News for 04 March 2022
All the news for Friday 4 March 2022
World Ranking points from Potchefstroom benefit Netherlands and France
With so many FIH Hockey Pro League matches taking place in the past few weeks there has been a flurry of movement in the men’s FIH World Rankings. 
Hockey on the doorstep is vital for growth of the game
Photo credit: Frank Uijlenbroek / World Sport Pics
Phumelela (Phumi) Mbande has been a member of the South African women’s national team since 2012 and she feels as proud of her place in the team today as she did 10 years ago.
Striker Sukhjeet Singh wants to cement his place in Indian hockey team
Striker Sukhjeet Singh braved a career-threatening back injury four years ago
Sukhjeet Singh
Striker Sukhjeet Singh, who braved a career-threatening back injury four years ago, made a successful India debut here last month and is now eyeing to hold on to his spot in the national senior hockey team.
USA Field Hockey’s Director of Umpiring Horgan to Retire
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After dedicating more than 14 years to USA Field Hockey, Steve Horgan has announced that he will officially retire in the middle of July. Horgan began as a rules interpreter for the organization in 2008, went on to be the part-time director of umpiring in 2011 and became full-time in 2012.
No surprises in 'predictable' MHL
By Jugjet Singh
KUALA LUMPUR: The men's and women's Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) have been as predictable as an open book, with two teams leading the chase in each category.
South African Indoor IPT 2022 - Big name make big moves
20 games of action took place across two venues today in Kwazulu Natal as the mens tournament heated up and the front runners put the pedal down in order to make their statements.
Preview: First Against Second In Vitality Women's Premier Division
Rod Gilmour from The Hockey Paper gives you a run down of what to look out for in this weekend's matches in the Vitality Women's Hockey Leagues.
Four Winners Crowned At Second Day of Girls Schools Finals
Four Girls Schools Finals matches were held today at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, with the young female athletes all playing their part in a fantastic day of hockey on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Exciting Premiership and Scottish Cup weekend coming up
The women`s Premiership table suggests a three horse race, and the top three might fancy themselves for this to continue for a while yet, however, the closest contest could emanate from Peffermill where third placed Edinburgh University entertain Western Wildcats in fourth.
SPAR Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge ready to ‘bully-off’
DSG, winners in 2019, will be chasing another title when the SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge gets under way with the PE Inland Regional leg in Makhanda on March 6. The tournament has not been held for two years because of Covid-19. Photo: Supplied
Excitement is in the air as players prepare to “bully-off” at the South African SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge, which gets underway in Makhanda on Sunday (March 6).
The popular tournament, where matches are played on a shortened format, is finally back after languishing in the Covid-19 wilderness for two years.
The PE Inland Regional event will take place at DSG with six schools vying for bragging rights and the chance to represent their school in the provincial finals in August.
SPAR EC sponsorships and events manager Alan Stapleton said they were “really pleased” to have the Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge back on track.
“It is always a lot of fun to visit Makhanda and to move back to some form of normality on the school playing fields,” he said.
“It is very special to be able to welcome a spectrum of schools to these events, to give them the opportunity to compete, have fun and to make friends with some of the schools against whom they don’t often play.”
He added that the event was the perfect opportunity to showcase the values which SPAR promoted.
“It helps us to underline SPAR’s commitment to supporting women’s sport, while also being able to interact with the youth and spread a message of community and family support within a competitive but fun-based environment.”
Tournament director Matt Blair said everything was proceeding as planned after players and organisers suffered from Covid disruptions in 2020 and 2021.
“Since the beginning of Covid, this has been the first tournament where there has been no disruption or hesitation in the lead-up,” he said.
“So far 2022 seems like it will be the first year where school sport returns to normal and we are incredibly excited to get back on the turf for the Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge.”
The teams competing in Makhanda are DSG, Kingswood and Victoria Girls’ from Makhanda, Union High and Volkskool from Graaff-Reinet and Brandwag from Kariega.
Blair said the fixtures still had to be finalised but that the tournament would be played on a round-robin basis, with the top two teams contesting the final.
The PE Inland leg was last played in March 2019, when DSG were the winners.
Following the tournament in Makhanda, the PE Coastal leg will take place at Woodridge on March 9.
Then there will be a two-month break before it resumes with the Southern Cape tournament in George on May 7, followed by the EL Coastal leg in East London on May 15 and the EL Inland leg in Queenstown on May 22.
The provincial finals will be played at Collegiate in Gqeberha on August 13 and 14.
Fullstop Communications media release for SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge
Hockey Australia proud to be in collective for inclusion
Hockey Australia has joined a host of other National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) in forming a project group aimed at promoting inclusion.
How Simdega Accorded Fitting Farewell to Outgoing DC Sushant Gaurav with Hockey Sticks Salute
It’s always a fantastic sight to see people diligently working behind the scenes for the development of sport. And one gentleman who has been doing a lot for the cause of hockey in and around Simdega is Sushant Gaurav. The Simdega Deputy Commissioner (DC) has been consistently doing his bit to uplift the state of hockey in Simdega. In his less than two-year stint as Simdega DC, Gaurav is a household name among the Simdega hockey fraternity.