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News for 10 April 2021

All the news for Saturday 10 April 2021


2020 FIH Pro League (Men) - 10 April
Cenard, Buenos Aires

10 Apr 2021 17:00 (GMT -3)     ARG v IND (RR)
11 Apr 2021 17:00 (GMT -3)     ARG v IND (RR)

Keep up to date with all the latest news on the FIH Hockey Pro League via the Watch.Hockey app, event website and through FIH social media channels - Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins SO Win SO Loss Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Belgium 13 9 2 1 1 40 22 18 32
2 Germany 8 5 2 0 1 22 15 7 19
3 Netherlands 11 4 2 2 3 28 29 -1 18
4 Australia 8 3 1 3 1 27 20 7 14
5 India 6 2 2 0 2 17 15 2 10
6 Argentina 10 2 1 2 5 24 30 -6 10
7 New Zealand 8 2 1 0 5 15 25 -10 8
8 Spain 10 2 0 1 7 21 32 -11 7
9 Great Britain 8 1 0 2 5 13 19 -6 5


FIH Match Centre



India men seek to get back in the FIH Hockey Pro League groove in Argentina


Photo Credit: Hockey India

Graham Reid is the India men’s national team Head Coach. His squad are on the verge of playing their first FIH Hockey Pro League match since they played Australia in February 2020. This time, the opponents are Argentina, and the matches will be played in the iconic Cernard Stadium in Buenos Aires on 10 and 11 April. We caught up with the Australian to talk about his plans and aspirations for the double header against the Olympic champions.

What are you looking for from the team when they line up against Argentina?

Graham Reid: “The biggest thing is getting back into the high level of competition that Pro League brings. I know it will be the same for Argentina. It is a great opportunity and as far as the team is concerned, we have just been to Germany and Belgium. That was a really important tour for us as it got our feet wet and now we are looking forward to playing Pro League again.”

What have you identified as the main strengths of Argentina and how will you counter these?

Graham Reid: “Argentina are a very good and very skilful team. They like counterattacking. They often will move the ball around deliberately ‘in and out’ to lull you into a false sense of security and then they will attack suddenly, win a penalty corner and you find you are 1-0 down. They are a very dangerous side. They have really good 3-D skills and we are hoping to counteract that with some good 3-D tackling. They are going to be difficult games against the Olympic champions on the other side of the world, but we are certainly looking forward to it.

How will you set about keeping the momentum going over the next few months in the lead up to the Olympic Games?

Graham Reid: “We have these two games in Argentina and then it is about trying to keep momentum going into the Olympics. We have six more FIH Hockey Pro League games against Germany, Great Britain and Spain later on in May. After that we will try to get some more competition and be ready to go in Tokyo.”

What are the key outcomes – apart from two victories – that you would like to get from these next two matches?

Graham Reid: “Of course, victorious results would be great, but I think the most important things for us is to get familiar with the way that we play. We will come up against different oppositions to test our theories but also to test the way we play and how we solve problems that other teams will bring to us. That learning – how to solve problems on the go – that is why we are looking forward to playing the Olympic champions, so we can get that extra high level of competition.”

#FIHProLeague
#HockeyInvites

Official FIH Pro League Site



India set for Hockey Pro League return with double-header against Argentina

By Liam Morgan


India are set to make their first Hockey Pro League appearance in 14 months ©Getty Images

India's men are set to make their International Hockey Federation Hockey Pro League return after a 14-month absence with a double header against Argentina in Buenos Aires this weekend.

The visitors have not featured in the Pro League since beating Australia in a shootout in Bhubaneswar in February 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

India are fifth in the men's standings, a place ahead of Argentina prior to their encounters at the National Centre of High Performance Athletics tomorrow and Sunday (April 11).

"The biggest thing is getting back into the high level of competition that the Pro League brings," said India head coach Graham Reid.

"I know it will be the same for Argentina.

"It is a great opportunity and as far as the team is concerned, we have just been to Germany and Belgium.

"That was a really important tour for us as it got our feet wet and now we are looking forward to playing Pro League again."

Argentina will be hoping to bounce back from their defeats to Germany when they take on India.

The hosts made a disappointing return to international competition following a coronavirus-enforced break when they were beaten by Germany last Saturday (April 3) and Sunday (April 4).

Argentina's Mariano Ronconi admitted the team were rusty during their games with Germany but said he was expecting an improvement against India.

"We found everything that we knew was going to happen: we lacked connections between players, we lacked playing as a team and it is normal because it’s been about 13 months that we haven’t played," said Ronconi.

"There is no way to train for this, this is a reality.

"The only way to train is by playing so we will keep on playing as much as we can if the pandemic allows."

Inside the Games



Indian men’s hockey team returns to top level competition after a year against Argentina

India played their last FIH Hockey Pro League match against Australia in February last year in Bhubaneswar.


File image of Indian men's hockey team with chief coach Graham Reid. Twitter @HockeyIndia

Buenos Aires: The Indian men's hockey team will return to top-level international competition after more than a year when it takes on Olympic champions Argentina in the first match of the two-game FIH Pro League tie on Saturday.

After being stuck at their base at the Sports Authority of India, Bengaluru centre, for the entire last year during the coronavirus outbreak, the Indians will finally get to play high-intensity international matches.

India played their last FIH Hockey Pro League match against Australia in February last year in Bhubaneswar.

The Indians are currently fifth in the FIH Pro League standings with 10 points from six games, with two wins and as many loses and draws.

World champions Belgium are atop the standings with 32 points from 13 games, followed by Germany (19 points from 8 matches), Netherlands (18 from 11) and Australia (14 from 8).

The Indians couldn't have asked for a better timing for their return to top-flight international hockey as the upcoming Pro League matches against some tough opponents will provide them valuable match practice ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, which are a little more than three months away.

They resumed international hockey in February this year when they embarked on a tour of Europe, where they played out two draws and registered two victories in their four games against Germany and Great Britain.

Those games were planned to help the Indian men's hockey team prepare well for the postponed Tokyo Olympics.

But it is the top-notch FIH Pro League matches that will help India to judge where they stand ahead of the Tokyo Games, beginning on 23 July.

This time, the opponents are Argentina, and the matches will be played in the iconic Cernard Stadium here on Saturday and Sunday.

The Indians had a good build-up to the two-match tie having defeated Argentina 4-3 before drawing 4-4 in the two practice games.

There were plenty of encouraging signs for India's chief coach Graham Reid as skipper Manpreet Singh, Varun Kumar and Rupinder Pal Singh were on target despite being out of action for lengthy periods.

The forwards, in particular, impressed and created a lot of goalmouth opportunities. Mandeep Singh, Nilakanta Sharma and Dilpreet Singh had good outings.

But, Reid stressed the importance of the defence being frugal. In both the practice games, Argentina managed to make their way back in the contest after India's rapid start.

Skipper Manpreet, however, is satisfied with the performance of his side in the two practice games and feels they need to utilise every opportunity that comes their way ahead of the Olympics.

"Both practice matches were good. They were hard-fought games and quite intense," Manpreet said.

"Having missed match practice for much of last year, we have to cash in on the opportunities we get. It is good for us that we will be tested against a tough opponent like Argentina.

"In both the games, we showed a lot of fight and created loads of chances. But we could have scored even more whilst conceding fewer goals. We are working hard to be more compact at the back and being more ruthless going forward," the 28-year-old added.

Manpreet is also relishing the prospect of wearing the captain's armband again.

"Yes, last year was a difficult time for all of us. We had played very good hockey in the initial round of the FIH Pro League games against tough opponents such as Belgium, Netherlands and Australia," he said.

"We worked hard in our training camps and tried our best to recreate the intensity of a high-stake international match. That is why the upcoming matches are so important to us."

Manpreet refused to read much into Argentina's recent slump in form.

"Argentina are a quality side and we have had some good matches against them over the years. We need to focus on our game. Like I said, each match we play is a learning experience."

Having suffered twin defeats against Germany last week, the pressure, though, will be on the hosts. The losses pushed the Argentines to sixth place in the FIH Pro League table below India.

Firstpost



Stats Speak: Olympic Champions Argentina have an edge over India

By B.G.Joshi (Sehore-Bhopal, India)

India-Argentina debut match was in London Olympics (1948). India won 9-1; Great Balbir Singh netted 6 goals in that match. The teams last met in Breda Champions Trophy (2018), in which India won 2-1.

On Astroturf hockey both teams played 41 times against each other. Argentina won 19 and India 18 with 4 matches drawn. In last 10 matches, India has won only 3 while Argentina won 6. Here are the statistical highlights:

India-Argentina in International Hockey by B.G.Joshi(India)

Particulars

Matches

Played

India

Won

Argentina

Won

Drawn

Goals for

India

Goals for

Argentina

Olympics

9

6

1

2

30

12

World Cup

8

2

5

1

14

19

Champions Trophy

3

1

2

0

6

9

Hockey World League

2

0

2

0

0

4

World Cup Qualifier

3

2

1

0

11

8

Champions Challenge

3

2

1

0

6

5

Azlan Shah Cup

5

1

4

0

8

13

Test series

6

4

2

0

12

11

invitation tourneys

12

9

2

1

35

14

Total

51

27

20

4

122

95

Last 10 matches

10

3

6

1

18

25

Since 2013

7

2

4

1

11

16

On grass

10

9

1

0

36

7

on Turf

41

18

19

4

86

88

Debut: London Olympics, pool match, Aug 4,1948, India won 9-1

 

Last played: Breda Champions Trophy, league match, June 24,2018, India won 2-1

 Fieldhockey.com



Irish Squad No Longer Travelling To Malaysia


Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye .

The recently announced Irish Squad trip to Malaysia has been cancelled as of this morning. Over the past two weeks Hockey Ireland and their key stakeholders have been working tirelessly to provide the opportunity to travel to Malaysia for heat and humidity training and competition. Having constantly monitored the situation throughout this period, due to changing conditions in the past 24 hours, the difficult decision has been taken not to travel.

Speaking on the decision, Head Coach Sean Dancer said, “We informed the squad early this morning, and everyone is disappointed that we will not be able to make this opportunity happen.

“At this point in our build up to Europeans and the Olympics, the health and wellbeing of our staff and players is paramount. Weighing up the potential performance benefit of heat and humidity versus the uncertainties we live with at this time globally, particularly with travel and quarantine periods, has been incredibly difficult.

“I am confident we can control our build up well in Ireland to put the team in the best position to compete this summer.”

Irish Hockey Association media release



Irish tour to Malaysia cancelled at last moment


Irish coach Sean Dancer. Pic: Adrian Boehm

The Irish women’s Olympic preparations have suffered a frustrating speed-bump as their hastily arranged warm-weather trip to Malaysia was called off on the day of departure.

The original plan had been to travel to the Olympic venue in Tokyo this month but local restrictions saw that proposed trip go up in smoke.

Kuala Lumpur came up as an alternative venue with Great Britain and Japan also intending to travel with Ireland set to play at least four uncapped matches as part of a 19-day camp.

Hockey Ireland duly organised flights and insurance in the last few days to be able to confirm the tour by 4pm on Thursday afternoon with a Friday departure flight.

But within 12 hours, changes in Malaysia regulations made the trip untenable with Great Britain’s women also no longer travelling with a change in circumstances limiting the ability to play matches.

It means coach Sean Dancer and Hockey Ireland High Performance Director Adam Grainger are back on the hunt for alternative options to work into their schedule ahead of a busy summer that also features the European Championships in June.

Speaking on the decision, Dancer said: “We informed the squad early this morning, and everyone is disappointment that we will not be able to make this opportunity happen.

“At this point in our build up to Europeans and the Olympics, the health and wellbeing of our staff and players is paramount. Weighing up the potential performance benefit of heat and humidity versus the uncertainties we live with at this time globally, particularly with travel and quarantine periods, has been incredibly difficult.

“I am confident we can control our build up well in Ireland to put the team in the best position to compete this summer.”

The Hook



Women's pre-Olympics training camp in Malaysia in last-minute cancellation


Ireland's Anna O'Flanagan in action in last month's three-match series against Great Britain in Belfast

The Ireland women team's pre-Olympic camp in Malaysia has been cancelled at the last minute amid concerns over Covid-19 and quarantine issues.

The Irish squad were scheduled to travel from Dublin to Malaysia on Friday but instead came the news of the late cancellation.

Hockey Ireland said the decision had been taken because of "changing circumstances in the past 24 hours".

The Irish squad were scheduled to be in Kuala Lumpur until 28 April.

Ireland were scheduled to face the hosts and Great Britain in a tour organised to help the visiting squads acclimatise to conditions similar to those they will experience in Tokyo.

Coach Sean Dancer said the Irish players had been informed of the tour's cancellation early on Friday morning.

"Everyone is disappointed that we will not be able to make this opportunity happen," said the Ireland coach.

"At this point in our build up to Europeans and the Olympics, the health and wellbeing of our staff and players is paramount.

"Weighing up the potential performance benefit of heat and humidity versus the uncertainties we live with at this time globally, particularly with travel and quarantine periods, has been incredibly difficult.

"I am confident we can control our build up well in Ireland to put the team in the best position to compete this summer."

Hockey Ireland added that it had been forced to make a "difficult decision".

"Over the past two weeks Hockey Ireland and their key stakeholders have been working tirelessly to provide the opportunity to travel to Malaysia for heat and humidity training and competition," said the Hockey Ireland statement.

BBC Sport



Great Britain Hockey forced to cancel women’s Malaysia tour

By Rod Gilmour


Mark Hager is preparing for his first Olympics as GB women's coach

Great Britain women have seen Tokyo plans disrupted at the last minute after their tour to Malaysia was cancelled at the last moment.

GB women were due to fly out to Kuala Lumpur on Friday to acclimatise ahead of the Tokyo Games this summer. They were set to quarantine separately on arrival for up to seven days.

But a last minute decision was taken not to travel after changes to their match play opportunities were affected. However, the GB men’s squad were still able to fly out and left on Friday evening.

Ireland women were also due to fly out to Kuala Lumpur ahead of their first Olympic Games but their trip was also shelved on the eve of flying out of Dublin, leaving GB Hockey short of matches.

Ed Barney, GB Hockey’s performance director, said: “From the outset of Covid-19, we have talked as a programme about agility and flexibility being our greatest performance advantage in these uncertain times. The staff and players have been exceptional at sitting with, responding to and working with these unexpected circumstances as they arise over the past 12 months.

“Unfortunately, at late notice, our international competitors on the women’s side were unable to travel to Malaysia, and therefore it was an easy decision to put plan B into place in the UK for these coming weeks. We are incredibly fortunate to have a world class programme at an exceptional home base at Bisham Abbey. We’re looking forward to some international matches at Bisham in the coming weeks before we resume our home Pro League fixtures in May.”

GB women first started their heat and humidity training in summer 2019, with women’s teams playing limited games in Asia as opposed to men’s sides. The GB squad has also had the luxury of heat chamber testing at their Bisham HQ.

Ireland and GB were due to play four uncapped matches against each other at the Malaysia National Hockey Stadium, Bukit Jalil in KL, while the host country and Japan were also expected to be in attendance.

Ireland head coach Seán Dancer said: “We informed the squad early this morning, and everyone is disappointment that we will not be able to make this opportunity happen.

“At this point in our build up to Europeans and the Olympics, the health and wellbeing of our staff and players is paramount. Weighing up the potential performance benefit of heat and humidity versus the uncertainties we live with at this time globally, particularly with travel and quarantine periods, has been incredibly difficult.

“I am confident we can control our build up well in Ireland to put the team in the best position to compete this summer.”

Meanwhile Danny Kerry’s side will play fixtures against Malaysia and Japan. “These will be a great piece of preparation in the journey to Tokyo for the men and they will thrive off every opportunity (and any challenges) in the coming weeks,” added Barney.

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ACT to take place in October

K. Rajan


Datuk Tayyab Ikram

THE men's Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) has been given new dates by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).

AHF chief executive officer Datuk Tayyab Ikram said the competition will now take place on Oct 1-9 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The tournament was rescheduled from November last year to October due to the Covid-19 situation in Asia.

"In our mission to bring hockey back to the pitch, I am pleased to announce the rescheduling of the postponed men's ACT to early October this year," said Tayyab.

"It is yet another victory in our battle against the virus. I have to congratulate the Bangladesh Hockey Federation and hockey lovers worldwide for this win."

The sixth edition of the biennial event will take place at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium in Dhaka.

Reigning Asian Games champions Japan, India, Pakistan, South Korea, Malaysia and Bangladesh are the confirmed teams for the ACT.

India and Pakistan were declared joint winners at the 2018 edition in Oman after the final was washout by heavy rain.

Malaysia finished third for the fifth time, ahead of Japan.

New Straits Times



World Masters Hockey World Cups set to light up 2022


Four Masters hockey World Cups set for 2022 PIC: WMH

Not to be denied their moment in the limelight, masters players from over-35 level to over-80s will still be up for national selection following the news that four World Cups will be played next year.

The 2020 World Cups were postponed and cancelled last year as the pandemic took hold but now World Masters Hockey has announced four tournaments in as many continents.

The first event will be the WMH Indoor Hockey World Cup to be played in the USA in February, with O60s and O80s World Cups taking place in October, making it a bumper year of masters hockey.

Indoor Masters World Cup 2022
February 15-20 – Virginia Beach, USA
Men + women: O40/O45/O50/O55

Outdoor Masters Hockey World Cups 2022

August 12-21 – Nottingham, England
O35 W & M
O40 W & M

October 1-10 – Cape Town, RSA
O45 – O55 M
O45 – O65 W
O55 M Spirit of Masters
O45 – O50 Spirit of Masters
O55 – O65 W Spirit of Masters

October 19-29 – Tokyo, Japan
O60 – O80 M
O60 – O80 M Spirit of Masters

A statement read: “These will be the inaugural events for WMH and we would like to thank everyone for their support, and patience, over the past few years, it has been, and continues to be a tough time for many, but that support has allowed us to get to this point of hopefully playing again at this level.

“While WMH and the host nations are excited to announce these dates, we do still need to keep in mind that the health and safety of all players and participants is paramount, and so we continue to monitor the effects of the pandemic and will notify you immediately if anything changes.”

Spirit of Masters teams may either be the “B” international team from a member country, a team from a Recognized Entity, or a team of players from more than one country, in the same age category, who are unable to form a complete team from within their own country.

Eligibility for the various age groups in 2022 will be assessed according to players’ age on 31st Dec 2022.

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2021-22 Junior & Senior U.S. Men’s National Indoor Teams & Coaches Named



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Following an in-person tryout on March 27 and virtual/online submissions due to travel restrictions, the 2021-22 Junior and Senior U.S. Men’s National Indoor Teams and coaching staffs have been named.

2021-21 Junior U.S. Men’s National Team:

Matthew Barraco (Allentown, Pa.), Zane Boler (Lewisberry, Pa.), Gavin Chung (Glen Ridge, N.J.), Koehl Comiskey (Dallas, Pa.), Michael Egan (Chatham, N.J.), Benedikt Guth (Madison, N.J.), Donatus Guth (Madison, N.J.), Ishaq Inayat (Princeton, N.J.), Tyler Kim (Fredicksburg, Va.), Colin Kirkpatrick (Annville, Pa.), Toby Peck (Downingtown, Pa.), James Polashock (Hainesport, N.J.), Floris Van De Rotte (Old Greenwich, Conn.), Jack Weitzman (Fulton, Md.)

Eight athletes on the Junior Indoor USMNT were named to last year’s squad in Matthew Barraco, Zane Boler, Gavin Chung, Koehl Comiskey, Ishaq Inayat, Tyler Kim, Colin Kirkpatrick and Toby Peck. There is also representation on the outdoor Junior U.S. Men’s National Training Squads in Zane, Gavin, Ishaq, Tyler, Colin, Toby and Jack Weitzman.

Leading the Junior Indoor USMNT as head coach is Erik Enters, who brings more than 30 years of playing and coaching experience to the program. His resume includes coaching at all levels from camps, clinics and private lessons, to middle school, high school and elite club hockey, as well as assisting the U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team and coaching the Junior Indoor USMNT (2019 & 2020). Enters has been the head varsity coach at Perkiomen Valley High School since 2009 and has coached dozens of athletes who have gone on to play collegiately. He is also a coach for Philly Hockey Club.

Enters began his playing career in 1986 in the North East Field Hockey Association (NEFHA) with Greenwich FHC and played for multiple teams over the course of 20 years. He was a member of Philly Hockey Team in the former North American Premier Indoor League (NAPL) from 1999 to 2005 and played multiple international tournaments as a member of the U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team from 2005 to 2010.

Enters has worked in the public education system for the past 28 years and serves as the college counselor at Upper Merion Area High School.

Rachael Bloemker, who has been helping with the junior men’s indoor side since 2019, will be the assistant coach of the program. She is the co-founder and director of Junior Premier League, which was established in 2012. She has extensive coaching experience at many levels. In 2019, she was the assistant coach for the U.S. O-40 Women’s Masters Indoor Team who earned a fourth place finish at the World Masters Hockey (WMH) Masters Indoor World Cup in Hong Kong.

As an athlete, Bloemker was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Indoor Team from 2008 to 2015, competing in several Indoor Pan American Cups and international events. Prior to that, she played for Glasgow Western Ladies First Team (2008-2009) in Scotland and won the National Division Club Cup and Spirit Hockey Club Ladies First team in Nederlands First Class Division (2006-2007).

A native of Philadelphia, Bloemker is a 2006 graduate of Drexel University, where she was a four-year letter winner who earned multiple personal accolades. She holds a Bachelor of Science in sports management with a business minor and is a certified USA Field Hockey Level II Coach and Level I Umpire.

2021-21 U.S. Men’s National Indoor Team:

James Albanese (Mercerville, N.J.), Brett Andrews (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Shomik Chakraborty (Washington, D.C.), Christian DeAngelis (Doylestown, Pa.), Ajai Dhadwal (Agoura Hills, Calif.), Mohan Gandhi (Ventura, Calif.), Alex Grassi (Brookeville, Md.), Pat Harris (Moorpark, Calif.), Vincent Heller (Stuttgart, Germany), Colin Hennessy (Marlborough, Mass.), Darian Isla (Hypoluxo, Fla.), Aki Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany), Kei Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany), JaJa Kentwell (Spring City, Pa.), Jonathan Klages (Berlin, Germany), Julius Mouser (Jersey City, N.J.), Izaak Pels (Spring City, Pa.), Christopher Pothier (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Nicholas Richardson (Sunapee, N.H.), Moritz Ruenzi (Muenchen, Germany), Dean Schiller (Alexandria, Va.), Scott Sherban (Dublin, Ohio), Asdeep Singh (Baltimore, Md.), Paul Singh (Simi Valley, Calif.), Damien Tarala (Norwalk, Conn.)

A total of 14 athletes selected to the Senior Indoor USMNT were on last year’s roster. Ten athletes selected are currently involved in the senior outdoor program. Leading the 2021-22 squad is Patrick Harris who has competed in four Indoor Pan American Cups, including the very first edition in 2002. Moritz Ruenzi competed in the event in 2010 and 2014 and Ajai Dhadwal, Mohan Gandhi and JaJa Kentwell were all on the 2014 roster.

Jason Mulder will be the head coach of the Senior Indoor USMNT. Mulder was previously a special consultant to the junior and senior program and is currently an assistant coach at Towson University.
 
Mulder hails from Cape Town, South Africa and began his coaching career in 2009 at Central Hockey Club. Most recently he was a volunteer assistant at Syracuse University, Bryant University and the University of Maryland before joining the Tigers.
 
From 2013 to 2016, he coached the state Western Province boy's U-19 team to three consecutive national championships. Mulder is not short of international experience, from 2015 to 2017 he served as the head coach of the South African U-17 team and was one of the South African men's team assistant coaches and technical analysts.
 
Mulder pursued coaching science at ETA College in South Africa with a concentration in coaching hockey, and he is also a qualified Level 2 Coach and Level 1 Coach Facilitator. To add to his field hockey experience, Mulder was also the chief operating officer of Sportways SA, the biggest field hockey coaching company in the world.

Mulder will be assisted by Enters, and Nigel Traverso will serve as the team manager and Sebastian Blink as the tactical specialist.

Traverso is the co-founder and director of Junior Premier League and the Big Apple Hockey Federation (BAHF), and their supporting tournament and leagues. He has a lengthy resume of managerial experience having been on staff of the Senior Indoor USMNT program from 2000 to 2016, including at international events including the 2003 and 2011 Indoor Hockey World Cups.

As a coach, Traverso has been active within the USA Field Hockey organization since 1997, having served as the U.S. Men’s National Team’s assistant coach until 2002. During that stint, he aided the team at the 1999 Pan American Games. From 2000 to 2016, he was also the assistant coach of the Senior Indoor USMNT. Presently, Traverso is the head U-19 coach of the club, Jersey Intensity Field Hockey.

Traverso is a Los Angeles 1984 Olympian, being part of the USMNT from 1983 to 1995. He represented Team USA at countless international competitions including the 1983, 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games, 1989 Inter Continental Cup and 1991 Olympic Qualifier.

In 2014, Traverso was inducted into the USA Field Hockey Hall of Fame and has been the director and stand on many committees within USA Field Hockey, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Pan American Hockey Federation and International Hockey Federation. He currently holds a USA Field Hockey Level II Coaching Certification.

Blink (née Scheurer) is a full-time coach at Mannheimer HC, where he leads the U-12 and U-16 boys’ teams, and he is the head of the men’s team at Feudenheimer HC, who are playing in the 3rd German Division. He has an all-encompassing experience having coached all levels in Germany.

As an athlete, Blink represented Team USA at the 2005 and 2014 Indoor Pan American Cups. He was part of the outdoor junior team that competed at the men’s 2008 Junior Pan American Games and 2009 U-21 World Cup. He also played with the German Bundesliga, Germany’s premier field hockey league.

Training for both the Junior and Senior Indoor USMNT will begin in mid-April in both the United States and Europe. Selections for the 2021 Indoor Pan American Cup, to be held in June in the United States, will be made after an upcoming training camp in Europe.

There is a secondary Indoor USMNT tryout scheduled for Saturday, May 15 for athletes who registered but were unable to attend due to travel, college or other commitments.

USFHA media release



Tribute to Kathleen ‘Kay’ Wilson (Jamaica) on her 100th birthday

Fabian Stewart, President, Jamaica Hockey Federation


Kay Wilson, Jamaica   

On Kay’s 100th Birthday April 5, 2021, we salute a consummate Icon, a Phenomenal Woman - Kathleen Dorothea Wilson.

Kathleen Dorothea Wilson, affectionately called Kay or ‘Willo’ was the second President of the former Jamaica Women’s Hockey Association (JWHA), now the Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF).

Kay was a founding member of the Cecelio Hockey Club, the oldest hockey Club in Jamaica. She has the distinction of being the longest serving president of the JWHA with her tenure spanning 1970 – 79 and 1983 – 1986.

Her distinguished playing career commenced on a phenomenal note in 1956 when, on being capped for the first time, she was also appointed team Manager to the inaugural Caribbean Triangular Tournament held in Trinidad & Tobago. She went on to play and manage national teams of 1962, 1963 and 1964. At age 46, Kay ended her vintage national playing career and immediately donned her administrative hat. She plunged full-time into the business of sports administration serving the Council as Honorary Treasurer and second Vice President, before being elected President in 1970.

Between 1970 and 1971, Kay focussed her efforts on acquiring the premises on Mona Road as the headquarters for the Association. It was not unusual to see Kay watering and weeding the field late at nights and early in the mornings. By 1977, two (2) full hockey pitches were well-established on the property along with our very own Club house. This was no small feat as no other national Association had its own grounds back then. Today the property is still the centre for hockey in Jamaica and the headquarters of the Jamaica Hockey Federation (JHF), which was formed through an amalgamation of the former JWHA & Jamaica Men’s Hockey Association (JMHA).

The Jamaica hockey family thanks Kay for her unwavering optimism and her refusal to bow to the many detractors and obstacles along the way. She had a vision of what the JWHA could accomplish and dedicated herself to making this a reality. Her motto was “forward ever, backward never’. Many of Kay’s objectives for the JWHA were realized during her tenure, including bringing a number of international coaches to Jamaica and ensuring that both players and local coaches benefited from these visits. This, without a doubt, led to many fine performances of Jamaica Women’s hockey teams over the years and the sharing of regional dominance for a long time with Trinidad & Tobago. While touring with national teams, Kay was always ready to participate in the fun and showed a great sense of humour even in the face of being the object of team’s mischievous pranks. She showed infinite patience even when confronted with flippant behaviours by those she mentored and continued to groom and encourage them, ensuring that the next generation of hockey administrators would have a solid foundation. Those who have had the privilege of travelling with Mrs Wilson to Congress, Games or other such events have watched her in action in absolute awe.  

Mrs Wilson’s tenure as an Executive, Technical Official and an Administrator spanned not only local involvement but international as well, she distinguished herself in the Technical field serving as Delegate, Juror of Appeal and Council member at many major international Tournaments. A highlight of her career as a Delegate of the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations (IFWHA) was successfully bringing a motion to the International Council which resulted in South Africa being barred from all IFWHA and subsequent FIH Tournaments due to their stance on apartheid.      

The numerous links Kay forged and the respect that she earned on the international circuit secured a place of prominence for Women’s Hockey in Jamaica among the international hockey fraternity. It is no wonder that in recognition of her knowledge of and dedication to sports administration that she was called upon to serve on numerous local Committees, Boards and Foundations such as the Carreras Sports Foundation (now RJR Sports Foundation), the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education & Sports, to name just a few.

In recognition of Kay’s phenomenal service to the sport of hockey she was bestowed Honorary Life Member status of the Jamaica Women’s Hockey Association on September 20, 1990. Kathleen, ‘Kay’, ‘Willo’, ‘Wilson’, remains a pioneer, an icon, a strong uncompromising, undaunted, determined, yet fun loving woman who is forever open to new experiences. She especially loved touring and have made many life-long friends around the Globe. She is a mixer, a militant, ‘an international’ and ultimately a mentor and role model for us. She will forever be a true Champion of Women in sports.


2010 PAHF Board Meeting, Kingston - President`s Award for Kay Wilson (Jamaica) (Photo: Lloyd Butler)

Pan American Hockey Federation media release



No. 14 Penn State Field Hockey Team Shuts Out Indiana for B1G Win

Nittany Lions ride defense and fourth period goal to conference win



UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; April 9, 2021 – The Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey team (5-5, 4-2 B1G) rode strong defense and a late goal to a home win over Indiana (0-11, 0-8 B1G) in a Big Ten field hockey battle on Friday.  The Nittany Lions, under the guidance of head coach Char Morett-Curtiss, scored in the fourth quarter to post a 1-0 victory at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.
 
In instances where teams are scheduled to play each other twice during this year's Big Ten season, only the first game between the two squads is considered for the Big Ten regular season standings. Given that, today's game counts in both the conference and overall standings.
 
The Nittany Lion defense was tested just seconds into the game when Hoosier Meghan Dillon let a point-blank shot fly that Penn State goalie Brie Barraco (Allentown, Pa.) knocked aside.  Barraco's save was a sign of things to come as Penn State's defense kept the team in the game early. The Nittany Lion offense responded after the early IU burst and reeled off a shot by Sophia Gladieux (Boyertown, Pa.) and forced two penalty corners.  Anna Simon (Hanau, Germany) took three hard shots in the opening period, two off corners, but Indiana goalie Sachi Ananias kept Penn State off the scoreboard in the opening stanza.
 
Penn State and Indiana traded offensive possessions early in the second period and each team had shots in the opening two minutes.  Gladieux had a shot blocked at the 2:18 mark while Barraco notched another save on an Indiana shot a minute later. Simon had another shot off a corner for Penn State and Gladieux had two more good efforts in the Indiana circle but in each case, Ananias was equal to the task to keep the game tied 0-0 late into the first half.  The final five minutes featured a couple shots from Indiana but Barraco, like Ananias was able to keep the Hoosiers from scoring and the game moved to halftime knotted 0-0.
 
The Nittany Lions outshot Indiana 8-4 in the opening half and had four penalty corners. Indiana had no corners but Ananias had four saves in the first half.  Barraco had three for Penn State.
 
The home team came out in the third quarter and dominated possession. Morett-Curtiss' squad forced three penalty corners in less than six minutes to begin the second half, with Ananias able to notch saves on each Penn State shot.  With the Nittany Lions  unable to find the back of the cage, the Penn State defense pushed back on each IU effort to push the ball deep into Penn State territory.  The Lion backfield, led by freshman Kelsey Love (State College, Pa.), Meghan Reese (Coopersburg, Pa.) and Elena Vos (Grave, The Netherlands) gave Barraco the space she needed to keep her shutout alive. While Indiana was held to just a shot, Penn State got off five shots but IU's goalie kept Penn State scoreless through three periods.
 
The fourth quarter was more of the same as Penn State's defense played strong, Barraco kept the Hoosiers from scoring, and the Penn State offense continued to pressure the Hoosiers.  The Nittany Lions dominated field position in the fourth quarter, continuing to pressure IU and forcing four penalty corners over the final 15:00.  Indiana's offense looked to get untracked with three corners in the first seven minutes (IU's only corners of the game).  But Penn State's defense and Barraco's goalkeeping, kept IU from finding the back of the cage. The Nittany Lion offense broke through for the game's lone goal with just 5:37 left in the game.  Bree Bednarski (Wyoming, Pa.) took Penn State's 11th penalty corner, feeding Vos who set up Gladieux for a shot that found its way past Ananias to give Penn State the 1-0 lead.  The goal would hold over the final five-plus minutes and Penn State walked away with the 1-0 victory.
 
The Nittany Lions outshot Indiana 16-7 over the course of the game and had an 11-3 edge in penalty corners.  Both keepers were outstanding with Barraco notching four saves for her third shutout of the season and Ananias collecting eight.
 
"Anytime you win in the conference it's big," said Morett-Curtiss.  "I don't think Indiana's record reflects the talent on that team and I give so much credit to coach Bashore for leading a team that has played every contest on the road.  I give a lot of credit to them for how they played today and I thought our players did a much better job in the second half, particularly on offense.  It's a nice win for the Nittany Lions today."
 
Penn State is now 5-5 overall, 4-2 B1G.  Indiana falls to 0-11, 0-8 in the conference standings.  The two teams play again on Sunday, April 11, at 11 a.m. at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex.

GAME BREAKDOWN
 
SCORING:                  1          2          3          4          FINAL
PENN STATE              0          0          0          1          1
INDIANA                     0          0          0          0          0
 
STATS:                                   PSU     IND
Shots                                       16        7
Corners                                   11        3
 
SCORING SUMMARY (goal/assist) – TIME
4th: PSU – Sophia Gladieux (Bree Bednarski, Elena Vos); 5:37
 
GOALKEEPERS:                   MIN     GA       S
PSU:    Brie Barraco                60:00   0          4         
IND:     Sachi Ananias             60:00   1          8

Go PSU Sports



Virginia field hockey team's upset bid falls short against No. 1 North Carolina

Bennett Conlin


Virginia’s Makayla Gallen moves the ball against North Carolina on Friday at the UVa Turf Field. UVa media relation

Erin Matson is the best field hockey player on the best college field hockey team in the country.

The North Carolina star showed why she’s so highly regarded in the field hockey world on Friday in Charlottesville. Behind three goals from the 2019 National Player of the Year, No. 1 UNC defeated No. 12 UVa 3-2 in overtime.

It was an impressive showing from Matson, and a gutsy performance from Virginia, which came close to defeating the nation’s best team.

“Very proud of the team’s effort today,” UVa head coach Michele Madison said. “Their mindset to compete was just what you need to have to beat a No. 1 team. They came out to win the game.”

Only a stellar showing from Matson was able to keep the Cavaliers (6-11, 1-4 ACC) from beating the top-ranked Tar Heels (14-1, 4-1 ACC).

After a solid first quarter from both sides, Matson opened the scoring halfway through the second quarter when she found the back of the goal on a penalty corner. The junior forward was assisted by sophomore back Madison Orobono and sophomore midfielder Paityn Wirth.

UNC seemed content to take a 1-0 lead into halftime, but a Virginia turnover late in the half set up an opportunity for Matson once again. As the Tar Heels pushed toward the cage in the final seconds of the half, Matson ripped a ball into the left side of the goal to give North Carolina a 2-0 lead with 10 seconds until the break.

Despite falling behind two goals to the best team in the nation, UVa stayed in the game.

The Cavaliers were dominant for much of the second half, playing aggressively and executing well. UNC took 10 shots in the first half, compared to seven from Virginia. In the second 30-minute stretch, UVa tallied nine shots compared to just three from the Tar Heels.

“They won the first half,” Madison said. “We won the second half.”

Virginia turned aggression and activity into a goal with just over a minute left in the third quarter. After the Cavaliers earned a penalty corner, sophomore midfielder Adele Iacobucci deflected a pass from junior back Amber Ezechiels into the back of the goal. Virginia seemed to gain momentum after pulling within one goal.

Another penalty corner in the fourth quarter helped UVa tie the game. With 4:45 left, sophomore striker Laura Janssen deflected the pass from sophomore back Cato Geusgens into the goal for the equalizer.

Neither team was able to find a game-winning goal in regulation, so the two squads headed to overtime.

Matson didn’t wait long to give UNC the win.

She knocked the ball into the goal just 58 seconds into the overtime period, handing the Tar Heels the sudden-death triumph. The Cavaliers were close to pulling off the upset victory, but Matson’s offensive brilliance proved to be the difference.

The match was UVa’s final home contest of the season. The Cavaliers wrap up their spring season next Friday at Syracuse.

“We’ve grown every game,” Madison said. “We’re such a different team from last fall. We’re such a different team from how we started. We look forward to the next time we can play on the blue turf.”

The Daily Progress



No. 10 Field Hockey Defeats No. 4 Northwestern for Highest Ranked Win in Program History

Gianna Glatz



PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 10 Rutgers field hockey earned its highest ranked win in program history, defeating No. 4 Northwestern 2-1 on Friday afternoon. Milena Redlingshoefer and Liz Romano scored for RU, and Gianna Glatz made eight saves in the goal to preserve the win.

RU jumped right out to the lead, scoring twice in the first three minutes. The team capitalized on two early penalty corner opportunities to take command of the game from the outset.

Just under two minutes into the contest, RU took the lead. On the game's first corner, the ball was inserted to the top, and Milena Redlingshoefer fired the ball in for the goal. Katie Larmour and Kerrie Burns picked up assists on the play.

It would take just 39 seconds for the Scarlet Knights to add to the lead. After another corner, the initial shot from the top was blocked. Northwestern tried to clear, but Liz Romano stopped that effort and sent the ball into the back of the net.

From that point, it was on the RU defense to hold the lead, and the team proved their mettle as one of the nation's best defensive teams with another stout effort. The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Gianna Glatz was exceptional in goal once again, making eight saves and allowing just one goal.Northwestern pressed to the wire with a last effort on a corner in the final minute, but the defense held them off to secure the win.

Rutgers and Northwestern will meet again Sunday at 12 p.m. The game is Senior Day, with a pregame ceremony to honor RU's lone departing senior, Gracey Butsack.

Quotable

"We knew that Northwestern would come out and play physical and aggressive. We wanted to match that by setting the tempo and pushing the pace early in the game. That's exactly what we came out and did. Our defense was really sound and solid as a unit, not just individuals making tackles, but as a whole, and that was a big reason we were able to pull out the win. It's great to come in this year as a newcomer and be able to contribute to the program and be able to make an impact and show that Rutgers field hockey is here to play."
- Liz Romano

"We played to our team identity. We know Northwestern is a great team and well coached, so we needed to stay together as a team. Our team defense was awesome. Our defensive penalty corner group worked so hard this week, and we knew that if we outworked them, we could come out on top. Our team has worked so hard, our coaching staff has put us in the best position to win, so to get this win is just icing on the cake."

Notable
- The win was the highest ranked win in program history (previous highest: done twice, No. 6 Princeton - 2018 (home) and 2019 (road)
- It marked the seventh top-10 win in program history - all coming over the past three seasons
- The win gave RU three straight wins over ranked teams for the first time in program history.
- It was the team's fourth lifetime ranked win over a Big Ten foe.
- Rutgers has outscored opponents 19-5 through 11 games.  

Scarlet Knights



Top RAF recruit accolade for Scotland and GB hockey’s Emily Dark



Scotland’s Emily Dark recently put aside her rising hockey career as she finished as top recruit and top shot in her bid to become an RAF reservist and one of the first females in the role.

Dark, who was selected for last autumn’s Pro League trip to Holland and Belgium and is part of the GB development progamme, joined 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron to train in the RAF Regiment and excelled in her initial training.

She now moves on to the second part of her training to become the squadron’s first ever female RAF Regiment Gunner, her regiment specialising in force protection, combat tactics, fieldcraft and weaponry.

Following her basic recuit training last month at RAF Halton, she said: “The Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) aspect was very challenging.

“There was a lot of interesting theory to learn, alongside drills dressed in uniform and the CBRN suit which made them a lot harder. I’m just thankful there wasn’t too much sun.



“Going on patrol and shooting blanks whilst practicing fire and movement drills was amazing! The range day was brilliant as well, and I can’t wait to spend more time on the range in my Phase 2 training.”

Women were only able to start applying for the role in 2017, meaning Dark will be one of the first females at 603 squadron in the relatively new position.

Dark will be the fifth generation of her family to serve in the RAF. She is currently studying physics at St Andrews University alongside her hockey.

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