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All the news for Wednesday 17 April 2019

2019 Test matches JPN v CHI (Women) - 2nd Test
Ibaraki (JPN)

JPN v CHI     2 - 1

FIH Match Centre

Executive Board approves 2020 and 2021 FIH Pro League match schedule principles



Lausanne, Switzerland: Building on the successful start of the very first FIH Pro League, the FIH Executive Board (EB) today approved, upon recommendation from the National Associations participating in the FIH Pro League, the following principles of the match schedule for the 2020 and 2021 seasons:

• the League competition is maintained within the first six months of every year
• all games remain “home games”the home and away principle is kept too but this principle will now be split over two consecutive seasons and work according to the following example:
•         in 2020, Team A will host Team B twice within a couple of days
•         in 2021, Team B will host Team A twice within a couple of days

This scheme reduces by half the travel of the teams compared to the current format, therefore decreasing costs for teams, benefitting athletes’ welfare and reducing the impact on the environment.

The EB also confirmed that India’s Men team will join the FIH Pro League from 2020 on, as was unanimously supported by the other participating National Associations.

FIH CEO Thierry Weil stated: “It’s great that India will join the FIH Pro League already next year. There is such a passion for hockey in the country that it will add a lot to our newest competition. Furthermore, FIH would like to thank all participating National Associations who, by agreeing on a common scheme for the 2020 and 2021 calendars, have once again shown the solidarity of the global hockey community and their utmost will to grow the sport together.”

Official FIH Pro League Site

Indian men to join Pro League in 2020

Women will be part of it only in 2021

Uthra Ganesan


Elena Norman, CEO Hockey India (R).  Photo Credit: PTI

The Indian men’s hockey team would join the elite Pro League a year early after the FIH approved the same on Tuesday.

India would join the competition in its second edition in 2020 after a spot opened up following Pakistan’s withdrawal. However, this is only for the men as the women are likely to join only in 2021 as planned earlier.

The International Hockey Federation’s Executive Board approved India’s inclusion after it was unanimously supported by the other associations. “It’s great that India will join the FIH Pro League next year. There is such a passion for hockey in the country that it will add a lot to our newest competition,” said FIH CEO Thierry Weil.

The FIH also tweaked the home-and-away concept to reduce the cost and travel burden on teams starting in 2020, splitting it over two seasons — teams will host twice in 2020 and travel away in 2021. However, the 2020 edition of the Pro League would have no bearing on qualifications for the Olympics or the 2022 World Cup, the format for which is yet to be decided.

Happy to agree

“There were talks between Hockey India and FIH since a slot opened up in 2020. We were also looking at the schedule and format, and were happy to agree,” said Elena Norman, HI CEO.

The Pro league has been facing trouble ever since it was first envisioned as a home-and-away competition. India had been one of the teams in the fray before Hockey India pulled out in July 2017, citing lack of clarity about points and format, and the Indian women's low ranking. In January, Pakistan withdrew due to lack of funds, reducing the 2019 edition to an eight-team event for men.

The inaugural edition is currently being played in a round-robin home-and-away format with the top four teams advancing to the Olympic qualifiers, where they would join 10 others. The 14 teams will be paired as per the world rankings for two games each, with the winner on aggregate qualifying for Tokyo 2020.

The Hindu

India to enter FIH Pro League in 2020

s2h Team

India’s men’s team will join the FIH Pro League a year earlier in a major boost to the novel and ambitious home-and-away event.

FIH CEO Thierry Weil welcomed India’s entry into the Pro League from the 2020 season itself and not 2021 as planned.

“It’s great that India will join the FIH Pro League already next year. There is such a passion for hockey in the country that it will add a lot to our newest competition,” the Frenchman stated from the FIH headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

In another major development, the home-and-away format has been tweaked. Teams will host an opponent twice in a couple of days but will play two similarly scheduled encounters away against the same opponent the next year.

The idea behind the modification of the home-and-away structure was to reduce massive travel and a bid to reduce the impact on the environment.

Launched in January this year, the league will continue to be played during the first six months of the year. The changes, approved by the FIH Executive Board after consultations with the national federations involved in the league were posted on the FIH Pro League site on Tuesday.

India had opted out of the Pro League which holds competitions for both men and women.

The FIH Pro League offers a route towards Olympic and World Cup qualification but viewing the women’s chances as bleak, Hockey India declined participation and extended their decision to the men’s team as well.

Nine teams comprise the women’s section and eight the men’s after Pakistan withdrew because of a paucity of finance.

Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain form the men’s league.

Australia, Argentina, Belgium, China, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, New Zealand and USA make up the women’s field.

A victory fetches three points. Drawn games will bring a point each to the teams concerned with a bonus point for winning the ensuing shootout.

The top four teams book spots in the Olympic qualifiers and play the Pro League semifinals in Amstelveen, Netherlands, in the last week of June.

The final is scheduled for June 30 at the same venue.

Stick2Hockey.com

Ashley Jackson trains with Great Britain hockey

By Rod Gilmour


Ashley Jackson last played at the Rio 2016 Olympics PIC: WORLDSPORTPICS

The ‘open door’ policy left ajar for Ashley Jackson‘s potential return to international has come to fruition this week, with the eye-opening news that one of Great Britain and England’s most talismanic players is training with Danny Kerry’s squad.

The Hockey Paper can reveal that Jackson, 31, has been invited to spend time with the current GB programme squad at Bisham Abbey alongside Rio team-mate Nick Catlin and Jack Turner.

Jackson has been in the international wilderness since the Rio 2016 Olympics where GB finished ninth.

He took up ice hockey stints in the English league and told this paper that he was taking an international break to “rejuvenate myself”.

Jackson is currently playing domestic hockey with HGC in the Netherlands and is sitting second in the goalscoring table, with 15 goals behind Jeroen Hertzberger (19). He also played for newly-promoted Old Georgians this season.



He is clearly enjoying his hockey once again and wrote as much in a recent social media post.

However Jackson hasn’t been out of the thoughts of GB officials since his international hiatus.

Kerry has previously stated that Jackson had spoken to the GB men’s coach this season about a potential return.

Catlin, currently playing in Belgium, has also been out of the GB set up since Rio and the 30-year-old is still seen as a world-class player in his own right.

Turner, a 22-year-old product of Durham University, was called up to former coach Bobby Crutchley’s squad for his first taste of senior hockey on England’s 2017 tour to South Africa and has since played the Sultan of Johor Cup.

If Jackson was to return, he would have to end his lucrative contract with Dutch side HGC early. The Bisham Abbey policy dictates that players on the GB programme must be based in the UK.

In a recent Hockey Paper poll, 67 per cent of readers thought they would never see Jackson play in GB colours again. That remains to be seen.

After nearly two years away, we are back as a regular print product for readers – and we need your help to keep growing.

Our concept was first conceived thanks to several meetings and plenty of laughs with respected journalist Graham Wilson, who sadly passed away before the first issue was published.

And it is now a thrill to return subscription-only as we chart GB’s Olympic defence ahead of Tokyo 2020 next year.

The relaunch is again in Graham’s memory. We hope you can join us on the journey.

The Hockey Paper

"He is the King!" Bobby Crutchley gives his thoughts on Barry Middleton


Crutchley & Middleton

Former England and GB men's head coach Bobby Crutchley explains why Barry Middleton will be remembered as one of the sports all-time greats.

For those not old enough to remember, Barry John was a legendary Welsh rugby fly half and, despite winning a relatively meagre 25 Welsh and 5 Lions caps, his mercurial performances were legendary and he was subsequently nicknamed ‘The King’ by rugby fans.

‘Barry John’ Middleton (named after the aforementioned player) produced similarly mercurial performances for GB & England hockey that will no doubt become increasingly legendary as time moves on. However, unlike his namesake, his senior international career spanned an incredible 15 years and a staggering 432 international caps and therefore there were many of us lucky enough to share it!

There is no doubt in my mind that Barry could have returned to international hockey after his break, been selected for his fifth Olympic Games and become the most capped international hockey player of all time. His decision to retire now is partially explained by the fact that individual accolades, such as these, were never a motivation for him. He was the ultimate team man. Throughout his whole career, he trained harder than anyone else, made sure new members of the squad were integrated and listened to everyone’s opinion, no matter how much experience they had. On the pitch this team ethic was highlighted by the highest work rate, defensive diligence and high levels of bravery; he just happened to have brilliant attacking skills as well!

From 2003 Barry was an ever-present on the international scene and usually not too far away were his most dedicated supporters, Roger & Sheila - his Mum & Dad. It was pretty clear where Barry got his sense of fun and enjoyment from!

When Jason Lee made him captain after the Beijing Olympics, at the tender age of 24, he led the team with incredible humility and in 2009, at the European Championship, became the first England men’s captain to lift a major trophy for more than 100 years. This, along with many other highlights, will live long in the memory.

Barry retired as the second most capped international hockey player of all time, while on the other side of the world travelling with his wife Becky. I have no doubt he did it so no one could make a fuss of him. Despite this, his contribution will not be allowed to slip away quietly and  his influence on the GB & England teams will last for a long time yet. I am sure the current group of players will be trying to do things a bit more like ‘how Barry would have done it’.

For us England & GB hockey fans he is The King! Although he would probably hate me me saying so.

England Hockey Board Media release

Fourth Quarter Goal Lifts U.S. Women's National Development Squad Over Scotland


The U.S. Women's National Development Squad have a rest day tomorrow before their final two games. USA will play the U-21 Belgium team on Thursday, April 18 and Stichtsche HC on Friday, April 19.

AERDENHOUT, The Netherlands - The U.S. Women’s National Development Squad took to the field once again on Tuesday for their second match against the Scotland Senior team. Entering the match by the positive result from their first game of the tour, USA used a fast start and late goal in the fourth quarter to win 2-1 at the A.M.H.C. Rood-Wit in Aerenhout, The Netherlands.

USA started quickly and after good piece of passing interchange, Laura Hurff (Newark, Del.) burst through from the midfield and beat one player before she delivered a pass across the face of goal that Taylor Blood (Hampton Falls, N.H.) cleverly finished for the 1-0 lead. Both teams exchanged possession for the remainder of the half, as the score line remained the same. Scotland equalized in the 37th minute off a turnover in the midfield which led to a fast break. USA goalkeeper Carrera Lucas (Brooklandville, Md.) did her best to manage a difficult numbers down situation, but a swift finish from Scotland forward leveled the score to 1-1.

Midway through the final quarter USA earned a penalty corner through Madison Maguire (Rumsonn, N.J.) that was emphatically dispatched by Kelly Marks (Blue Bell, Pa.) to give the lead back to the red, white and blue. A slender one goal advantage led to some nervous moments in the final few minutes but the team stood strong to record their second victory in as many days.

“Although we didn’t hit as many of the performance targets as we would have liked the team should be incredibly proud of gaining two victories over a team currently ranked at No. 18 in the world," said Marc Hardy, U.S. Women's National Development Squad Head Coach.

“We have worked very hard in the last two games so it's pleasing to come out with two victories," added Blood. "Our work rate has given us a platform to be successful and it’s been really enjoyable to play in.”

USFHA media release

Men’s National Team starts Olympic journey in Malaysia

Team Canada looks to advance at the 2019 Hockey Series Finals in Kuala Lumpur



Paul Bundy took the head coaching position of the Men’s National Team in the fall of 2017. Since that time, the plan has been to build a team to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The Men’s National Team starts the qualification journey next week with the Hockey Series Finals taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The journey to the Olympic Games can take shape in several ways. Canada can win the Pan American Games in August and secure an automatic spot at the Games. Or they can qualify through the FIH Series. The top two finishers at the Hockey Series Finals next week get added to a pool of 14 teams world-wide excluding Japan (host) and the other continental qualifiers. That group of 14 will be paired off and play two head-to-head matches. The winner of each series advances to the Olympic Games.

According to Bundy, the strategic placement of competing at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup has put the team in a good spot heading into the Hockey Series Final.

“The teams who are well conditioned, able to manage the heat and mentally focused, will have a big advantage through the pool stages and into the semifinals and finals,” he said. “We will look to build off every game in the pool stages and put ourselves in the best position to win this tournament and advance through the Olympic qualification process.”

Canada, currently ranked 10th in the world, is on pace to host a “head-to-head” match series if all goes well. Nothing is set in stone though and the team still needs to perform well and finish top two at the upcoming Hockey Series Final to give themselves a chance at hosting. Other top-20 ranked teams in attendance include Malaysia (13), China (14) and Austria (19).

ROSTER

 TOURING STAFF

Head Coach – Paul Bundy
Asst Coach – Gregg Clark
Touring Manager – Kelly Vanry
Video Analysis – Hugh Purvis
Physio/IST – Guy Robertson

PRELIMINARY MATCH SCHEDULE

April 26: Canada vs Wales – 4pm
April 27: Canada vs Austria – 6pm
April 29: Canada vs Belarus – 2pm
Crossover and Bracket play begins on May 1

Field Hockey Canada media release

Malaysia's role in hockey's third eye

By Jugjet Singh


Coach Sarjit Singh

NOT many know that Malaysia “gifted” the hockey world Video Referral on April 12, 2008, in Kakamigahara, Japan.

I was assigned to cover the Beijing Olympics Quallifier and was part of the history which opened the eyes of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on the need for a third eye.

But sadly, the FIH shut their eyes again when Malaysia needed VR for the World Series at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil on April 26-May 4.

Flashback.

Malaysia, coached by Sarjit Singh, had to beat Japan while Japan needed a draw to play in the final against mighty Germany.

The scene was serene at Kakamigahara Stadium, surrounded by vast rolling paddy fields. But it turned out to be a day of chaos.

The cool evening breeze brought along scents of sakura in full bloom, and the match started well with Malaysia taking a 3-1 lead when the late Chua Boon Huat opened scoring while Jiwa Mohan and Kelvinder Singh added more misery to the hosts, and it was only 33 minutes into the match.

But Malaysia then started crumbling and Japan scored their second goal off Tomonori Ono in the 35th minute.

And while Japan celebrated, the crowd kept shouting to the two umpires, Hamish Jamson from Britain and Australian Murray Grime, to look at the big scoreboard which kept showing a dumbfounding replay — at least three times before the screen went blank.

The replay showed that Ono scored with his right thigh, as the ball missed his stick by centimetres but both the umpires' views were blocked.

Grime was standing about three metres behind Ono, while Jamson was at the middle of the pitch and his view was blocked too.

Grime blew for goal, while Malaysia goalkeeper S. Kumar kept imploring the umpire to look up at the big screen but the Australian never did.

That freak goal ignited a fightback which Japan needed, and they went on to score the third in the 69th minute and qualified to play Germany in the final.

Malaysia were clearly robbed but there was no VR to go to, back then.

The national players were in tears, while coach Sarjit was fuming mad but did not know what to do.

But the German tournament director knew what to do. He approached Sarjit and asked Malaysia to appeal the goal inside 20 minutes, as allowed by regulations.

The match had already ended 15 minutes ago and with five more minutes

remaining to lodge the protest, there was panic at the Malaysian bench on how and what to write inside five minutes.

This scribe, watching everything unfold before his eyes then stepped in by tearing off a piece from his reporter’s notebook, writing a two-paragraph appeal with flying fingers and handed it to team manager Satish Kumar to sign.

The German TD took the letter, with a US$500 deposit, and walked away smiling.

“I remember that fateful day clearly as it started a strong lobby for VR in Europe and the world benefited a year later when VR was used in the Melbourne Champions Trophy.

“The TD gave us back our money (which never happened in any appeal back then) and said nothing can be done about the goal scored with a thigh, but he will bring up this matter with the FIH to strengthen a lobby for VR.

“Even FIH president Els (Van Breda) was sympathetic with Malaysia's plight and said something would be done soon about it, when I met her later,” said Sarjit.

And this is how the hockey world won a referral to have VR, on Malaysia's misery but it led to good decision-making for 11 years.

Sadly, it will not be used in Kuala Lumpur for the Series Finals, as FIH decided to be fair to all but unkind to Malaysia.

* Jugjet Singh is a hockey writer with the NST

New Straits Times

USMNT Set to Take on South Korea in Second Series of the Year



SEOUL, South Korea –  The U.S. Men’s National Team arrived in South Korea on Sunday and are set to take on the No. 17 hosts in a four-game series at the Korea National Training Center from April 18 to 22. Only their second series of the year, No. 25 USA will use this series as preparation for the upcoming FIH Hockey Series Final in Bhubaneswar, India this June. Matches will not be live streamed.

Following training camps and junior games, USMNT Head Coach Rutger Wiese and coaching staff added two additional athletes to the tour team that was previous named. Returning to play after a six year hiatus is Sean Harris (Moorpark, Calif.). A defender, S. Harris was instrumental in the back during the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Also added to the roster is Tyler Sundeen (Simi Valley, Calif.). An avid striker with 25 goals to his name, Sundeen will be sure to bring his scrappy nature and nose for the goal.

USA vs. Korea Schedule:

Thursday, April 18    2 a.m. ET
Friday, April 19    2 a.m. ET
Sunday, April 21    2 a.m. ET
Monday, April 22    2 a.m. ET
                                                          
U.S. Men’s National Team Series Roster:
Michael Barminski (Ventura, Calif.), Tom Barratt (Greensboro, N.C.), Sean Cicchi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Julian Croonenbergh (Tervuren, Belgium), Gerald Cutone (Reading, Mass.), Christian DeAngelis (Doylestown, Pa.), Ajai Dhadwal (Agoura Hills, Calif.), Mohan Gandhi (Ventura, Calif.), Alex Grassi (Brookeville, Md.), Patrick Harris (Moorpark, Calif.), Sean Harris (Moorpark, Calif.), Will Holt (Camarillo, Calif.), Deegan Huisman (Almere, The Netherlands), Aki Kaepeller (Stuttgart, Germany), Kei Kaeppeler (Stuttgart, Germany), JaJa Kentwell (Spring City, Pa.), Jonathan Klages (Berlin, Germany), Adam Miller (Panama City, Fla.), Alberto Montilla (Allen, Texas), Johnny Orozco (Ventura, Calif.), Paul Singh (Simi Valley, Calif.), Tyler Sundeen (Simi Valley, Calif.), Daan Wisselink (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

USFHA media release

Where to watch the EHL KO16/FINAL4


©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics

As always, the EHL KO16 will be broadcast live by a variety of different outlets around the world, showcasing the world’s best club hockey competition. Here’s where you can watch each the games this week in Eindhoven. Coverage can be subject to change and so we will adjust this post should new outlets take up rights as the tournament progresses.

EuroHockeytv.org: all games will be streamed live via the European Hockey Federation’s dedicated platform, www.eurohockeytv.org. This service is available in all countries where there is no clash with rights holders which can lead to a geo-block.

NOS (Netherlands): All games will be streamed on NOS.nl. The Dutch broadcaster will also show the fourth KO8 match on Saturday and the GRAND FINAL live on their free-to-air TV channel. Long highlights of the Dutch club games, where applicable, will be shown on Saturday and Sunday.

Eleven Sports (Belgium and Poland): All matches with be streamed on Eleven Sports 3. Go to https://www.elevensports.be/guide for more details

BeIN Sports (Australia): Selected matches on delayed transmission

** Highlights packages and clips will be posted on the EHL website throughout the tournament along with all the news and features from the event.

Euro Hockey League media release

Top class officials team at EHL KO16/FINAL4


©: World Sport Pics

To allow the players to flourish at the world’s best club hockey competition, you have to have the kind of top class officials to help create that environment. This is why the EHL also brings with it some of the best umpires and officials from the world game to provide the platform for the best possible hockey.

Overseeing everything as technical delegate is Bjorn Isberg who held the same role at the 2012 Olympic Games. He has played a leading role at the 2016 Olympics and 2018 FIH World Cup and he has a hugely experienced team of umpires managers, judges and technical officials working with him.

On the pitch, 2018 FIH World Cup umpires Dan Barstow, Ben Goentgen and Francisco Vazquez men are joined by a vastly experienced team with many Olympic and World Cup umpires from the last decade leading the way.

Christian Blasch has umpired at the highest level for 17 years, including four Olympic Games; Coen van Bunge is another Olympian from Rio while the likes of David Sweetman, Jakub Mejzlik, Michiel Otten, Sebastien Michielsen have a wealth of big tournament knowledge under their belts.

They will be implementing the new FIH rules that came into force in January 2019.

Technical Delegate: Bjorn ISBERG (SWE)
Technical Officer: Benoit COPPIETERS (BEL)
Judges: Michiel BRÜNING (NED), Richard CHERE Richard (ENG), Pierre ROUDIL (FRA), Leon RUTTEN (NED), Bart Jan van WOENSEL (NED)
Umpire Managers: Louise KNIPE (ENG), Philip SCHELLEKENS (NED)
Umpires: Bruce BALE (ENG), Dan BARSTOW (ENG), Christian BLASCH (GER), Ben GOENTGEN (GER), Jakub MEJZLIK (CZE), Sebastien MICHIELSEN (BEL), Michiel OTTEN (NED), David SWEETMAN (SCO), Coen van BUNGE (NED), Francisco VAZQUEZ LOPEZ (ESP)

Euro Hockey League media release

Three Rock looking to slay Dragons after infamous 20-10 result in 2018


©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics

A year on from a now infamous 20-10 defeat to KHC Dragons, Three Rock Rovers are facing up to a rematch with the Belgian champions hoping for a vastly different outcome in the Euro Hockey League KO16.

The two sides meet at the KO16 stage of the elite competition with the wild scoreline of 2018 in Rotterdam probably playing a part in bringing an end to the trial of double points for a field goal.

There were mitigating factors, not least the food-poisoning that left nine of Rovers squad struggling with Ben Walker and Luke Madeley both taking “comfort breaks” midway through their classification match.

“Touch wood, we get no stomach bugs again and it will be completely different and hopefully we won’t concede 20 again this time!” captain Jody Hosking says of that experience.

“We knew the night before and by breakfast, half our team was struggling. There was a sense of ‘shit, we’re playing one of the best teams in Europe, how are we going to do this?’ It got to the point where we wondered would we have 11 people out there.

“There was disappointment over the Saint Germain loss (3-2) but I don’t think that affected us. By game time, it was a case of let’s just give it our best shot and put in a performance.”

This year, they arrive in Eindhoven on a 12-game winning streak and they did well in ROUND1 in Barcelona to win a group that also featured Spain’s Junior FC and Racing Club de France.

But Hosking knows this will be en extra step up for the Dubliners who are hoping to become the first Irish club to reach the KO8.

“Dragons are a massive club in the EHL; we are under no illusions that it will be extremely difficult but we have put in the extra sessions to be as prepared as possible for it.”

Nonetheless, Rovers are going through the most successful period in their history. They have won the Irish Champions Trophy for the last two years as well as and Irish Senior Cup, four regional trophies and two national indoor titles.

Add in consecutive European indoor promotions to reach the second tier of competition in 2020 and it is a special time for the club.

They currently look unlikely to win their regular league season crown after a slow start saw them drop 13 points off the pace by February but they have closed that gap to just one point.

“It was always going to be hard to replicate what we did last season when you are that successful in a short period of time,” Hosking explains.

“Trying to get the focus back was difficult so we had a slow start to the season. But once we got the ball rolling, got the focus back, everyone has now forgotten about what happened last season and is looking forward.

“We are very keen on the indoor and it does kickstart the second half of the season but the dip in our season probably came in the first games post-indoor. A large part of our squad was involved in that.

“Once we had recovered from the fatigue, it definitely has helped start our run of results and the lads are much sharper.”

The squad is pretty much the same as last season but they face a very much changed Dragons team.

Despite the departures of Arthur and Loic van Doren, Alex Hendrickx, Victor Wegnez, Nico Poncelet and others, Hosking knows there is so much talent at their disposal.

It has led to Dragons having a mediocre regular season but they replied in kind with a 4-1 playoffs win over top seed Waterloo Ducks in the Belgian quarter-finals and Hosking is looking forward to taking on a few familiar faces in Irish men Shane O’Donoghue and Kirk Shimmins.

“We’ve seen a few snippets of unbelievable goals that have made it onto social media!

“Between Shane and Kirk, they are two world-class players and it will be a massive challenge. But it does give you a bit of confidence knowing that you have played them before and come out on the right side. There’s nothing to be afraid of and that is the attitude we will take.”

Euro Hockey League media release

Three Rock Rovers aiming to break new ground in Euro Hockey League

They’re trying to become first Irish club to reach KO8 stages with win on Wednesday

Stephen Findlater


Three Rock Rovers in action in the Euro Hockey League. Photograph: Florent van Aubel
 
Three Rock Rovers will hope to break new ground on Wednesday afternoon as they bid to become the first Irish club to reach the KO8 stages of the Euro Hockey League.

The Rathfarnham outfit take on reigning Belgian champions KHC Dragons in Eindhoven in the KO16 of hockey’s equivalent of the Champions League.

It is a daunting task against one of the tournament’s marquee clubs who have medaled three times in the last seven years.

Indeed, Rovers lost 20-10 to Dragons last Easter in Rotterdam. It was a scoreline made to look more ridiculous due to the now-scrapped field goals counting double rule.

It was made to look even more unsavoury with the sight of players getting sick at the side of the pitch with nine players struck down by a virus.

Key midfielder Jody Hosking says that, barring more food-poisoning, they will put up a much tougher challenge.

“From when we played them this time last year, it will be completely different,” he said. “They have nine new players, we had nine guys sick last year. Touch wood, we get no stomach bugs again.

“We knew the night before and by breakfast, half our team were struggling. There was a sense of ‘sh*t, we’re playing one of the best teams in Europe, how are we going to do this?’ It got to the point where we wondered would we have 11 people out there.”

This year, they arrive in Eindhoven on a roll, winning 12 games in succession in league and cup, to move within a point of EYHL leaders Lisnagarvey.

Dragons, for their part, had a mediocre regular season, taking the last of the eight playoff spots but subsequently produced their best hockey to beat top seed Waterloo Ducks 4-1 last Sunday.

They feature Irish midfielders Kirk Shimmins and Shane O’Donoghue along with a number of Belgian World Cup winners.

“We’ve seen a few snippets of unbelievable goals that have made it onto social media,” Hosking adds.

“Dragons are a massive club in the EHL; we are under no illusions that it will be extremely difficult but we have put in the extra sessions to be as prepared as possible for it.”

Elsewhere, Lisnagarvey will win the men’s EY Hockey League on Wednesday night should they beat Annadale in their refix at Comber Road.

Wednesday fixtures

Euro Hockey League, KO16: Three Rock Rovers v KHC Dragons, Eindhoven, 2pm (Irish time)

EY Hockey League: Lisnagarvey v Annadale, Comber Road, 7.45pm

The Irish Times

Easter week sees Scottish Clubs head to Europe


Photo by Mark Pugh

Easter sees the annual trek of Scotland`s leading clubs into European competition, Grove Menzieshill men head for Eindhoven for the last 16 knock-out of the EHL, Edinburgh University are in Rochester for the women`s European Club Trophy, while Clydesdale Western head for Lille for the Challenge 1 tournament.

Grove Menzieshill could not have a tougher baptism to their first sojourn on the European circuit, they face crack Dutch side AH & BC Amsterdam in a one-off tussle.    Should they fail in this enterprise it does not get any easier, in their second ranking match the Taysiders will face the loser of the Kampong (NED) – Rott Weiss Koln (GER) encounter.

Although the present Grove Menzieshill side has a fair sprinkling of current and past Scotland players along with under-21 and youth internationalists, the gargantuan nature of the task is not lost on coach Neil Allan.

Allan said: “It will be an incredibly tough game, we will have to work very hard in defence and be diligent in our marking and distribution to limit the opportunities for Amsterdam.

“They possess one of the most potent attacks in world hockey, and have some truly world class players in Billy Bakke (Dutch Captain), Valentin Verga, Mirco Pruyser and Justin Reid Ross to name but a few.

“We will need to play at the very top of our game to compete with such world class opposition.”

Allan was also keen to put a positive slant on to the occasion.   “We have some fantastic players in our squad, and we will be going to the EHL to showcase our own brand of attacking hockey, and to attempt to go toe to toe with some of the hockey world`s most famous teams.”


Scottish League Division 1 match – Edinburgh University v Clydesdale Western – photo by Duncan Gray

Although Scotland`s women head for lower level events, nowadays there are no easy games or events as many countries have greatly improved their standards in recent years.

Edinburgh University, league champions for the fifth year in a row, are competing at the Trophy level (Europe`s 2nd tier) and their pool opponents are Dinamo-COP Moscomsport (Russia), UCD (Ireland) and Holcombe (England).

The students were promoted to this level after coming first equal in last season`s European Challenge 1 competition in Edinburgh – ironically they had to beat Clydesdale Western 1-0 in their last game to make that jump.

Western consequently remain in Europe`s third tier and travel to Lille in France to try again for promotion.   In the pool part of the competition they will face Rotweiss Wettingen (Switzerland), SK Slavia Prague (Czech Republic) and Gintra Strekte Uni (Lithuania), and must finish in the top two to enter the promotion stakes.

Scottish Hockey Union media release

Comeback kid Meulenbroek proving a real ace for Kampong


©: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics

SV Kampong’s Filip Meulenbroek has proven a surprising ace in the deck this season following his spectacular return to the first team in the past two months.

The towering striker was one of four players from the Utrecht club to say an emotional goodbye to the fans last year in Bloemendaal alongside Sjoerd de Wert, Quirijn Caspers and Constantijn Jonker, calling time on their careers at the EHL GRAND FINAL as runners-up with the Hoofdklasse title already secured.

For much of this season, he was happily enjoying a more relaxed pace in the second team but a spate of injuries soon saw coach Alexander Cox seeking his services in the forward line. It was a request he was only happy to accept.

“I am delighted to return to this Kampong team, a very nice and close team. While a number of old hands have stopped, the atmosphere is still very good and so it was no problem for me to return when the infirmary became increasingly full.

“Unfortunately I now have to abandon the second team but the boys understand that there is no other way!”

He admits how well he has done has been something of a surprise, scoring six times in five games with goals against Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Bloemendaal

“Of course this surprised me a little. I know that I can score goals but that I have now been able to make a crucial contribution to a number of big matches in a row is special.

“Stepping up from the second team, there is a different way of playing so it is difficult to compare. That is more about pleasure than performance.”

Looking back on his farewell game, it came with an EHL GRAND FINAL defeat to Bloemendaal just a week after his side lifted the Hoofdklasse championship. It made for a bittersweet send-off.

“What I remember well is that I really had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was very happy and proud of the team with how well we had done that season. On the other hand, I was emotional that this was goodbye.

“At least, that's what I thought then. After a league title and a final in the EHL with my friends Constantijn, Quirijn and Sjoerd it was very special to say goodbye under the watchful eye of Erik Bouwens, Rick Volkers, our families, friends, and all the loyal Kampong supporters.

“In the first half of this season, I saw a large part of the games from the stands. I was positively surprised about the freshness of the team's game. A number of younger boys such as Lars Balk, Jip Janssen and Pepijn Luijkx have been given more responsibility.

“It was nice to see how they deal with this. A new dynamic has risen due to the retirement of the older players and certain gaps have to be filled that fit the new generation. I am very proud of this team and I am really honoured that I can contribute to this season in the EHL and the Dutch league.”

And now he is on the cusp of yet another showdown with Rot-Weiss Koln, the side the Utrecht club have played in four of the last seasons, with another possible classic encounter.

“The EHL guarantees top competition at the highest level and this is one of the duels that you will have to win to raise the cup. Of course, we would have preferred them later in the tournament but everyone is looking forward to this game.

“We have lost to them in previous encounters but we have also won. Rot Weiss is a fantastic team but so are we. I suspect the shape of the day will be decisive. In addition, it is important that we put our teeth into the opponent right from the start.”

Euro Hockey League media release

Players and teams of the year voting results announced


Sophie Bray and Alan Forsyth win Player of the Season awards

Sophie Bray and Alan Forsyth have been voted Players of the Season in the Investec Women's and Men's Hockey Leagues respectively.

Bray was joint top scorer with 18 goals as her East Grinstead side made it through to the end of season League Finals, while Surbiton's Forsyth scored 28 times to win both top scorer and Player of the Season for the fourth year in a row.

Both awards were voted for by fellow players in the Leagues, as were the overall Team of the Year positions - see below for the full teams from all eight divisions across the Investec Women's and Men's Leagues.

Investec Women's Hockey League Premier Division
Player of the year: Sophie Bray (East Grinstead)
Top scorers: Sophie Bray (East Grinstead) and Claire Thomas (Clifton Robinsons) 18 goals each



Men's Hockey League Premier Division
Player of the Season and top scorer: Alan Forsyth (Surbiton) 28 goals



Investec Women's Hockey League North
Player of the Season: Tess Howard (Uni of Durham)
Top scorer: Lucy Millington (Loughborough Students) 12 goals



Investec Women's Hockey League East
Player of the Season: Nikki Kidd (Sevenoaks)
Top scorer: Megan Crowson (Cambridge City) 18 goals



Investec Women's Hockey League West
Player of the Season: Jo Ellis (Reading)
Top scorer: Sally Walton (Olton & West Warks) 17 goals



Men's Hockey League North
Player of the Season and top scorer: Max van Laak (University of Durham) 23 goals



Men's Hockey League East
Player of the Season: Dan Shingles (Old Georgians)
Top scorer: James Tindall (Old Georgians) 25 goals



Men's Hockey League West
Player of the Season: Maciej Pacanowski (Havant)
Top scorer: Andy Watts (Oxford Hawks) 22 goals



Thanks to Andy Crayford of Crayford Media for Alan Forsyth image.

England Hockey Board Media release

Legerton fires Police to third straight win

by Nigel Simon

Shane Leg­erton scored a hat-trick to lead Po­lice to a com­fort­able 3-0 de­feat of Fa­ti­ma for a third straight win in the T&T Hock­ey Board (T&THB) Men's Cham­pi­onship Di­vi­sion at the Na­tion­al Hock­ey Cen­tre, Tacarigua on Sun­day night.

Leg­erton, for­mer­ly of De­fence Force got his goals in the eighth, 46th and 60th minute for the Law­men, now with max­i­mum nine points, three ahead of Queen's Park Crick­et Club and Malvern.

Paragon picked up its first points of the cam­paign af­ter three match­es, cour­tesy a 5-0 bash­ing of Shape led by two goals each from Joel Daniel and Kiel Mur­ray.

Daniel net­ted in the 25th and 59th and Mur­ray, in the 27th and 57th while Tariq Singh got the oth­er item in the 50th for Paragon, now lev­el on three points with Fa­ti­ma and Notre Dame.

On Sat­ur­day, in the lone Women's Cham­pi­onship Di­vi­sion en­counter, Shandy Carib Mag­no­lias got win num­ber three from four match­es, 3-0 over Har­vard Check­ers with a goal each from the na­tion­al trio, Sha­ni­ah De Fre­itas (22nd), Chelsea Dey (23rd), and Brit­tney Hingh (60th).

On Wednes­day, Fe­li­cia King scored the lone goal as the T&T se­nior women's hock­ey won for the sec­ond time in as many match­es, 1-0 over Har­vard Check­ers in the Women's Cham­pi­onship Di­vi­sion.

King found the back of the net in the 34th minute for the An­tho­ny Mar­cano-coached na­tion­al women’s team who are com­pet­ing in the TTHB Women’s Cham­pi­onship Di­vi­sion com­pe­ti­tion as part of their prepa­ra­tions for next year’s Pan Amer­i­can Chal­lenge which will be con­test­ed in Li­ma, Pe­ru from June 27 to Ju­ly 5.

At the end of the Pan Amer­i­can Chal­lenge, the top two teams will qual­i­fy to the 2021 Pan Amer­i­can Cup, to be held here in T&T.

RE­SULTS

Women's Cham­pi­onship

T&T Women 1 (Fe­li­cia King 34th) vs Har­vard Check­ers 0

Mixed Vet­er­an

Malvern 3 (Dami­an Gor­don 2, Ko­r­ry Bar­nett) vs Notre Dame 3 (Kei­th De Peza, Cheryl John, Joel Le Gen­dre)
Po­lice 6 (Suzette Pierre 2, Nigel Car­ty, Aaron Mc Ken­zie, Dwain Quan Chan, Nicholas Wren) vs Carib 0

Trin­i­ty Men

QPCC 14 (Alan Hen­der­son 20th, 22nd, 32nd, 53rd, 60th, Do­minic Young 8th, 37th, Shawn Lee Quay 19th, 35th, Michael Du­ri­ty 22nd, 45th, Bran­don Clarke 51st, 57th, Rafael Govia 55th) vs Paragon 0

Women's Cham­pi­onship

SC Mag­no­lias 3 (Sha­ni­ah De Fre­itas 22nd. Chelsea Dey 23rd, Brit­tney Hingh 60th) vs Har­vard Check­ers 0

Trin­i­ty Women

Po­lice 0 vs Paragon 0
SC Mag­no­lias 2 (Chelsea Dey 15th, 36th) vs Ven­tures 0

Men's Cham­pi­onship:

Po­lice 3 (Shane Leg­erton 8th, 46th, 60th) vs Fa­ti­ma 0
Paragon 5 (Joel Daniel 25th, 59th, Kiel Mur­ray 27th, 57th, Tariq Singh 50th) vs Shape 0

The Trinidad Guardian

Should hockey follow rugby for ‘no winners’ coaching policy?

By Helen Richardson-Walsh


What is the best coaching policy for policy for under 12’s? PIC: SIPPA

I’m saddened when I see and hear stories of youngsters, at school level in particular, where the competition isn’t as strong, and who are encouraged to pass to the ‘best’ player, whose job is to try and dribble past the whole team to score the goals.

Who is winning in that situation?

That ‘team’ might win that game, or that tournament, but I can’t imagine many actually enjoy that situation.

Would you enjoy being made to feel your contribution isn’t valued? I know that’s something I’d not go back for.

As for that ‘best’ player, the pressure on them is actually so great, and completely unrealistic, it won’t be as fun as it could be, and even if they do enjoy the thrill of scoring the goals and being, as the media would say, the match winner, as soon as they step up a level or two and join the world of adult hockey, they’ll get a huge shock to the system, and maybe even quit when they realise that the game isn’t played that way.

Don’t get me wrong, I know there are many incredible coaches out there at every level that do try and develop teams and not just individuals.

However, it does make me wonder if rugby has got it right with their ‘no winners’ policy for under 12’s.

It challenges all the coaches, and the parents for that matter, to consider the importance of sport beyond the result. If you’d asked me this a decade ago I might’ve scoffed “how do you produce winners!” – a reaction I know many still have.

Yet, knowing that winning is something you can learn how to do, like any other skill, I don’t believe this should be at the expense of developing team players that learn to love the game, regardless of the level they might eventually reach.
This is an extract from Helen’s return as a Hockey Paper columnist from our early April issue. Don’t miss out on her incisive commentary every month. Subscribe now!


After nearly two years away, we are back as a print product for readers.

Our concept was first conceived thanks to several meetings and plenty of laughs with respected journalist Graham Wilson, who sadly passed away before the first issue was published.

And it is now a thrill to return subscription-only as we chart GB’s Olympic defence ahead of Tokyo 2020 next year.

The relaunch is again in Graham’s memory.

The Hockey Paper