point restored the confidence and boosted spirits in the German camp. He duly won the Player of the Match award for virtually a single-handed effort to win the day for a team battered and bruised just the day before. Just 21, Stadler’s performance in only his third international appearance was truly remarkable.
CONSTANTIN STAIB (GERMANY)
With Germany in a recovery mode from a drubbing at the hands of Belgium earlier in the FIH Pro League, a tense match against the Netherlands in Amstelveen. The Dutch started favourites at home but the momentum quickly changed. Much of that accrued from Constantin Staib, the lively striker from Polo Club, Hamburg, whose brace of goals in a 4-2 win set up one of the most convincing German wins over their arch rivals. Staib,25, who made his international debut in 2015 in a test match against South Africa in Cape Town, has collected 71 caps since then and one expects him to be in the thick of action in encounters to come.
HARMANPREET SINGH (INDIA)
Harmanpreet Singh
It’s been over 13 months since India last played a men’s international match. The last occasion in Feb 2020 brought a memorable result – a bonus point in a shootout victory over defending champions Australia in the FIH Pro League. Harmanpreet Singh, India’s defender par excellence, starred in that epic triumph at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. Besides bolstering the defence, he scored in normal time from his trademark drag-flick and then, as he usually does, tucked away his shootout to put India on the road to victory. The 25-year-old deservedly was adjudged Player of the Match.
SEBASTEIN DOCKIER (BELGIUM)
Sebastein Dockier celebrated his 200th cap in the FIH Pro League match against Spain with two goals of high quality. Both were scored with backhand deflections – the second one in a diving attempt — in Belgium’s 3-2 win in Valencia and duly brought the 31-year-old striker the Player of the Match award. Dockier comes from a hockey-playing family – his father, sister, uncles and aunts having played the game. Dockier was left out of the squad for the EuroHockey championship in Antwerp in 2019 but has come back into the reckoning with a sparkling display in the ongoing FIH Pro League.
VICTOR WEGNEZ (BELGIUM)
He lifts the Red Lions with energy and emotion that wins hearts of fans on either side. Victor Wegnez, 26, also provides the buzz in the midfield and steps up to score when the opportunity arises. Who can forget his amazing goal against Germany in the 2019 EuroHockey championship semifinal in Antwerp? Wegnez beat a defender dashed into the circle and found the far corner of the goal with a backhander to put Belgium 3-2 ahead. Wegnez was adjudged Player of the Tournament as the Red Lions clinched their first continental title. In the ongoing FIH Pro League, the Racing Club de Bruxelles star earned the Player of the Match accolade after an outstanding performance against Great Britain last October in a 3-2 win. With 95 international appearances behind him including matches in Belgium’s 2018 World Cup winning campaign, Wegnez is central to the Red Lions hopes of not only winning the Pro League but adding the Olympic title to their impressive cabinet.
GAUTHIER BOCCARD (BELGIUM)
The 30-year-old midfielder/defender Gauthier Boccard has a habit of scoring remarkable goals – like the one he scored against Argentina in the 2016 Rio Olympic final albeit in a losing cause. In the current FIH Pro League, he struck another memorable goal against Germany in Dusseldorf to inspire Belgium to a 6-1 victory. Boccard, capped 225 times, was a member of Belgian teams to win the 2018 World Cup, and 2019 EuroHockey title. He also featured in Waterloo Ducks triumph – the first ever Belgian club to do so — in the EHL and is much the player to cause panic in the ranks of opposing defenders.
Stick2Hockey.com
India skipper Manpreet Singh eager to get back on the pitch after missing out on Europe trip
Singh believes that the upcoming Argentina trip will be crucial for the youngsters to prove their mettle
By Samrat Chakraborty
Hockey: India skipper Manpreet Singh eager to get back on the pitch after missing out on Europe trip
The Indian hockey team have left for Buenos Aires, Argentina, to play two matches against the Albicelestes in the FIH Pro League on April 11 and 12.
This will be the second trip for Graham Reid's men in 2021 after an unbeaten Europe trip where they locked horns against Germany and Great Britain.
The South American trip will also include four successive practice matches in the run-up to the two Pro League games. The trip is crucial for the team as it would provide some invaluable competitive game time against a quality opponent.
Manpreet Singh is set to return to action after missing out on the European trip and the captain is eager to lead his side against a tricky opponent.
"I am very excited to return to the team and I am looking forward to the matches against the Olympic Champions Argentina," Singh stated.
"Not playing competitive hockey for over a year has been a big setback but this is something every team in the world is facing due to the pandemic. Though I missed out the Europe tour due to personal reasons, I was closely following the matches and it was very encouraging to see how the team performed against Germany and Great Britain. We are looking forward to yet another unbeaten tour."
Manpreet Singh
Reid has also named a few youngsters in the squad and the skipper feels that it will be an acid test for them if they want a seat on the flight to Tokyo.
"Quite a few youngsters have been selected in the squad for this tour and I believe this will be a great opportunity for them to show their mettle against a top-quality team. Every opportunity we are getting in these challenging times is like a blessing and we need to make the most of it," he said.
Singh contracted Covid-19 and after recovering from it successfully he is ready to fire on all cylinders.
"It has been a tough year for all of us. I think personally for me, overcoming Covid last year was more of a mental battle than anything else. I was off hockey for nearly six weeks, but I was very fortunate to receive the best care, thanks to the efforts of Hockey India and SAI. Over these past few months, I have put in a lot of hard work to return to my earlier form.
"This tour will not only be a good occasion for the team to assess our performance but also personally for me to understand the areas I need to improve individually too," he concluded.
Olympic Channel
Morale high, hockey men off to Argentina
Manpreet Singh, India Captain
The Indian men’s hockey team left for their 16-day tour of Argentina today with captain Manpreet Singh optimistic of a strong show against the reigning Olympics champions.
A 22-member Indian team left here for Buenos Aires today for their second outing in 2021 after an unbeaten tour of Europe last month where they took on Germany and Great Britain.
I missed the Europe tour... I was closely following the matches and it was very encouraging to see how the team performed against Germany and Great Britain
Returning to the Indian team after a year, Manpreet shared his excitement about playing against a top-quality side. “Not playing competitive hockey for over a year has been a big setback but this is something every team in the world is facing due to the pandemic,” Manpreet said.
“Though I missed out the Europe tour due to personal reasons, I was closely following the matches and it was very encouraging to see how the team performed against Germany and Great Britain. We are looking forward to yet another unbeaten tour,” stated the optimistic captain.
The six-match tour against hosts Argentina includes four games matches apart from the back-to-back FIH Hockey Pro League matches on April 11 and 12.
The tour is largely being viewed as an exposure for the team as it prepares for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Manpreet believes it will be a great opportunity for the youngsters to prove themselves in the lead-up to the Games.
“Quite a few youngsters have been selected in the squad for this tour and I believe this will be a great opportunity for them to show their mettle against a top-quality team,” he said. “Every opportunity we are getting in these challenging times is like a blessing and we need to make the most of it.”
“It has been a tough year for all of us. I think personally for me, overcoming Covid last year was more of a mental battle than anything else,” he said. “I was off hockey for nearly six weeks, but I was very fortunate to receive the best care, thanks to the efforts of Hockey India and SAI. Over these past few months, I have put in a lot of hard work to return to my earlier form.”
The Tribune
Captain Manpreet Singh says Indian hockey team will aim to remain unbeaten in Argentina
Returning to the Indian team after a year, Manpreet shared his excitement about playing against a top-quality side.
File image of Indian men's hockey captain Manpreet Singh. Hockey India
Bengaluru: Its morale high after an unbeaten tour of Europe, the Indian men's hockey team left for a competition trip to Argentina on Wednesday with captain Manpreet Singh optimistic of a strong show against the reigning Olympic champions.
A 22-member Indian team left for Buenos Aires from here this morning for its second outing in 2021 after an unbeaten tour of Europe last month where it took on Germany and Great Britain.
Returning to the Indian team after a year, Manpreet shared his excitement about playing against a top-quality side.
"Not playing competitive hockey for over a year has been a big setback but this is something every team in the world is facing due to the pandemic," Manpreet said in a press release issuing by Hockey India.
The six-match tour against hosts Argentina includes four games matches apart from the back-to-back FIH Hockey Pro League matches on 11 and 12 April.
"Though I missed out the Europe tour due to personal reasons, I was closely following the matches and it was very encouraging to see how the team performed against Germany and Great Britain. We are looking forward to yet another unbeaten tour," stated the optimistic captain.
The tour is largely being viewed as an exposure for the team as it prepares for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Manpreet believes it will be a great opportunity for the youngsters to prove themselves in the lead up to the Games.
"Quite a few youngsters have been selected in the squad for this tour and I believe this will be a great opportunity for them to show their mettle against a top-quality team.
"Every opportunity we are getting in these challenging times is like a blessing and we need to make the most of it," he said.
Speaking about his personal goals, Manpreet said, "It has been a tough year for all of us. I think personally for me, overcoming COVID last year was more of a mental battle than anything else.
"I was off hockey for nearly six weeks, but I was very fortunate to receive the best care, thanks to the efforts of Hockey India and SAI. Over these past few months, I have put in a lot of hardwork to return to my earlier form.
"This tour will not only be a good occasion for the team to assess our performance but also personally for me to understand the areas I need to improve individually too."
Firstpost
THT to battle UniKL for title
By Jugjet Singh
UniKL’s Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (left) and TNB’s Syed Syafiq Cholan vie for the ball in yesterday’s TNB Cup semi-final second leg match.
Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) reached the TNB Cup final following a 2-1 semi-final, return leg win over Maybank in Bukit Jalil yesterday to qualify 4-1 on aggregate.
The Terengganu side face Universiti Kuala Lumpur in Saturday's final.
TNT scored through Luqmannul Hakim (third minute) and Sufi Ismat (39th) while Alfarico Lance Liau replied for Maybank in the 24th minute.
"We wanted an early goal to pressure Maybank, and we did just that through Luqmannul's penalty corner conversion after three minutes.
"Overall, we did not earn enough penalty corners in both legs against Maybank.
"It is something we need to discuss and rectify ahead of the final," said THT coach K. Rajan yesterday.
UniKL Ladies advanced to the women's Vivian May Soars Cup final with a 3-0 return leg win over Sabah to qualify 11-0 on aggregate.
Hanis Nadiah Onn (18th), Nur Atira Ismail (37th) and Nuramirah Shakirah Zulkifli (46th) scored for UniKL.
They will face UniTen-KPT for the title.
UniKL coach Roslan Jamaluddin was pleased with his team's performance in the semi-finals.
"We are confident going into the final after our double-digit aggregate win over Sabah.
"However, I am a bit concerned about our penalty corner set-pieces as we failed to capitalise on any of the nine we had today," said Roslan.
RESULTS — S-FINALS RETURN LEG, TNB CUP: Maybank 1 Terengganu 2 (THT win 4-1 on aggregate); Tenaga Nasional 1 UniKL 3 (UniKL win 4-1 on aggregate).
VIVIAN MAY SOARS CUP: Sabah 0 v UniKL Ladies 3 (UniKL win 11-0 on aggregate); UniTen-KPT 1 Police Blue Warriors 1 (Aggregate 4-4, UniTen win on away goals).
New Straits Times
It should be a cruise for UniKL Ladies
By Jugjet Singh
- Pic source: Facebook/UniKLHockey
Newcomers Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) Ladies have both legs in the Vivian May Soars final, but the same cannot be said about their men's team in the TNB Cup.
UniKL Ladies hammered Sabah 8-0 in the semi-final first leg last week, and today's return leg will serve as a warm-up for the final against Police Blue Warriors or Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UniTen-KPT).
However, in the TNB Cup, UniKL face a tricky encounter against Tenaga Nasional in today's semi-final return leg as they only managed a 1-0 win in the first match.
In the other semi-final, Terengganu Hockey Team (THT) hold a 2-0 lead over Maybank going into the return leg.
TNB’s Mohammad Shamir (left) vies with UniKL’s Baljit Singh Charun Singh in their TNB Cup first leg semi-final on Sunday. - NSTP/MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN
"Yes, we have both legs in the final of the Vivian May Soars Cup, and only a miracle can stop us right now.
"We should not have any problems scoring a few more goals against Sabah. It would be impossible for them to score nine goals against us," said UniKL Ladies coach Roslan Jamaluddin yesterday.
Roslan, a former national goalkeeper, added: "I will rest a few senior players or give them less playing time tomorrow (today).
"Those carrying injuries will definitely not play. It will be a great opportunity to allow some youngsters more playing time as we prepare for the final."
UniKL Ladies can expect a torrid time in the final against Police or UniTen, who drew 3-3 in the semi-final first leg, as both teams have experienced players.
Police skipper Norfaiezah Saiuti said: "It is good that we fumbled a two-goal lead in the first leg to allow UniTen back into the tie.
"I am saying this because there are many lessons to be learned from that game. We will now make sure that we do not make the same mistakes.
"UniTen are the defending champions, and they have the experience to frustrate us. We must remain composed even if we are down by a few goals tomorrow.
"Teamwork will win us the match at the end of the day."
FIXTURES
TODAY
S-FINALS, RETURN LEG TNB CUP — Maybank (0) v (2) THT (6pm, Pitch I), Tenaga Nasional (0) v (1) UniKL (8pm, Pitch 1).
VIVIAN MAY SOARS CUP — Sabah (0) v (8) UniKL Ladies (6pm, Pitch II), UniTen-KPT (3) v (3) Blue Warriors (8pm, Pitch II).
* first-leg scores in parentheses
** matches at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
New Straits Times
“When you play Den Bosch, you feel something different in the team” – Ilse Kappelle on Amsterdam’s Classico
“When we play against Den Bosch, you feel something different in the team,” AH&BC Amsterdam’s Ilse Kappelle says of her club’s most intense rivalry.
“There’s a tension, something that says we will give a little bit more aggression. I can’t really describe it; it’s a feeling. I’m always nervous for those games because I have to be at the best I can give. It’s always physically tough, always tired after those games. It’s like Ajax-Feyenoord!”
The two Dutch giants meet on Saturday in the EHL Women’s FINAL4, a meeting between the two most decorated clubs from the old European Club Cup. Den Bosch won 16 titles, Amsterdam got 14, cutting the gap between the two in 2019 when the competition was last run.
Just three points separate the clubs in their domestic league, Amsterdam leading the Hoofdklasse, albeit with an extra game played. On that front, the capital side have 20 titles, their Brabant opponents 19, sharing that trophy going back to 1997. This is the Dutch classico.
Ilse Kappelle celebrating a goal. Pic: Koen Suyk/World Sport Pics
It is the kind of game Kappelle is thrilled to be part of since joining the club when she was 17. She was born nearby in Amstelveen but was soon on the move to the Netherlands’ eastern border in Nijmegen where she learned her trade with Union.
There, she broke into the first team aged 15 and was involved with the Dutch underage sides and her Under-18 coach Rick Mathijssen encouraged her to switch to Amsterdam.
Initially, it meant four lengthy round-trips on the train before taking up her studies at the Johan Cruijff Academy.
But just as her career was looking set to take off, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee a day after her 19th birthday in the playoffs against SCHC.
It was a slow and painful journey back, 368 days between first team appearances, one which was made easier by surprise messages of support – organised by her boyfriend, Hurley player Siem Schoenaker – from luminaries like Ruud van Nistelrooy and Marc Lammers.
But she also had to endure plenty of tough love as the injury and the abrupt approach taken by her physiotherapist Marc Jansen.
“I didn’t like Marc at all in the beginning! He was very quiet and I love to talk about my feelings. He never asked me ‘are you ok? Are you sad? Do you feel like training?’
“He never asked me anything. I was wondering why he never said ‘you are doing good’. But there was a purpose. He wanted me to help me with the process that I didn’t have to hear it, just that I had to trust myself.
“When I don’t hear anything, I know I am doing well. When I have to do something different, I will hear it; I just have to trust my own processes. It’s a need for an internal reassurance rather than an external one.
“In the end, it made me more mature. It feels like it was a long time ago.”
Despite the improved mental resolve, she says simply returning to action was still an arduous process and took time to process.
“I started playing again at the EHCC at Surbiton. Those were my first matches back with the first team – I played some games with the seconds – after 368 days.
Kappelle with her physio Marc Jansen following the golden season. Pic: Willem Vernes/World Sport Pics
“The tournament was really shit for us! We lost 4-0 to Den Bosch in the Dutch playoffs and then came fourth [in Europe] so it wasn’t a nice tournament for us at all.
“I didn’t feel like I had really returned. The feeling I got back to my own level came after about half a year. I was scared and things didn’t go the way I planned.
“It was only when I started played the indoor season that December. Finally, I got a feeling like it would be fine, that I am getting better and better. During rehab, you think your rehab will take nine months and then you are ready but it takes months and months after to get to that old level. That was the toughest part.”
And it led to her best season to date as Amsterdam bossed the 2018/19 season, winning both the Hoofdklasse and the European Cup with Kappelle playing an ever-increasing role.
“It was our golden year. I started as left defender but mostly I am a midfielder. After the indoor season, I moved to centre defence and got to play whole games which was good for me, for my trust. The playoff final against Den Bosch – I have never seen us play like that so it was amazing, we really enjoyed it!”
After a Junior European silver medal, she has gone on to become part of the senior Dutch women’s squad, earning three caps in 2020 in a truncated schedule.
And now she is hoping to land her second European title. While she would prefer to be facing a new opponent like HC Minsk – who they were due to play before Covid forced the competition to be reduced from eight teams to four – she is delighted the debut of the EHL Women’s FINAL4 will bring a new audience into play.
AH&BC Amsterdam celebrating their 2019 European Club Cup win. Pic: Koen Suyk/World Sport Pics
“We loved [the announcement] when it came out. We were so looking forward to it. It was such good news.
“At the EHCC, we had a few people watch but nowhere near as much as what you see at the EHL crowds for the men’s games. The atmosphere would be great.
“With the Covid virus, it will be different but we love that we are playing along with the men, at the same tournament. Unfortunately, there won’t be any crowds but we are excited because it is now one big tournament.
“Now, we get a feeling like we are equal. We play the same game and now we are at the same tournament.”
Euro Hockey League media release
Campo hoping it will be third time’s a charm in pursuit of Euro final spot
Club de Campo are hoping it will be third time lucky as they bid to make it through to a women’s top tier European final under Edu Aguilar following bronze medal runs in 2015 and 2018.
“We hope it will be third time’s a charm,” explains Beatriz Pérez ahead of next Saturday’s date with De Club an der Alster.
“We cannot afford miss this opportunity to be in the final because, although the Germans are a great team, perhaps it is a little more friendly a draw than the two Dutch teams, which are the favourites.”
“We will have to play as we always do; giving everything as a team both in defense and attack. We have to be very focused on defending very well because they have skilled players in attack and, in attack, it is very important that we are fine and correct to take advantage of our opportunities.”
The Madrid club will arrive at the Wagener Stadium in brilliant form, dropping just two points of a possible 54 on offer this season, to look well set to retain the Iberdrola league title.
Chief among their assets have been the Barrios twins Laura and Sara. Raised on hockey at the Santa Maria de los Rosales school, they switched to Campo a number of years ago to brilliant effect, helping Spain to the European Junior Championship into the bargain.
Both are making their way as part of 10 Campo players in the wider Spanish Olympic squad of 34 players.
And Laura is top scorer in the local league with 15 goals to her name; she says the team is in the form of their lives.
“We are very happy,” she told the EHL website. “We haven’t lost any game so far this season and we are growing up together and playing very well.
“We are all very excited about the EHL FINAL4. We have been waiting for it for two years and we are aware of how lucky we are to live this experience in these difficult times. It gives us motivation to do really well.
“Definitely, we are in a better position [than 12 months ago]. Not just because of the extra time together but also now we have been playing consistently for a lot of months.”
It has been a feature of this Covid-affected season that potential positive tests can derail a campaign but Campo have yet to have an issue with it and have played eight times in 2021 already.
By contrast, Alster only returned to action less than a fortnight ago but have won all three of their games since coming back.
Barrios says in-depth focus on their opponent only began this week but she is certain Aguilar will have his homework done.
“Our coach, I’m sure, has all the information. They have some very important players but they are a whole team and very strong, very physical. But, in that way, we have the bonus most of my team mates are international players who know them better than me!”
In Aguilar, they also have some EHL experience. His final European game was the 2011 GRAND FINAL when Campo took silver, missing out on the title to HGC.
“He doesn’t talk about it too much! But we have seen some photos!” Barrios laughs before adding that she cannot wait to be part of history as part of the first EHL Women’s event.
“We have so much enthusiasm for this competition, the great event it will be – although there is no public.
“It is a big advance in terms of equality in sport as the first EHL for women. This is very satisfying to play in the first one, an historical moment. I wish good luck to all the teams to do their best!”
Euro Hockey League media release
Indian Junior women's hockey nationals postponed due to surge in COVID-19 cases
The tournament was scheduled to be held from 3 to 12 April in Simdega, Jharkhand.
New Delhi: The upcoming 11th junior women's hockey nationals have been postponed until further notice due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, the sport's governing body said on Wednesday.
The tournament was scheduled to be held from 3 to 12 April in Simdega, Jharkhand.
Following instructions and protocols from the district commissioner, Simdega and state authorities, the decision to postpone the championship was taken by Hockey India.
"In light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases and after advice from the local state authorities, Hockey India in consultation with the host Hockey Jharkhand arrived at the decision to postpone the 11th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2021..." HI president Gyanendro Ningombam said in a statement.
"Hockey Jharkhand received tremendous support from the state government to host the recently concluded 11th Hockey India Sub Junior Women National Championship 2021..."
"However, with new protocols and guidelines in the state to combat the rapid rise of cases, it was in the best interest of the players that this decision was taken. For Hockey India, player safety is paramount."
The tournament, in which the host team was vying to win a hattrick of titles, attracted entries from 26 teams from across India.
Firstpost
News Corp to stream U15 and U18 Australian Hockey Championships
Hockey Australia has partnered with News Corp Australia to provide LIVE coverage of the upcoming Under 15 and Under 18 National Hockey Championships.
Both parties signed an agreement that will see matches from the Under 18 tournament in Launceston (8-16 April) and Under 15 competition in Bathurst (9-15 April) shown through News Corp’s various mastheads.
Details of the agreement include:
• LIVE stream from two fields a day at both the U15 and U18 Australian Hockey Championships.
• Games will be streamed across News metro national mastheads – The Courier Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Herald Sun, The Advertiser and The Australian.
• Games will also be streamed on News’ relevant regional websites.
• A paid subscription is required to view LIVE games. News Corp currently have a special deal of just $1 for 28 days. The deal ends on Thursday 8 April 2021.
Pricing changes through the year but the highest joining rate is currently $5 a month for three months before full pricing kicks in (minimum period is one month for $5).
• News Corp will publish preview stories of the championships on major mastheads next week which will contain information and links to watch the streams.
“This is a fantastic result for not only friends and families of the players competing at the championships, but also hockey and sport enthusiasts,” said Tim Cherry, Hockey Australia GM Commercial, Communication and Events.
“These tournaments feature the best hockey talent in their respective age groups and it is fantastic News Corp has shown genuine interest and investment in showing hockey through their digital channels.”
“News Corp’s commitment will expose hockey to a whole new audience and also generate more stories and coverage of the sport to more people.”
“We thank News Corp for making these championships accessible to people and households across Australia and for their dedication to stream hockey and tell stories about the people and the sport.”
A paid subscription is required to watch the matches. News Corp’s normal introductory subscription is $5 a month for three months but to celebrate this announcement, News Corp is offering a 28 day subscription for $1.
As well as the streams, subscribers can also view all News content on the masthead they choose.
''We have been working with hockey to boost coverage of both State and national competitions,'' News Corp Australia’s Executive Editor, Digital, Bryce Johns said.
''Hockey are a first mover and extremely innovative in their thinking about their partnership with us.''
In addition to the major online news outlets in the capital cities, News Corp has nearly 30 separate titles covering the breadth of the country.
A dedicated News Corp reporter will cover both championships, including comprehensive pre and post event coverage.
Hockey Australia media release
Hockey Australia appoints new Performance Pathway Manager
Hockey Australia (HA) is delighted to announce Ian Rutledge as its new Performance Pathways Manager.
Rutledge is no stranger to hockey having been HA ACT National Training Centre (NTC) Men’s Head Coach from 2001 to 2003 and HA’s Director of Coaching from 2007 to 2008.
He also has considerable international Head Coaching experience, having coached over 200 international matches, as both the Head Coach of the New Zealand’s Women’s team and as the Head Coach and High Performance Director of the Canadian Women’s Program.
Rutledge has a Master of Sport Science and a Master of Business Administration, complimenting the breadth and depth of his practical experience.
“Securing someone of Ian’s experience and expertise is an outstanding acquisition for Hockey Australia,” said HA CEO Matt Favier.
“Ian is an experienced leader, organisational change specialist and former Olympic Head Coach with an extensive background working in high performance organisations in both leadership and administrative capacities.
“Ian’s skillset will be invaluable in supporting the High Performance unit, continuing the implementation of the new National Institute Network (NIN) strategy and the ongoing development of elite player and coaching talent.”
Having worked with the Australian Institute of Sport and Netball Australia, and consulted to World Rugby, FIBA, Australian Sailing and Rowing Australia, Rutledge enters his third tenure with HA eager to further enhance hockey’s performance pathways.
“I am really excited to be back working with a sport and organisation I care deeply about and for a cause that is highly aspirational; that being future and sustained International success of both the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos,” said Rutledge.
“I look forward to working with our Member Associations and the National Institute Network to enhance and optimise our collective athlete performance programs. Structurally, we have a system that is the envy of the world and a significant competitive advantage over our international competitors.”
“I am really inspired to supporting a talented group of coaches who are working daily on the front line, in our States, to holistically develop the next generation of athletes.”
“As we head towards Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028, a key priority will be working with our partners to gauge where we can support and add value to HA’s newly minted National Athlete Pathway Program. The goal will be to ensure that our athlete development program is world class and aligned to ensure that our future Kookaburras and Hockeyroos arrive at the Senior program in the best condition to perform and achieve their goals both on and off the field.”
Rutledge will be based in Canberra for the role.
Hockey Australia media release
These three things can help UNC field hockey beat Duke yet again
By Madi Kirkman
Erin Matson (1) races Duke player for ball in a 2019 game that UNC won 2-0. Photo by Angelina Katsanis | The Daily Tar Heel
The North Carolina women's field hockey team is slated to play Duke on Friday at 2 p.m. in Karen Shelton Stadium, with the Tar Heels looking to add another victory to their perfect 2-0 start this spring and 12-1 overall record.
In the fall, the Tar Heels defeated the Blue Devils twice. Here’s how they can beat their archrival yet again.
Utilize weapons and neutralize Duke’s
In both fall matchups against the Blue Devils, junior forwards Erin Matson and Hannah Griggs scored. In the more recent contest on Oct. 18, Griggs scored a game-winning overtime goal off an assist from Matson.
Since then, Matson has scored 11 goals, while Griggs has added another assist, giving her three goals and two assists on the year. After Griggs’ clutch goal the last time UNC faced Duke, she’s due for another heroic moment off the bench.
North Carolina also must be prepared to defend standout Duke first-year Darcy Bourne, who leads the Blue Devils with 15 points, consisting of seven goals and one assist. She takes any opportunity she can to shoot, totaling 38 attempts on the season — seven more than her closest teammate.
Duke senior Lexi Davidson has two goals of her own this season and four assists. One of those goals was to tie the last game against North Carolina, forcing the Tar Heels into their first overtime of the season.
Preventing Bourne from capitalizing on shot attempts is key for the Tar Heels on their path to earning another win against their crosstown rival. They also must keep themselves out of a position where any late-game heroics could threaten their 11-game win streak.
Take advantage of momentum
North Carolina has the momentum going into this contest, so in order to come out with a win, it must find ways to keep that momentum alive. Duke’s 3-10 record stands in stark contrast to North Carolina’s 11-game unbeaten run — which started with the first win against Duke.
The Blue Devils are also coming off a three-game losing streak, so the Tar Heels must capitalize on their rivals' recent struggles. To do this, North Carolina needs to attack quickly and relentlessly, so the Blue Devils have no chance to find their rhythm.
Much like in UNC's last game against Wake Forest, where the Tar Heels scored both goals following penalty corners, they must also be fierce on the counterattack.
North Carolina has to get everyone involved on offense, a strategy that paid dividends against the Demon Deacons. In that game, although Matson put on a show of her own, six different players — including three substitutes — took shots.
Tar Heel turf
The home-field advantage may also benefit the Tar Heels since they have not lost at Karen Shelton Stadium since it was built in 2018. The Tar Heels have gone undefeated with 33 wins in the stadium, so any loss — much less a loss to their most hated rivals — would destroy the perfection that has come with their new home turf.
Thanks to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the last home game for the Tar Heels brought over 200 fans to the stands. This increased fan presence and the creation of a home-field advantage can only help the Tar Heels, who already have the statistical edge over the Blue Devils.
Despite North Carolina going into this game a clear favorite, the Tar Heels can’t underestimate Duke if they want to win. After all, the last game between the teams wasn’t decided until an 11th-hour goal.
But if the Tar Heels go into this matchup with their heads down, weapons ready and fans behind them, there’s no reason to believe they can’t feed the Blue Devils their 11th loss of the season.
The Daily Tar Heel
A new-look penalty corner unit has made waves for Maryland field hockey
Shane Connuck
Defender Riley Donnelly scored her fourth and fifth goals of the season during Maryland field hockey's 3-1 win over Indiana on March 21, 2021. (Julia Nikhinson/The Diamondback)
For most of Maryland field hockey’s penalty corners this year, Bibi Donraadt has trotted to the backline to insert the ball for a Riley Donnelly shot.
And sometimes, Donnelly — the Terps’ leading goal scorer — will rocket the ball into the back wall of the cage.
Donnelly, a junior out of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, has been enjoying a successful season thus far. Her five goals are currently tied for second in the Big Ten conference.
Despite being Maryland’s go-to shooter on penalty corners and strokes, Donnelly isn’t even usually part of the Terps’ offensive attack — she’s a defender.
“What she does do is afford opportunities for options or special plays,” coach Missy Meharg said. “And she can drag to deflection; she can drag outside.”
Donnelly stepped into this role as the primary shooter on penalty corners and strokes in the absence of defender Bodil Keus, who is playing overseas in Europe this spring. Keus netted six goals for the Terps in 2019.
Like Keus, Donnelly uses a drag flick on her penalty corner shots. But when Keus was donning black and gold, her talent made it hard for others to earn these opportunities.
“Bodil Keus was one of the best drag clickers to ever drag in the NCAA, I’d say one of the top three,” Meharg said. “So in that regard, she got a predominant amount of opportunities, probably 80 percent so, it kind of took from the game development of other players.”
Meharg added Maryland now has a “far more balanced” and “team-oriented” approach with its penalty corners. While Donnelly’s drag flicking has been strong, Taylor Mason — who hits the ball instead of dragging it — is among those who have also received penalty corner shots.
Mason is also from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. She attended Central Bucks High School West, while Donnelly went to Central Bucks High School East. The two have played together on club teams throughout their lives.
And Donnelly wasn’t always a defender. She and Mason played up front together.
“You guys were both forwards when I first started watching you in fourth grade,” Meharg said.
While Donnelly has been in the backfield for much of her field hockey career, Mason said she remembers her playing forward and midfield on club teams.
“I played with Riley my whole life,” Mason said. “I mean, she is a defender, but … her skill set is very versatile.”
The mesh of Donnelly’s drag flick and Mason’s hits, along with shots from other players such as Maura Verleg and Anna Castaldo, create an unpredictable scenario on corners for defenses. While Keus was such a talented drag flicker, teams were able to prepare for her shots.
“We have options,” Meharg said about the team’s penalty corner situation. “I think it was more easy to play defense and penalty corners against Maryland in the past few years. So I like what we’re doing.
The Diamondback
Upcoming FIH Congress onsite and virtual
Lausanne, Switzerland: After a thorough analysis, the Executive Board (EB) of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has decided to give the possibility to each National Association delegate to decide whether they will attend the 47th FIH Statutory Congress either onsite - in Delhi, India - or virtually via an online platform. The scheduled date – 22 May 2021 – is maintained.
With this hybrid format, all Members of the Congress, irrespective of whether they are currently able or not to travel internationally due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, will have the possibility to take part.
The agenda includes, amongst others, elections for the position of FIH President and for four positions of EB Ordinary Member. For all delegates, attending onsite or virtually, the voting process will be done exclusively via an online platform (e-voting).
The full agenda will be published around one month before the Congress.
The event in Delhi will be hosted by Hockey India.
FIH site