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News for 25 January 2020

All the news for Saturday 25 January 2020


2020 FIH Pro League (Men) - 25 January

24 Jan 2020    ESP v GER (RR)     2 - 2 (3 - 4 SO)
25 Jan 2020 13:00 (GMT +1)    ESP v GER (RR)  Estadio Betero, Valencia
25 Jan 2020 18:30   AUS v BEL (RR)      2 - 2 (Shoot out 2/4 - 4/5)
26 Jan 2020 17:30 (GMT +11)    AUS v BEL (RR)  Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney

Live streaming and full game replay on https://fih.live (May be Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins SO Win Draws SO Loss Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 India 2 1 1 0 0 0 8 5 3 5
2 Belgium 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 2
2 Germany 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 2
4 Australia 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
4 Spain 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 1
6 Netherlands 2 0 0 0 1 1 5 8 -3 1
7 Great Britain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FIH Match Centre



2020 FIH Pro League (Women) - 25 January

24 Jan 2020     USA v NED (RR) Cancelled in memory of Larry Amar, US Teams Manager who died this week
25 Jan 2020    AUS v BEL     3 - 3 (4 - 2 SO)
26 Jan 2020 14:00 (GMT -5)     USA v NED (RR) Karen Shelton Stadium Chapel Hill, North Carolina   
26 Jan 2020 15:00 (GMT +11)     AUS v BEL (RR) Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney

Live streaming and full game replay on https://fih.live (May be Geo blocked if there is TV coverage)

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins SO Win Draws SO Loss Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Netherlands 2 2 0 0 0 0 7 2 5 6
2 Australia 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 3 0 2
3 Belgium 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 0 1
4 Great Britain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 United States 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 China 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 7 -5  

FIH Match Centre



Rühr nets double as Germany men take bonus point in Spain



Two goals from Christopher Rühr helped visitors Germany claim a hard-earned 2-2 draw against Spain before winning the shoot-out 4-3 in front of a packed house at the Estadio Betero in Valencia.

Germany needed just three minutes to open the scoring thanks to Rühr’s smart turn and shot, but the hosts levelled before the end of the first quarter through David Alegre’s fine reactions, pouncing on a penalty corner rebound. Veteran Red Sticks striker Pau Quemada put the home favourites in front with a stunning third quarter penalty corner drag-flick, but Ruhr’s clinical strike three minutes from time, assisted perfectly by Player of the Match Niklas Wellen, ensured that the match finished level at 2-2 and triggered a shoot-out for the bonus point.

Misses from Alvaro Iglesias and Josep Romeu proved costly for Spain in the one-on-ones, with Rühr, Tobias Hauke, Wellen and Florian Fuchs all on target as Die Honamas claimed two points from a possible three from the contest.

"It is always tough to play here, we knew that from last year”, said Germany’s Niklas Wellen after the match. “We struggled in the beginning. The first half was okay but we knew we could play better. The second half was better. We played some quicker passes and I feel 2-2 was a good result."

Spain's captain Miguel Delas said: "Today was an equal game. We did some really good things and we need to focus on those things tomorrow. In tomorrow's match we need to make more of the possession we enjoyed."

Complete information on the match can be found on the live reporting page by clicking here.

Spain and Germany will play their second match of this double header on Saturday (25 January), a day that will also see Australia’s women and men taking on the national teams of Belgium in Sydney. Details about those fixtures can be found below, with the complete match schedule available by clicking here.

As we reported on Thursday, today’s FIH Hockey Pro League women’s meeting between USA and the Netherlands, scheduled to be played at the Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was cancelled as a mark of respect to US National Teams Manager Larry Amar, who passed away this week whilst with the US Women’s Team.

The second match, planned on Sunday 26 January in the same venue, is maintained and, in accordance with the League’s regulations for a cancelled match, the points of this match will count double (6 points for the winning team, no point for the losing team; in case of a shoot-out, the team winning the shoot-out will get 4 points and the losing team 2 points).

On Wednesday, FIH had extended its condolences and deepest sympathy to Larry Amar’s family, friends and all members of USA Field Hockey.

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

FIH Hockey Pro League

Estadio Betero, Valencia (ESP)
Result: Men’s Match 3 - Friday 24 January 2020
Spain 2, Germany 2 – 3-4 After Shoot-Out (Match 1 of 2)
Player of the Match:Niklas Wellen (GER)
Umpires: Coen van Bunge (NED), Jonas van 't Hek (NED) and Bruce Bale (ENG - Video).

Upcoming fixtures

Match Day 6 – Saturday 25 January 2020
Sydney (AUS) – Women: Australia v Belgium (Match 1 of 2)
Time: 1600 (GMT/UTC +11)
Sydney (AUS) – Men: Australia v Belgium (Match 1 of 2)
Time: 1830 (GMT/UTC +11)
Valencia (ESP) – Men: Spain v Germany (Match 2 of 2)
Time: 1300 (GMT/UTC +1)

Match Day 7 – Sunday 27 January 2020
Sydney (AUS) – Women: Australia v Belgium (Match 2 of 2)
Time: 1500 (GMT/UTC +11)
Sydney (AUS) – Men: Australia v Belgium (Match 2 of 2)
Time: 1730 (GMT/UTC +11)
Chapel Hill (USA) – Women: USA v Netherlands (Match 1 of 1)
Time: 1400 (GMT/UTC -5)

#FIHProLeague

Official FIH Pro League Site



Rühr talent leads Germany to shoot-out win over Spain at Men's FIH Pro League

By Alex Bell


A packed crowd enjoyed Spain battle to a hard-earned draw with Germany ©FIH

Germany took the bonus point against Spain in a thrilling encounter at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Pro League in Valencia.

Match-week three brought together the Germans, ranked sixth in the world, and the eighth-ranked Spanish at a packed Estadio Betero.

The Germans took an early lead through a smart turn and strike from Christopher Rühr, but Spain got back on level terms in the first quarter through David Alegre.

It was Spain who then took the lead in the third quarter, when veteran Pau Quemada fired home from a penalty corner-drag flick.

But Rühr tied the scores at 2-2 with just three minutes remaining, ensuring a shoot-out for the bonus point.

Alvaro Iglesias and Josep Romeu failed to score for Spain, and that ultimately proved costly, as Rühr, Tobias Hauke, Player of the Match Niklas Wellen and Florian Fuchs all scored for Germany to seal the win 4-3.

"It is always tough to play here, we knew that from last year," Wellen said.

"We struggled in the beginning.

"First half was OK, but we knew we could play better.

"Second half was better - we played some quicker passes and I feel 2-2 was a good result."

The meeting between United States and The Netherlands scheduled for the Karen Shelton Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, had already been cancelled.

US National Teams Manager Larry Amar died this week whilst with the women's team, so that decision was made as a mark of respect.

Spain and Germany play the second match of their double-header tomorrow, while the US and The Netherlands will still play their second scheduled match on Sunday (January 26).

Tomorrow also sees world number one Australia hosting world number two Belgium in Sydney.

Inside the Games



EuroHockey Indoor Championship 2020 (W) - Day 1
Minsk, Belarus

24 Jan 2020 10:00     UKR v BEL (Pool A)         4 - 3
24 Jan 2020 11:15     GER v CZE (Pool A)     4 - 1
24 Jan 2020 12:30     BLR v AUT (Pool B)     7 - 2
24 Jan 2020 13:45     NED v SUI (Pool B)         5 - 0
24 Jan 2020 16:00     CZE v BEL (Pool A)         4 - 1
24 Jan 2020 17:15     UKR v GER (Pool A)     3 - 4
24 Jan 2020 18:30     SUI v AUT (Pool B)         2 - 6
24 Jan 2020 19:45     BLR v NED (Pool B)     1 - 4

25 Jan 2020     GER v BEL (Pool A)         7 - 3
25 Jan 2020    NED v AUT (Pool B)     5 - 0

Pool Standings

Pool A

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Germany 3 3 0 0 15 7 8 9
2 Czech Republic 3 2 0 1 10 9 1 6
3 Ukraine 3 1 0 2 11 12 -1 3
4 Belgium 3 0 0 3 7 15 -8 0

Pool B

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Netherlands 3 3 0 0 14 1 13 9
2 Belarus 2 1 0 1 8 6 2 3
3 Austria 3 1 0 2 8 14 -6 3
4 Switzerland 2 0 0 2 2 11 -9 0

FIH Match Centre



Alster’s Valentin secures Germany a semi-final spot in Minsk



Germany’s women became the first side to reach the EuroHockey Indoor Championships semi-final as they landed back-to-back wins in Minsk on Friday.

They opened up with a 4-1 win over the Czech Republic before seeing off Ukraine 4-3 in game two with Club an der Alster’s Hanna Valentin’s late penalty corner settling the game.

Two Lea Stöckel goals and another from Valentin had Germany 3-1 clear before Ukraine fought back to equalise before Valentin got the winner.

It leaves them needing one point from their final group game against bottom side Belgium to top the group.

Coach Akim Bouchouchi is pleased with the situation: “It’s nice that we were able to win the Ukraine game in the end and it was important our corner worked in the end.

“Unfortunately, we ae having problems from corners; otherwise, we could have decided the game earlier. But it was a good step forward to get into the semi-finals.

“Lea Stöckel was very strong and she brought forward an individual performance that you need when you might not be able to outplay the opponents tactically.”

In Pool B, the Netherlands lead the way with a 5-0 win over Switzerland and a 4-1 success against the Belarussian hosts. A point or more from their game against Austria will see them guaranteed to go through as group winners.

In the win over Belarus, goals from Elin van Erk, Lieke van Wijk and Mila Muyselaar transformed a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 success. The side features AH&BC Amsterdam’s Noor de Baat who will line out in the EHL FINAL8.

** All matches from the EuroHockey Indoor Championships I are being streamed live on www.eurohockeytv.org

Euro Hockey League media release



EuroHockey Indoor Championship II 2020 (W) - Day 1
Sveti Ivan Zelina, Croatia

24 Jan 2020 11:00     WAL v POL (Pool A)     0 - 6
24 Jan 2020 12:15     TUR v LTU (Pool A)         3 - 4
24 Jan 2020 13:30     SCO v CRO (Pool A)     5 - 3
24 Jan 2020 15:00     WAL v RUS (Pool A)     0 - 22
24 Jan 2020 17:00     TUR v POL (Pool A)     4 - 3
24 Jan 2020 18:15     SCO v LTU (Pool A)     6 - 3
24 Jan 2020 19:30     RUS v CRO (Pool A)     8 - 2

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Russia 2 2 0 0 30 2 28 6
2 Scotland 2 2 0 0 11 6 5 6
3 Poland 2 1 0 1 9 4 5 3
4 Turkey 2 1 0 1 7 7 0 3
5 Lithuania 2 1 0 1 7 9 -2 3
6 Croatia 2 0 0 2 5 13 -8 0
7 Wales 2 0 0 2 0 28 -28 0

FIH Match Centre



Scotland score 11 in two wins on the opening day of Women’s Indoor EuroHockey Championship II

Scotland got off to a sensational start to Women’s Indoor EuroHockey Championship II in Sveti Ivan Zelina with two wins from two against opposition ranked higher in the tournament.

A 5-3 victory over hosts Croatia was followed up by a 6-3 win over Lithuania to see the Scots end the day on maximum points.

Tomorrow they face Poland and Wales as they seek more points in their charge for promotion to the elite division of European hockey.

Scotland 5-3 Croatia

It was a winning start to Women’s Indoor EuroHockey Championship II in Sveti Ivan Zelina for Scotland as they defeated hosts Croatia 5-3. Goals from Emily Dark; Jen Eadie; Becky Ward; Jess Ross and Sarah Jamieson gave the Tartan Hearts the three points in a tricky encounter.

Scotland dominated the early stages and pressed Croatia back from the first whistle, but were met be a stubborn defence.

The early pressure was rewarded however when Emily Dark slammed home the opening goal from a penalty corner to make it 1-0. The low strike evaded the goalkeeper and defenders to give the Scots a deserved lead.

Scotland continued to attack and had a claim for a stroke denied as they pressed for more goals.

Into the second quarter and again Scotland dominated with Dark and Jess Ross in particular looking strong and composed.

The hosts began to edge their way into the contest as the game progressed and forced Carmin Dow to pull off an excellent save at her top left corner to deny Croatia a penalty corner equaliser.

Soon after, Croatia levelled the scores when their third penalty corner of the match hit the net from Una Litvic.

Almost immediately, Jen Eadie restored Scotland’s lead when she tapped home from close range to make it 2-1 after a nice attack down the right.

In the second half Becky Ward scored to make it 3-1 with a lovely deflection at the post from Emily Dark striking at a penalty corner.

Croatia sparked a fightback and quickly pulled one back with another penalty corner to make it 3-2. Ivona Makar struck it low and hard past the advancing goalkeeper.

Then a penalty stroke to Croatia towards the end of the third quarter gave them another equaliser, the finish was dispatched well by Litvic for 3-3.

The match became a battle in the fourth and it was Scotland who landed the first blow when Jess Ross flicked the ball into the top corner to make it 4-3.

With a minute left to play Sarah Jamieson made it safe when she converted to make it 5-3 with a clinical finish on the turn.

Scotland’s Assistant Coach Vikki Bunce said, “Girls got off to a great start and showed good tenacity. They stuck to the game plan and kept cool heads when Croatia got back level.

“It was a good team performance, particularly the set pieces, and we’re delighted to get off to a winning start against a sticky team.”
 
Scotland 6-3 Lithuania

After their earlier victory Scotland came out hungry for more and clocked up an excellent 6-3 victory over Lithuania in game two. Emily Dark was on top form scoring four goals, with strikes from Sarah Jamieson and Rachael Mack for a great win.

Scotland took charge of the contest from the start and enjoyed the bulk of possession.

Despite Scotland’s dominance Lithuania took the lead through a close range finish by Kotryna Kartanovic. The Lithuanians latched onto a mistake, broke into the D and Kartanovic found the finish for 1-0.

Before long the Scots were back on level-pegging. Having earned their first corner of the match Emily Dark slammed it against the backboard to equalise. 1-1.

A swift counter midway through the second quarter saw Sarah Jamieson tear up the court into a good position but her shot was saved and kept the Scot at bay.

The second goal for Scotland came before half time and it was Rachael Mack who gave Scotland the lead with a great low finish from the edge of the D – 2-1.

Early in the second half Lithuania equalised and when ball was squeezed home by Donata Grigiene past the advanced keeper, with the goal gaping.

Almost immediately Scotland went back in front through a lovely low finish by Sarah Jamieson to make it 3-2.

From then on Scotland were on fire. Dark struck again with a thunderous low penalty corner into the bottom right corner to make it 4-2.

Lithuania struck right back to make it 4-3 through Kuliene Dovile, but the Scots were not for stopping.

There was soon a hat-trick for Dark, and what a finish it was from a penalty corner to make it 5-3 to Scotland low against the backboard.

Dark wasn’t content with just the three goals, she wanted a fourth, and from another penalty corner she stepped up and rifled the ball into the bottom right corner for 6-3.

Scotland women’s Indoor Head Coach Iain Strachan said, “It was a very good day, the players were terrific – I’m delighted with the performances. It was two tough games against systems of play we don’t see often back home, but they stuck to the game plans and delivered very well.

“It was great to have a big mix of goal scorers. Rachael Mack scored on her birthday, which was a nice touch, and Emily Dark scored four in the second game. As a team we were excellent.

“Tomorrow is another day, we’re purely focussed on game one tomorrow. It’s a massive game against Poland and if we can come through that we’ll be in a good place.”

Scottish Hockey Union media release



EuroHockey Indoor Championship III 2020 (W) -Day 1
Bratislava, Slovakia

24 Jan 2020     IRL v POR (Pool A)         5 - 0
24 Jan 2020     SLO v ESP (Pool A)         0 - 18
24 Jan 2020     DEN v SVK (Pool A)     1 - 4
24 Jan 2020     FIN v POR (Pool A)         0 - 9
24 Jan 2020     IRL v ESP (Pool A)         1 - 5
24 Jan 2020     DEN v SLO (Pool A)     5 - 2
24 Jan 2020     FIN v SVK (Pool A)         0 - 10

Pool Standings

Rank Team Played Wins Draws Losses Goals For Goals Against Goal Difference Points
1 Spain 2 2 0 0 23 1 22 6
2 Slovakia 2 2 0 0 14 1 13 6
3 Portugal 2 1 0 1 9 5 4 3
4 Ireland 2 1 0 1 6 5 1 3
5 Denmark 2 1 0 1 6 6 0 3
6 Finland 2 0 0 2 0 19 -19 0
7 Slovenia 2 0 0 2 2 23 -21 0

FIH Match Centre



Ireland face big Slovakia battle after opening day win and loss



Ireland ended day one of the women’s EuroHockey Indoor Championships III in Slovakia in contention for a potential promotion place following a 5-0 win over Portugal and a 5-1 loss to Spain.

The former was the perfect return to continental action a 30-year hiatus as Chloe Brown’s penalty corner double started the run.

Sarah Patton – on debut – added another when she picked off an intercept on halfway and stormed into the circle to flick, 3-0 at half-time.

Sophie Barnwell scored the fourth, a lovely move along the left boards as Ali Meeke stepped over a long pass to open the passage to the forward. Amy Benson snapped up a rebound for the fifth and final goal.

“With all the history and not knowing Portugal at all, to come away with a result like that is everything we could have asked for,” said coach Dave Passmore after the win.

“A few players getting their first caps, the first time they had all played together competitively. We played some really good hockey and had a few other goals disallowed too.

“We defended well for periods and know we will have to up our game. We did get excited at the wrong times but that is all part of the learning curve and why we are here.”

Sophie Barnwell agreed, adding she is savouring the experience: “It is great coming to a new country, coming into the tournament not knowing what each team is going to do; it’s exciting.

“We were well prepared and the three newcomers stepped up really well. We definitely used things we worked on well – our fourth goal was textbook and hopefully we can bring that into our next games. Each game is a blank sheet!”

Game two proved much tougher against Spain – they already had recorded an 18-0 win over Slovenia – who swept into a 3-0 half-time lead courtesy of an Empar Gil hat trick. She added another in the second half before Orla Patton got an Irish consolation.

The Spaniards look a cut above the rest at the seven-nation tournament – with two promotion places on the line – with second place the likely target.

Saturday will be formative on that front, starting with a tricky game against hosts Slovakia at 11.30am (Irish time) before meeting Denmark at 4.15pm. The former have two wins from two to their name.

Sunday looks, on paper, to be handy enough with ties against very weak-looking Finland and Slovenia teams.

Women’s EuroHockey Indoor Championship III (Bratislava, Slovakia)

Friday: Ireland 5 (C Brown 2, S Patton, S Barnwell, A Benson) Portugal 0; Ireland 1 (O Patton) Spain 5 (E Gil 4, E Forte)

Saturday: Ireland v Slovakia, 11.30am; Ireland v Denmark, 4.15pm

Sunday: Ireland v Finland, 7.15am; Ireland v Slovenia, 11am

The Hook



2020 Test matches CHI v CAN (M)

22 Jan 2020     CHI v CAN     2 - 3
24 Jan 2020     CHI v CAN     2 - 2

FIH Match Centre



Indian women’s hockey team begins NZ tour with 4-0 win

Indian women's hockey team Rani Rampal scored a brace while Sharmila and Namita Toppo scored in a 4-0 victory over New Zealand Developmental squad.


File Photo: Rani Rampal (centre) scored the second and third goals in the opening match of the New Zealand tour on Saturday.   -  special arrangement

Skipper Rani Rampal struck twice as the Indian women’s hockey team started its first tour of the Olympic year with a confident 4-0 victory over New Zealand Development squad here on Saturday.

Besides Rani’s double, Sharmila and Namita Toppo also sounded the board in a dominant victory. India played with an intent to win after arriving here on Thursday for the tour where it will play the host in four matches and Great Britain in one match.

The visitor took the first half to shake off the starting blues with Rani fetching the opening goal in the third quarter. India continued to build on its 1-0 lead by creating back-to-back PCs in the following minutes but could not convert.

Youngster Sharmila then doubled the lead in the third quarter and Rani stretched it to 3-0 when she scored her second goal of the match in the fourth quarter. Namita Toppo then earned India’s fourth goal.

“In the beginning we struggled a bit with the jet lag but after that we played a very controlled game and created a lot of opportunities,” said Chief coach Sjoerd Marijne after the match.

“The last two quarters New Zealand created a lot of pressure and they pressed hard but we continued to remain positive with our attack.”

Marijne said he will try out a few things during the tour, including changing the players in the squad.

“Today we played with 16 players just like the Olympic Games and every match we will change the players. Whether they make the squad depends on these matches and how they cope under pressure,” said the Dutchman.

“We tried a few new things in the match today but we still need improvement and that’s why we are here, to improve our game in every match.”

Sportstar



Rani's brace help India begin New Zealand Tour with 4-0 win

The Indian women's hockey team kick-started the first tour of their Olympic Year with a confident 4-0 victory over the New Zealand Development squad.

Arriving in Auckland on Thursday for the tour where they will play the hosts in four matches and Great Britain in one match, India played with an intent to win on Saturday.

Though it took them the entire first half to shake off the starting blues, striker Rani fetched India's first goal in the third quarter. India continued to build on their 1-0 lead by creating back-to-back penalty corners in the following minutes but could not convert.

Youngster Sharmila doubled the lead in the third quarter and Rani stretched a lead to 3-0 when she scored her second goal of the match in the fourth quarter. Namita Toppo earned India's fourth goal.

"In the beginning we struggled a bit with the jet lag but after that we played a very controlled game and created a lot of opportunities," stated chief coach Sjoerd Marijne after the match.

The last two quarters New Zealand created a lot of pressure, and they pressed hard, but we remained positive with our attack.

"Today we played with 16 players just like the Olympic Games and every match we will change the players. Whether they make the squad depends on these matches and how they cope under pressure," he added.

The Tribune



Australian U21 Indoor teams announced



Australian Under 21 Men’s and Women’s Indoor teams have been selected for a tour of Europe later this year.

The players were selected following the recent Indoor Hockey Festival in Wollongong.

“The Australian Indoor Hockey Under 21 European Tour is a key component to developing the depth, experience and playing style within our Australian Indoor Hockey Program,” said Australian Men’s Indoor Hockey Head Coach, Steve Willer.

“It offers younger players the opportunity to experience European indoor hockey, become familiar with the Australian indoor hockey style of play and enhance their skills.”

In December 2019, the Australian Under 21 Indoor Hockey Teams travelled to Russia and competed in the Moscow Night’s Indoor Hockey Tournament.

This was a valuable learning experience for the players and an opportunity for them to play their first matches against strong European opponents.

This November, the Australian Under 21 Indoor Hockey Teams will again travel to Europe to play.

The teams will be looking to compete in couple of tournaments and play a number of practice matches.



Six of the men’s players from the successful 2019 European Tours have been named to head back to Europe for a second successive time.

The team includes goalkeeper Joshua Blakey who was named ‘Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ in Russia, and Lucas Scott who was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ in Russia.

Ryan Pace has been selected again after his performances in Russia and for excellent performances in Wollongong, where he won the ‘Highest Goal Scorer’ and ‘Player of the Tournament’ awards.

Heath McDonald, William Orth and Connor Yates are the other three who will attend their second European tour.

New to the team are Benjamin Edwards, Dylan Forbes, William Graf, Hugh Hamilton, Sam Mudford and Hayden Vaitekenas.

Dates and destinations of the European Tour are to be announced.

2020 Australian U21 Women’s Indoor Hockey Team

ANDERSON, Brooke (VIC) Elevated from 2019 U21 Shadow list.
CONSTANCE, Talia (ACT) Debut in Australian U21 Team.
CORCORAN, Emma (NSW)
DOWELL, Aymee (QLD)
FIELD, Litiana (NSW)
HUGHES, Kelsey (NSW)
LEE, Kaitlyn (NSW) Debut in Australian U21 Team.
NEWMAN, Zoe (NSW)
PRICE, Aleisha (ACT)
SMITH, Liana (NSW) Debut in Australian U21 Team.
THOMSON, Taylor (ACT)
WARDROPE, Shanae (WA) Debut in Australian U21 Team.

Shadow Players

BARRETT, Chloe (NSW)
BRUMMER, Monique (QLD)
JOHNSON, Asta (ACT)
PARKER, Taylah (NSW)
TOBBE, Helena (NSW)
STAPLES, Jess (QLD)
SUTHERLAND, Riley (VI

2020 Australian U21 Men’s Indoor Hockey Team

BLAKEY, Joshua (QLD)
EDWARDS, Benjamin (QLD)
FORBES, Dylan (WA)
GRAF, William (NSW)
HAMILTON, Hugh (VIC)
MCDONALD, Heath (VIC)
MUDFORD, Sam (NSW)
ORTH, William (NSW)
PACE, Ryan (WA)
SCOTT, Lucas (VIC)
VAITEKENAS, Hayden (WA)
YATES, Connor (QLD)

Shadow Players

CAIN, Dominic (WA)
CHRISTENSEN, Kaleb (QLD)
O’DALY, Daniel (VIC)
PACE, Mitchell (WA)
TUDDENHAM, Connor (NSW)
WHITAKER, Connaigh (ACT)

Hockey Australia media release



Players selected for Australian U18 Indoor training camp



The respective coaching staff have announced the men’s and women’s squads to attend a training camp in October.

Australian Women’s Indoor Hockey Assistant Coach, David Ogden announced a 25-player squad, comprising players from all competing states and territories at the National Championships in Wollongong earlier this month.

“The squad has a few returning faces from last year’s group, whilst also adding some new talent identified at the most recent nationals,” said Ogden.

“Mark Sandhu (Australian Women’s Indoor Head Coach) and I are trying to identify the next group of players capable of progressing to the next level, while also keeping in mind the broadening of indoor hockey knowledge across the country.

“Our aim is to develop a strong, flexible and more tactically aware group of players within the indoor talent pathway.”

Athletes will attend a three-day camp in October later this year, with shadow athletes coming in to the fold should others not be available. The venue is currently to be confirmed, with more information to be made available to athletes shortly.

“There was a lot of exciting and new talent that attended the tournament this year which made the selection process extremely difficult,” said Ogden.

“With younger athletes tending to drop out of sport in general around this age bracket, we hope that greater recognition through development squads and talent pathways helps to not only keep them playing indoor hockey, but hockey as a whole.”

Australian U18 Women’s Indoor Hockey Training Squad

ABBOTT, Amberley (WA)
BAXTER, Emma (ACT)
BOZZONE, Isabella (VIC)
COOPER, Lucy (TAS)
DOOLEY, Madeline (ACT)
DU PREEZ, Ella (WA)
FERGUSON, Georgia (TAS)
FORBES, Chloe (WA)
GIBSON, Ella (NSW)
GLEAVE, Lisa (WA)
GOULDTHORP, Tallulah (WA)
HIBBARD, Alannah (VIC)
JANSEN, Alanah (ACT)
KOELMEYER, Darcia (VIC)
KNOWLES, Rachel (VIC)
LYE, Meg (NSW)
MOFFAT, Jessica (QLD)
NEILSON, Lily (NSW)
NEOWHOUSE, Tegan (NSW)
PICKERING, Lexie (NSW)
SUTHERLAND, Summer (ACT)
TALBOT, Enya (VIC)
WATTS, Lara (NSW)
WELSH, Brooke (NSW)
WHITE, Ella (QLD)

Shadow Players

BERRY, Sienna (WA)
CHAPPELL, Anniston (QLD)
NEEDHAM, Georgia (WA)
READ, Kaelen (ACT)
RITMAN, Charlotte (VIC)

The Australian U18 Men’s National Indoor Hockey Championship earlier this month showcased the future talent of Australian Indoor Hockey.

“The level of skill on show at the Under 18 Championships across all teams was exciting to see. There were some exceptional performances by players at both ends of the court, keeping the spectators on the edge of the seats,” said Australian Men’s Indoor Hockey Head Coach, Steve Willer.

A 26-player squad has been selected from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

‘Player of the Tournament’ Mitchell Pace and ‘Highest Goal Scorer’ Cooper Burns were among the players selected in the squad. Both players find themselves selected in the squad for a second year in a row after attending the National Under 18 Training Camp in 2019.

The additional eight players to once again been selected include Steven Collins, Nathan Czinner, Julius Gottstein, Sam James, Dylan Pember, Eamon Smith, Kael Webster and Connaigh Whitaker.

Players will attend an intensive three-day training camp in early October 2020, where they will be immersed in the Australian style of play and the skills, tactics and knowledge required to represent Australia and excel on the international stage.

“The training camp provides our talented young players the opportunity to be in an intensive training environment, understand the specific skills required to perform, and form strong relationships with other players from across Australia.”

2020 Australian U18 Men’s Indoor Hockey Training Squad

BRIGHTLING, Thomas (ACT)
BURNS, Cooper (VIC)
#CHRISTENSEN, Kaleb (QLD)
COLLINS, Steven (QLD)
COMMINS, Joshua (TAS)
CZINNER, Nathan (NSW)
DOOLEY, Aiden (ACT)
DYALL, Thomas (VIC)
GOTTSTEIN, Julius (VIC)
HENDERSON, Liam (VIC)
JAMES, Sam (VIC)
KEATING, Thomas (WA)
KRONING, Ryley (QLD)
MARSHALL, Oliver (VIC)
MCGREGOR, Zac (ACT)
NEWSTEAD, Remy (VIC)
NILAN, Riley (NSW)
PACE, Mitchell (WA)
PEMBER, Dylan (QLD)
PROFKE, Zac (QLD)
ROBINSON, Bryce (QLD)
SMITH, Eamon (NSW)
TUDDENHAM, Connor (NSW)
WEBSTER, Kael (NSW)
#WEST, Matthew (QLD)
WHITAKER, Connaigh (ACT)

Shadow Players

CHAPPELL, Diarmid (QLD)
DODD, Sean (QLD)
DREYER, Toby (NSW)
EVANS, Clayton (QLD)
PRINSLOO, Marnus (VIC)

# Selected from the 2020 Australian Men’s Under 21 National Indoor Hockey Championships.
* Squad selected from 2020 Australian Men’s Under 18 National Indoor Hockey Championships.

Hockey Australia media release



Hopes go south for east coast side Terengganu

By AFTAR SINGH



KUALA LUMPUR: After two defeats, last year’s overall title winners Terengganu are facing up to the reality that they are not likely to win the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) title this time around.

The team powered by four foreigners, lost the Charity Shield match 3-2 to Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and then went down 4-2 to Tenaga Nasional on Wednesday.

The east coast team are in now third place with nine points from three wins, having scored 22 goals and conceded 12 in five matches. Last year, they finished second in the league and went on to win the overall title.

Tenaga and UniKL are tied with 15 points each with the former leading the standings on goal difference.

Terengganu’s top scorer Jang Jong-hyun of South Korea, who scored 22 goals last season, has also failed to deliver from penalty corners against UniKL and Tenaga Nasional.

With two matches left to play – against Hockey Academy of KL on Wednesday and Maybank on Friday – before the end of the first round, goalkeeper Mohd Hafizuddin Othman admits that their hopes of winning the league title are dim.

“We went into the league with the hope of securing a double – league and overall – but we are now in a tricky position.

“Losing the Charity Shield was not a good start but losing to Tenaga Nasional has made things much more difficult, ” said the national goalkeeper.

“We used to be the dominant team in the MHL by bagging the double three times in a row in the 2014,2015 and 2016. But today we are finding it tough to play consistently well.

“Although we are no more the dominant force in the league since 2017, we still manage one title every year, ” said Hafizuddin, who has been playing for Terengganu since 2014.

Hafizuddin said that their challenge now was to finish among the top four in the league to qualify for the TNB (overall) Cup and go on from there to win at least one title.

The Star of Malaysia



FIH reject Hockey Ireland calls for a review of video referral system



FIH CEO Thierry Weil has rejected calls from Hockey Ireland for a review of the video referral system, prompted by the Irish men’s loss to Canada which denied them a place at Tokyo 2020.

Following a series of letters back and forth between Hockey Ireland and the FIH (seen by The Hook), the national body subsequently publicly stated their feeling that the “broadcast quality and number of camera angles available in respect of the qualification series were not of a level to facilitate Video Referral.

“We believe the FIH should commission an independent review conducted by an external body with cross-sport expertise in the delivery of Video Referral technology and procedures to ensure the development of minimum standards to guarantee the necessary quality and consistency for the effective use of Video Referral in hockey and mitigating against another federation experiencing a similar situation.”

Due to what Hockey Ireland feels are a “lack of regulations”, they felt that there were “no grounds on which grounds on which to challenge the FIH in relation to the incident”, concluding “they have exhausted all avenues in respect of a potential appeal regarding the outcome of the series and the non-qualification of the men’s team for the Tokyo Olympic Games”.

It follows a lengthy letter in which they requested specifics on how many cameras were in place; whether any were GoPro cameras; how many angles were available to the video umpire and what actions were taken to confirm the minimum standards were in place.

A request was also made for all of the cameras angles of the specific incident at the end of normal time and why any additional angles consulted by the video umpire had not been made available.

Weil’s initial reply directly to Hockey Ireland focused on the “level of disquiet and upset amongst the Irish and some of the broader hockey communities around the world, on social media in particular, has gone well beyond disappointment” and “the level of disapproving commentary that has occurred in these communities is a significant concern and impacts negatively on the reputation of the sport.

“It should be noted however that the sentiment of the comment is not unanimous and that alternative points of view in support of the officials and against the backlash, also exist within the global hockey community.

“The personal abuse that one of our top officials has received, resulting in him having to close down his twitter account, is not a situation that is in line with hockey’s values.”

As for the specific incident raised, Weil added: “It is not appropriate for us to comment publicly on any individual decisions made in an individual match”.

He did add: “I can confirm that the Officials team at this match are fully confident in the decisions they made in the closing moments of the match, and we fully support the brave decision that they took in awarding a penalty stroke and not shying away from what they felt was the correct decision by taking an “easier” option.

“We can confirm that all officiating processes were correctly followed, and there were no technical or practical issues that caused any negative impact on the Officials being able to carry out their duties in accordance with the Rules of Hockey and the Regulations of the competition.

“In particular, and in reference to some of the incorrect statements that have since been unfortunately made in the media and on social media, we can confirm that throughout both matches, the video umpire had access to more camera angles upon which to base his decisions than were broadcast.

“This is normal as the television editor can choose what is broadcast, and in some cases, may choose to show the reactions of players, fans and coaches rather than the replays that the video umpire is looking at to make his decision.

“Since its implementation in 2005, the number of cameras necessary for a successful video umpire referral process at FIH World Level events has been based on professional experience and expertise over time within hockey.

“The camera specification in Canada and number of angles available to the video umpire was in line with the number the FIH required for this competition (minimum 6 cameras) and was the set up used during many of the FIH Pro League matches to improve the decision making and accuracy of the game.”

As an aside, the video referral system used in Donnybrook for the Irish women’s game against Canada could not be used to review shoot-out issues over the eight-second timing due to unavailable technology.

While it got lost in the euphoria, Canada endeavoured to review an issue but had to accept their fate when informed it was not an issue they could refer due to local restrictions.

Following Hockey Ireland’s public statement calling for a review of the video referral system, Weil was asked if it was something the FIH would consider by Inside The Games.

“When we talk about video umpires, we have one of the best systems around,” Weil told insidethegames.

“When I first came to the FIH, I saw it and thought ‘football should have looked at that from a long time ago’ and should have learned from other sports, especially hockey, about how it is done.

“You should always develop the technology if you can, but the discussion is there was something wrong in the quality which was given to the umpires and we clearly say there is nothing wrong.

“Our reply was based on them asking us for a position and asking us to make clear steps in showing evidence to them and to the world, which you can never do.

“If you start to do this, where do you end?

“Every Monday you will have to send videos and replays and reply to different things from different people.

“There is a never-ending story and, as long as human beings are involved in umpiring, there will be some mistakes and that needs to be accepted.

“That doesn’t mean I am saying now it was a mistake.”

The Hook



Celebrating the Life of Larry Amar, USA Field Hockey Legend



COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Over the years, Larry Amar was a number of things in countless individual’s lives: a colleague, teammate, coach, veteran and above all, a husband, father and kindhearted soul. The USA Field Hockey Family celebrates the life of Larry, who passed away earlier this week. His dedication and love for the game was obvious to all who knew him and will be missed dearly.

“It’s hard to accept that Larry is no longer with us, his memory however will live on within the [field] hockey family,” said Craig Parnham, USA Field Hockey’s Director of Coach Education and Learning. “He was a great coach but more than that, he was a great man, a man of integrity and honor. We will miss him greatly.”

The entire USA Field Hockey Family extends its thoughts and condolences to Larry’s family, especially his loving wife, Abbey, and two children, Riley and Eli.



A service to celebrate his life will take place on Wednesday, January 29 at the Hoover Funeral Home in Hershey, Pa. The visitation will take place at 11:00 a.m. with a service to follow at 12:00 p.m. A reception will take place after at The Mill in Hershey. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to support the Larry Amar Family Fund.

"We are deeply saddened with the loss of an amazing coach, father, husband and friend,” added Caroline Nelson-Nichols, U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach. “Larry truly loved this team and sport and he surrounded this team with love every day. We miss him and will strive to honor him in everything we do moving forward. Our most sincere condolences go out to his family. We miss you, Brother."

“Larry was a remarkable coach, family-man and human-being,” said Lauren Moyer, USWNT athlete. “It was an honor and privilege to share the field with him. His passion for this team and all of its individual pieces was palpable. No matter the moment, Larry always had a way of knowing exactly what to say. He was an invaluable and truly loved member of our family and words cannot express how much he will be missed.”

Born on February 24, 1972, Larry stood out athletically at a young age. He first represented the U.S. Men’s National Team at the age of 16, while also representing the U-18 USMNT and U-21 USMNT. He was one of the few individuals to ever represent all three squads simultaneously. The California native was a recognizable face in the USMNT program from 1987 to 1999, accumulating more than 200 international caps in his playing career. In addition to competing in several international tours, Larry was a member of the USA squads that competed at the Junior World Cup, World Cup Qualifiers and Pan American Games. He served as captain of Team USA at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, the U-21 USMNT and senior USMNT and was a two-time recipient of the USA Field Hockey Athlete of the Year Award in 1994 and 1995.



“Larry always seemed to be the calm in the center of the storm, he made play after play in the midfield with a mixture of power and finesse that defied explanation,” said Steve Jennings, American University Head Coach, Atlanta 1996 Olympian and former USMNT athlete. “He possessed great skill under pressure and was able to connect the lines through deft passing regardless of the opponent. Larry’s impact on the senior team was immediate and he became a fixture and force throughout his career on both the club and international level. Those of us who traveled the world with him, lived in residency programs and competed on [field] hockey’s biggest stage together will miss his easy laugh, love of life and gentle spirit. It is a huge loss for the field hockey community but all of us who had the honor of playing with Larry will always carry his light with us. On behalf of all of his former teammates, we extend our deepest condolences to his family.” 

“There was one word we always used to describe Larry, ‘chill,’” added Tracey Fuchs, Northwestern University Head Coach, former USWNT athlete and two-time Olympian. “He was so smooth on the field, a truly amazing player. For years together on the National Team, we picked each other’s brain nonstop when the men and women had tournaments together, talking hockey for hours. He was the most amazing guy and such a loyal friend.”

“I have fond memories of Larry from the U.S. Men’s National Team,” noted Steve Danielson, Stanford University Assistant Coach. “We grew up together on the Junior USMNT, living and training together in Colorado at the Olympic Training Center in high school. My earliest memories of Larry were of us training, traveling and touring. We would bring our skateboards on tour as juniors to explore the cities. Larry was adventurous, fun and eager to see what was around the next corner. From the junior team to the Olympic Games, USA Field Hockey raised some of us. Larry and many other men in field hockey had the opportunity of a lifetime as young men. I feel fortunate to have shared so many of those days with Larry and the other men of that time. Larry will be missed. He was inquisitive, introspective and had a light-hearted nature about him. I appreciated that he always had a smile. Warm and open, Larry was liked by all. For most of his life, he lived his life in field hockey. Thank you, Larry for sharing in those memories and amazing experience we had together.”



After the playing side of his career, Larry served in the United States Army for six years and was deployed on two overseas tours. He earned the rank of staff sergeant in infantry and received two Army Commendation and Army Achievement medals.

“One of the greatest parts about our sport, any sport, is the friendships you develop in a shared love of the game,” said Chip Rogers, USA Field Hockey’s Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, At-Large Director and Miami University Assistant Coach.” Larry developed those friendships with people across the country and across the globe. I am fortunate to have been one of those people with whom he shared one of his many laughs and smiles. He had a deep and vibrant passion for the sport and he shared that with everyone. I enjoyed our conversations, whether I was umpiring his games, coaching our teams together or just watching games as fans. His lifelong gift of himself to the country, as an Olympian, as a member of our armed forces and as a coach is a treasure to the sport that will not be forgotten by the multitudes of people he impacted.”

Following his military service, Larry returned to the game he loved and provided the same passion to the coaching staff and team at Kent State University, where he served as assistant coach from 2009 to 2018. Larry helped guide the Golden Flashes to more than 100 victories and four Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships. While leading on the sideline, Larry also completed his bachelor’s degree in 2013.

“I struggle to find the words, that was always Larry’s job,” said Heather Schnepf, Bucknell University Assistant Coach and former Kent State Assistant Coach. “I was the hammer and he was the calming force. He always knew what to say, when to say it and how to say it. I will never forget his unwavering love, his cheeky smile, his laugh, his calmness and most importantly, his impact on the student-athletes. Larry made me a better person. The nine years at Kent with him were truly the best years of my life. Larry’s last message to the Kent State team before moving on to his new job was, ‘keep on, keeping on.’ For all of those lives Larry has touched, this is what he would want for us to do."



In February 2019, Larry brought his coaching expertise back to USA Field Hockey as the USWNT assistant coach, where he helped the team throughout the inaugural season of the FIH Hockey Pro League. It was a position he held dear, often saying it was an honor to be a mentor to some of the highest performing athletes in the United States. More recently, he transitioned to the position of U.S. National Teams Manager where he worked with both the USWNT and USMNT.

“Larry’s impact on the field hockey community will live on forever,” said Bree Gillespie, USA Field Hockey’s Chair of Board and At-Large Director. “He has played and grown the sport at all levels. Larry has truly advanced the game for all that have had the opportunity to know him, play with him and be coached by him.”

“Larry Amar was a truly incredible man who touched so many lives as a player, coach, friend and colleague,” said Pam Stuper, U.S. Field Hockey Foundation Representative and Caroline Ruth Thompson ’02 Head Coach of Field Hockey at Yale University. “Larry’s love and support of his family, friends, teams and country never wavered. He left a legacy of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that has enriched and inspired not just our field hockey community, but all who knew him.”

Thank you, Larry, for all that you contributed to the sport as a respected athlete, coach and enthusiast of the game. You will be dearly missed by us all.

USFHA media release

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