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All the news for Saturday 30 August 2014

Summer series showdown ends with knowledge and momentum gain for U.S. Men's National Team

CHULA VISTA, Calif. - Today's final match of a five game tournament against Argentina was the culmination of an incredible summer for the U.S. Men's National Team.

"Today we were aiming to finish our summer another step above where we were the day before," said Head Coach Chris Clements. "Today's performance was a taste of things to come in the World League and the Pan American Games after an amazing amount of work by all involved directly and indirectly with our Men's National Team program. We are encouraged by where we have gotten to with the program and we will look to build on this momentum moving forward. We have our sights set high and  believe in our process and timeline that we have in place. The results of this summer speak for themselves."

This afternoon's final match was very evenly poised through the first half with both teams earning penalty corners and Argentina holding a slight advantage at 5 shots to 4. The halftime score stood locked at zeros. While the intensity only elevated, energy in Team USA's locker room was positive with some small adjustments needing to be made during the final portion of the game.

The United States created a penalty corner for William Holt (Camarillo, Calif.) to flick the ball past the Argentine goalkeeper and the red, white and blue took the lead in the 45th minute after a good start to the half.

Argentina managed to create a penalty corner in the 51st minute and then again in the 56th to take the lead 2-1. The game had really started to accelerate and become very entertaining with both teams creating scoring opportunities however both teams were playing great attack and defense.Team USA, not content to sit back and play for a draw, continued to press forward at 1-1 and 1-2 in an effort to get a result. Just as the USA were about to pull their goalkeeper Argentina made it 3-1 with 5 minutes to go. Team USA persisted in looking for a result with a kicking back in place however Argentina conceded another goal in the 68th minute to develop a final score of USA 1, Argentina 4.

Prior to Argentina, the United States swept two, six game series against Chile and Mexico with victories.

"The support of the USOC and all the messages of encouragement and belief in our group is greatly appreciated and we look forward to continuing on the upward trajectory," said Clements.

We are proud and we are Team USA.

USFHA media release

Women's roster named for World League 1 tournament in September

Competition to take place in Guadalajara, Mexico September 11-14

Vancouver, BC - Eighteen athletes have been named to the Canadian Women's National Team which will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico to compete in World League 1 September 11-14, 2014.

World League is a multi-round, multi-nation tournament which in the end serves as a Rio 2016 Olympic qualifier.

"This upcoming World League 1 is the most important event for our program in 2014 due to the vey nature at what is at stake," says Women's National Team head coach Ian Rutledge.

In addition to the five contitental qualifiers for the Olympic Games (one of which will be the winner of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games), two teams will also qualifiy through the World League competition, bringing the total to seven teams.

Olympic qualification happens after the third round of World League, but only the winner of World League 1 advances to the second round.

Canada will be competing against Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru in the first round of World League in Mexico in September.

"The team is well prepared, given that we have just come of the Commonwealth Games and the after glow of a very intense preparation period," adds Rutledge. "We have spent the past two weeks honing technical aspects of our game and I am looking forward to spending the first week of our tour to Mexico in a training camp like environment, refining our off-field environment as well as our on-field play."

The women have been extremely busy over the past six months. They went on a tour in the United Kingdom to face one of the world's best sides, England, and then travelled to Wales to take on the Welsh.

Prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, the women had another test series in Ireland.

The roster is young, but it now has more experience than it has ever had with this core of players.

"The team has been working hard at putting consistent, back-to-back performances on the field every game regardless of our opponents status,"  Rutledge explains. "This approach will be no different and the players attention to detail and focus will be sorely tested."

"The team is starting to come together well and it is promising to see that our players are increasing their understanding of what it is to be really successful on the international stage."

The first test for Canada will be on September 11 vs. Guatemala. They will then take on Mexico on September 13, and Peru on September 14.

Canadian Women's National Team Roster - World League 1

Field Hockey Canada media release

WP Peninsula cause biggest upset in SA domestic hockey history

JONATHAN COOK at Queensmead


Southern Gauteng's Brandon Panther in possession as Northern Blues' Ross Gonsalves challenges during Southerns' 4-2 win in the semi-finals of the elite A Section in the Greenfields Men's IPT at Queensmead in Durban Friday. Photo: SUPPLIED

It is still going to be the classic battle of South Africa’s hockey heavyweights, Western Province and Southern Gauteng, in the final of the Greenfields Men’s Interprovincial at Queensmead in Durban come 4.30pm Saturday - except this time it’s going to be a different Western Province team wearing different colours.

The Western Province’s second stringers, WP Peninsula (Pens), caused the biggest upset in South African hockey’s history at domestic level when they beat their senior side, defending champions Western Province, with 11 SA-capped players, 2-1 in the second semi-final Friday after trailing 1-0 at half-time.

It was the first time Pens had ever reached the semi-finals, while the last time a second team had made the final was when Southern Gauteng Wits were thrashed by a national-player-packed Natal team in 1996.

Pens’ goals went to Ryan Julius and Marc Fourie in the 44th and 53rd minutes respectively while captain Clive Terwin had opened the scoring for WP in the sixth minute.

On Wednesday, Pinelands club player Jack Thonissen was relaxing at home, on Thursday he was flying to Durban as a last-minute replacement for a Pens injury; Friday he played his heart out for Pens and became part of history - and on Saturday he could win gold and the most prestigious title in SA hockey.

Athens 2004 Olympian Steve Evans, now a social player but one of the most astute hockey brains in the country, was set to coach Pens at IPT, but became a player – and just about their best player – when another injury forced his hand.

“This is a special group, every single person has contributed in one way or another,” said Evans minutes after the final whistle had sounded.

“We had done our homework, had created a mentality, it wasn’t pretty hockey like the big teams but we knew we could capitalise on the five or six chances we created, tactically the boys played to the game plan and got the result,” said Evans.

WP coach Pierre le Roux said his side couldn’t get anything right against Pens. “Our basics were terrible, we couldn’t control the game, Pens are the best hustlers here.”

Evans added a last word. “On Saturday, it depends on which Southerns side rocks up, and sometimes they don’t.”

Southerns, with 13 of their 18 players having played for SA, had to work very, very hard to beat underdogs and Pretoria neighbours Northern Blues 4-2 in the first semi-final after the score was 2-1 at half-time.

Blues head coach Krinesan Moodley was both disappointed at the outcome and proud of his team. “I can’t fault our commitment; but when we were leading 1-0 we were reduced to eight players and that turned the game.”

Southerns head coach Rob van Ginkel also pinpointed that key phase in what was a typically tense Gauteng derby. “We were 1-0 down and what got us back into the game was when they had three off the field. We scored two goals then, so as a coach it was pleasing that we used the numerical advantage.

“It was a real scrap but now we have got to re-focus on the final.”

The scoreline doesn’t give the best picture of just how close this tussle was and Northerns opened the scoring in the 15th minute through vice-captain Mark Holliday.

Southerns, last year’s finalists, struck back when Northerns lost players to the sin-bin, captain Tommy Hammond and Julian Hykes in a well-worked move that enabled Clint Panther’s deadly finish in the 24th minute. And three minutes later (27th) another quality move - when Northerns were still missing personnel - that again involved Hykes, saw Nic Spooner deliver the desired result.

Southerns were suddenly 2-1 up and the scoreline stayed that way until seven minutes after half-time (42nd) when Matt Guise-Brown unleashed the penalty corner drag-flick of the tournament for the Pretoria lads to be level-pegging at 2-2.

Southerns, the 2012 IPT winners, pressed hard to regain the lead and won a PC through Dylan Coombes that resulted in Ricky West’s drag-flick finding the back of the net for a 3-2 lead after 50 minutes.

Considering this was each team’s fourth match in as many days, the energy was most impressive and Northerns tried everything, but Southerns delivered the killer blow four minutes from time (66th) when the on-song Hykes set up Spooner’s second goal for the 4-2 final scoreline.

Moodley said his side never stopped believing. “We stood back for no-one, had enough chances to win and were right in it with five minutes to go.

“Going into the semi-final we had already achieved our pre-IPT target of a top four finish - in competition with far more experienced teams. This is a young, inexperienced side and Northerns’ future is bright.

RESULTS

A Section (5th to 8th place playoffs round 1): KZN Coastal Raiders 8 Eastern Province 2; South Gauteng Wits 3 KZN Inland 1. Semi-finals: Southern Gauteng 4 Northern Blues 2; Western Province Peninsula 2 Tuffy Western Province 1.

B Section (5th to 8th place playoffs round 1): SA Country Districts 4 EP Settlers 3; Border 8 Namibia 2. Semi-finals: KZN Coastal Mynahs 3 North West 1; Free State 2 KZN Coastal Robins 1.

FIXTURES

At Queensmead – A Section (7th/8th relegation match): Eastern Province vs KZN Inland 8.30am; (5th/6th) KZN Coastal Raiders vs South Gauteng Wits 10.30am; (bronze medal match) Tuffy Western Province vs Northern Blues 12.30pm; (gold medal title match) Southern Gauteng vs WP Peninsula 4.30pm.
B Section (gold medal promotion match): KZN Coastal Mynahs vs Free State.

At Three Schools Trust – B Section (7th/8th): EP Settlers vs Namibia 8am; (5th/6th) Border vs SA Country Districts; (bronze medal match) North West vs KZN Coastal Robins.

SA Hockey Association media release

Plenty of goals in opening round of Ford NHL


Auckland's Charlotte Harrison, courtesy www.photosport.co.nz

New Zealand’s eight regions took to the turf around the country today for the opening round of the Ford National Hockey League.

On the men’s side of the draw the Canterbury Cavaliers and North Harbour Men came out the biggest winners.

The Cavaliers crushed Capital 5-1 on their home turf in Christchurch, thanks to a hat-trick from Cam Hayde while George Connell and Willie Davidson also found the back of the goal.

Up in Whangarei, Joe Bartholomew scored a hat-trick of penalty corner flicks with Cory Bennett and Warren wild adding to the tally as North Harbour defeated Northland 5-2.

In other men’s games today, Midlands cruised past Central 5-0 in Stratford and the Southern Dogs exorcised their demons from last year’s final with a tight 2-1 result over Auckland in Dunedin.

On the women’s draw, the Canterbury Cats powered to a 3-1 win over Capital thanks to a Sian Fremaux hat-trick. Felicity Reidy scored Capital’s lone goal.

In Dunedin the Auckland Women came away with a 4-1 victory over Southern thanks to a Charlotte Harrison double and other goals from Sam Harrison and Danielle Jones.

Northland Women edged North Harbour 2-1 while defending champions Midlands just managed to hold on for a 3-2 result over Central.

This weekend Rounds 1 & 2 take place in eight different locations around the country before tournament week at North Harbour Hockey Stadium from 6-14 September.

CLICK HERE for full results from Round 1

Hockey New Zealand Media release

Panchia brothers a triple threat at NHL

By David Leggat


Hockey trio Arun (left), Daniel and Jared Panchia, who play for Auckland. The elder two, Arun and Daniel, are also Black Sticks. Photo / Dean Purcell

Consider the sibling rivalry around the Panchia house a few years ago.

Three brothers duelling as only brothers can. Now they will play for defending champions Auckland together for the first time in the National Hockey League (NHL), which starts today.

Arun, 25, and Jared, 20, have already made the Black Sticks. Both are attackers. Now there's 19-year-old Daniel, and he's the defender in the family.

And if you think having three brothers in one team is unusual, it's positively ho-hum this season, with Canterbury's Hayde brothers, Cam, Mitchell and Willie, in their squad.

The Panchias have played together at club level for Southern Districts, but this is a new ball game and for Daniel a significant step up.

Jared remembers the back yard sporting rivalries growing up.

"There were a few moments when we got on each other's backs," he laughed. "It's what most people would expect.

"We grew up around hockey and for Daniel and me it was watching Arun play. There's certainly competition but he helped us get where we are."

For Daniel, "being the youngest you never wanted to lose to your older brothers".

"Hockey was the No1 thing for me. We did play a bit of tennis when were younger over summer, but I've enjoyed it my whole life.

"Having Jared and Arun play has been a big help, especially with Arun making the Black Sticks when we were still quite young. That was something for us to look up to."

Now he's champing at the bit to get into the league and prove himself.

"It's pretty cool. I'm really excited and hopefully we can keep the wins going, but we've got a lot of work ahead of us," Daniel said.

A third Panchia in the Black Sticks? The national league is just the proving ground for Daniel, who is in the national junior squad.

And when the three are playing for Auckland over the coming fortnight, consider the pride of their parents Peter and Ramila. "They have been a big part of it and to see us all play for Auckland will be quite special for them as well," Jared said.

Auckland, who won the last two Challenge Shields and shared it in 2011 with Central, boast five national squad members, including recently retired Black Sticks captain Dean Couzins, and goalkeeper Devon Manchester. They also have outstanding Australian striker Jamie Dwyer arriving next week as their international player. They play Southern in Dunedin today, then return home to entertain Northland tomorrow.

Auckland's women - with the same programme this weekend - will be without senior striker Katie Glynn for the K Cup, but have internationals Krystal Forgesson, Liz Thompson and Julia King.

The women's competition has been an open book in recent years. The last five seasons have produced five different winners.

North Harbour are looking to go it alone without imports - each team is allowed up to two - but the men have a core of Black Sticks squad members.

Black Sticks players must play for their region of origin in the NHL to help prevent teams being stacked.

Upcoming games

• The National Hockey League starts this weekend, with a double round of men's and women's matches at various venues around the country - two games each at Whangarei, Stratford, Christchurch and Dunedin today; and Auckland, Hamilton, Paraparaumu and Timaru tomorrow.
• From the third round to the finals, all games will be played at North Harbour between September 6-14.
• Games will be played in four 15-minute quarters, as per the new international regulations, which kick in on September 1.
• Midlands will be defending their women's title, while Auckland beat Southern in a penalty shootout to win last year's men's crown.

The New Zealand Herald

New hockey stadium inaugurated in Raipur

RAIPUR: A brand new international hockey stadium with a blue artificial turf was inaugurated on Friday to celebrate the National Sports Day -- the 109th birth anniversary of the legendary Major Dhyan Chand.

The stadium, with a capacity of 4000 spectators, was inaugurated by the Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly, Gauri Shankar Agarwal.

Member of Parliament, Ramesh Bais, was also present on the occasion. This is the second International Hockey Stadium with a blue Astroturf inaugurated in the state after the International Hockey Stadium in Rajnandgaon.

The occasion also witnessed an exhibition match played between India 'A' and India 'B' teams. The players of the Commonwealth Games' silver-medal winning Indian men's team played this match in which the Sardar Singh led India 'A' outplayed Vikram Kanth led India 'B' 4-1.

India 'A' dominated both halves of the match. Forward Nikkin Thimmaiah managed to beat the rival defenders and scored the first goal of the match in the 16th minute.

However, India 'B' midfielder Harjeet Singh levelled the score 1-1 in the 20th minute through a field goal. In the 26th minute, Dharamvir Singh of India 'A' scored a goal and helped his team to lead the first half 2-1.

In the second half, India 'A' mid-fielders Chinglensana Singh Kangujam and Dharamvir Singh scored two goals each in 33rd and 44th minutes respectively to help their team win the match 4-1.

It's a great way to celebrate the Wizard's birthday by playing an exhibition match, marking the inauguration of the International Hockey Stadium. This stadium will help to attract and motivate more youngsters to come forward and make a future in this game," said Sardar.

The Times of India

Let's celebrate Dhyan Chand by following him: Sonowal

NEW DELHI: Paying tribute to Major Dhyan Chand on his 109th birth anniversary, which is being celebrated as the National Sports Day, sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday said the best way to honour the hockey wizard's memory is to inculcate the qualities he displayed on the field.

"August 29 marks a significant day in the history of sports in India. The legendary hockey player, Major Dhyan Chand was born on this day, 109 years back. He redefined Indian Sports in Hockey at the global level. To commemorate his invaluable contributions, we celebrate his birthday as National Sports Day every year," the minister said.

Major Dhyan Chand is India's greatest hockey player who scored over 1000 goals between 1926 and 1948. He helped India win three Olympic gold medals including the first in 1928.

"He is inspiration personified. He became synonymous with hockey. He became the parameter of hockey by which other player's calibre is measured. It is surprising to know that Dhyan Chand, who came to be known as Hockey Magician, started playing hockey only after joining the Army at the age of 16. It was from there that he started playing hockey," said the Minister.

"After that, Dhyan Chand rose in the hockey field like a meteor. We should imbibe a lesson from the life history of Major Dhyan Chand. Many of our young players are talented. No doubt, but do they have the determination to succeed the way Major Dhyan Chand did?" he added.

Sonowal said India is not short on resources anymore and the players need to step up their game.

"It's time that we do some kind of heart searching. Mind you, there are tens and thousands of children playing hockey in the country. We have more than 100 synthetic surfaces for field hockey in India," he said.

"Compare this with a small country like Belgium which has only 16 surfaces. The best way to pay tribute to Major Dhyan Chand is to inculcate his qualities of discipline, hard-work and determination in our hockey players and also in other sportspersons," he added.

"India is on continuous stride to set new heights for its performance in world sports. We just need to keep this momentum by keeping the ideals set by Major Dhyan Chand, who we remember today."

The Times of India

Postal Club thump Cantt Club 13-0 in memorial hockey


QUETTA: Chief guest MPA Tahir Mahmood poses with teams before the inaugural match of the All-Quetta Baber Memorial Hockey Tournament on Friday.

QUETTA: Former Pakistan hockey captain Shakeel Abbasi displayed brilliant form to score six goals as Postal Hockey Club destroyed Cantt Hockey Club 13-0 in the opening match of the All-Quetta Baber Zaman Memorial Hockey Tournament at the General Musa Hockey Stadium here on Friday.

Two goals each were scored by Arshad Naseem, Saleem Ahmed and Aurangzeb.

Member of Provincial Assembly Tahir Mahmood Khan was the chief guest at the inaugural match and lauded the step to dedicate the event to Baber Zaman.

“Late Baber Zaman played as right out for Quetta District for over ten years and he was a fine player and human being,” said Tahir Mahmood.

“I am glad that this event has been named after him.” He announced a grant of Rs50,000 for the tournament committee besides the installation of a tube-well at the ground.

Also present on the occasion were Director Sports Nazar Baloch, chief organiser Maroof-ul-Hasan, Chief Post Master Quetta Manzoor Bangloi and other district officials.

It must be mentioned here that this is the first occasion when a Quetta hockey event is offering lucrative cash prizes will be awarded to the winning teams including Rs50,000 to the winners, Rs30,000 to the runners-up and Rs20,000 to the third-placed team.

Dawn

20th Marist tourney

Arin Kumar


Martin Fong competes in the Valerie Daveta Memorial hockey tournament in Suva. Picture: SUPPLIED

THE Marist Hockey Club will engage in community activities as they prepare to host the annual Marist Hockey Tournament next month.

This will be the 20th year of the tournament and the first activity the club has planned is a blood drive today at the National Hockey Centre in Laucala Bay, Suva.

Club vice-resident Martin Fong said community activities would allow their players to give back to the people.

"It's our way of giving back to the community," he said.

"The blood drive in conjunction with the Ministry of Health is because there is shortage of blood and one of our former members in the Western Division is among the patients who need blood."

"So we are inviting not only players but fans, families and friends to come down and donate blood because it's for a good purpose."

Meanwhile, Geotech Drilling International has secured naming rights for the club and the tournament.

Fong said the support of the sponsors was vital especially when they were going to host a tournament of such magnitude.

"The sponsorship from Geotech would go towards turf hire and prizemoney for the winning teams.

"We expect to have more than $2000 in total prizemoney and we will confirm that amount once co-sponsors are revealed in the weeks leading up to the tournament."

The tournament is scheduled for September 19, 20 and 21 at the National Hockey Centre.

The Fiji Times